The Prisoner of Zenda (56 page)

sea-dog
PHRASE
sea-dog is a slang term for an experienced sailor or pirate
a ‘true sea-dog',
and a ‘real old salt,'
(
Treasure Island
by Robert Louis Stevenson)

see the lions
PHRASE
to see the lions was to go and see the sights of London. Originally the phrase referred to the menagerie in the Tower of London and later in Regent's Park
We will go and see the lions for an hour or two–it's something to have a fresh fellow like you to show them to, Copperfield
(
David Copperfield
by Charles Dickens)

self-conceit
NOUN
self-conceit is an old term which means having too high an opinion of oneself, or deceiving yourself
Till swollen with cunning, of a self-conceit
(
Doctor Faustus chorus
by Christopher Marlowe)

seneschal
NOUN
a steward
where a grey-headed seneschal sings a funny chorus with a funnier body of vassals
(
Oliver Twist
by Charles Dickens)

sensible
ADJ
if you were sensible of something you are aware or conscious of something
If my children are silly I must hope to be always sensible of it
(
Pride and Prejudice
by Jane Austen)

sessions
NOUN
court cases were heard at specific times of the year called sessions
He lay in prison very ill, during the whole interval between his committal for trial, and the coming round of the Sessions.
(
Great Expectations
by Charles Dickens)

shabby
ADJ
shabby places look old and in bad condition
a little bit of a shabby village named Pikesville
(
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
by Mark Twain)

shay-cart
NOUN
a shay-cart was a small cart drawn by one horse
“I were at the Bargemen t'other night, Pip;” whenever he subsided into affection, he called me Pip, and whenever he relapsed into politeness he called me Sir; “when there come up in his shay-cart Pumblechook.”
(
Great Expectations
by Charles Dickens)

shilling
NOUN
a shilling is an old unit of currency. There were twenty shillings in every British pound
“Ten shillings too much,” said the gentleman in the white waistcoat.
(
Oliver Twist
by Charles Dickens)

shines
NOUN
tricks or games
well, it would make a cow laugh to see the shines that old idiot cut
(
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
by Mark Twain)

shirking
VERB
shirking means not doing what you are meant to be doing, or evading your duties
some of you shirking lubbers
(
Treasure Island
by Robert Louis Stevenson)

shiver my timbers
PHRASE
shiver my timbers is an expression which was used by sailors and pirates to express surprise
why, shiver my timbers, if I hadn't forgotten my score!
(
Treasure Island
by Robert Louis Stevenson)