by J. M. Barrie
y HaLfpennies, according to the pre-decimal system.
z Limp and soiled as if it has been dragged through wet mud.
aa Small container for needles, thread, and other sewing equipment.
ab Spanking.
ac Save money.
ad Looking as alert and prepared for any kind of action as a large Swiss army knife.
ae First-rate or excellent.
af Meaning “You’re quick at it.” From “nip,” which means to move quickly or dart (chiefly British).
ag Beware (Latin).
ah Fell asleep.
ai Carefree and high-spirited.
aj Young offspring of various carnivorous animals, especially dogs or wolves.
ak Nautical term describing a boat rendered useless by holes broken in the hull.
al Straightaway; at once; without hesitation.
am Vast grass-covered plains located mostly in central Argentina.
an Variant of “boatswain,” an officer in charge of a ship’s rigging, anchors, cables, and deck crew.
ao “Barbecue” was the crew’s name for Long John Silver, the head pirate in Robert Lewis Stevenson’s novel Treasure Island (1883).
ap A large, long-range cannon.
aq John’s black top hat; a topper was typically made of silk.
ar Place in a body of water where it is shallow enough to wade.
as Boy who is always causing trouble; wild young fellow (British).
at Nautical commands meaning “stop,” “secure a line,” “turn the ship’s head into the wind or sea and hold steady.”
au In London’s East End; the place where those sentenced to death (especially pirates) were hanged.
av Old Spanish silver coins.
aw He was whipped six dozen times on the Walrus, described in chapter 11 of Treasure Island as being “Flint’s old ship.”
ax Portuguese or Brazilian gold coins that circulated in England in the early eighteenth century.
ay Both Murphy and Morgan were real pirates in history; an usher was an assistant schoolmaster.
az Member of a church that has separated from the Church of England—a term meant to suppress non-Protestants; also, one who refuses to conform to a particular practice or course of action.
ba Another name for Long John Silver (see note on p. 45); The Sea Cook was the original title of Stevenson’s Treasure Island.
bb Now and then; occasionally.
bc Having a dark complexion.
bd Herbaceous plant of the genus Myosotis with clusters of small blue flowers; also called “scorpion grass.”
be Storyteller (French) with a reputation for skill and wit.
bf She holds off or repels marriage with a fighting ax.
bg Land covered with grass.
bh Rope made from the tough, woody fibers of the hemp plant; hempen ropes were used for hanging people.
bi To examine or survey the scene in an attempt to find someone or something (French).
bj Short, heavy sword with a curved, single-edged blade; once used by sailors on warships.
bk Treacherous; betraying; underhanded.
bl Holds back, restrains.
bm Struck with an open hand.
bn Open space surrounded by trees, within sight.
bo Woman’s private dressing room (French).
bp Stuff himself full with food.
bq slow and plodding because of physical bulkiness.
br Bloodthirsty; murderous.
bs In large groups; a score is twenty.
bt Goalies or goal-keepers.
bu Small lifeboat carried on or towed behind a larger boat.
bv Heaven, in Native American belief
bw Turn the head of the vessel toward the wind.
bx Inexperienced sailor; variant of “landlubber.”
by Strong language, similar to “Fire and brimstone!”
bz Deceit by trickery or clever coaxing. ‡Rather strange.
ca Morally, socially, or politically harmful; pernicious; deadly.
cb Overly talkative person, like a blue jay that won’t stop twittering.
cc Wooden staff.
cd People resembling the pirates who attacked or robbed Spanish settlements in the West Indies.
ce contemptible; mean.
cf Waxed, waterproof material used as a protection or covering.
cg Variant of “bark,” a small sailing vessel typically having three masts.
ch “Woman” or “wife” in some Native American languages.
ci Acting the tattletale by informing on someone in order to bicker.
cj People of our stature or standing; Peter and Wendy are pretending to be parents, much older than they are.
ck Her condition of extreme urgency and desperation.
cl Short, small sword once used by seamen.
cm Woman’s sheer, loose dressing gown, often of soft, delicate fabric (French).
cn Dose of medicine poured out or mixed for drinking.
co White person.
cp Braves wear their moccasins backward to confuse pursuers about the direction of their footprints.
cq Small hill.
cr Not easily excited to feeling or action; having a calm, self-possessed temperament.
cs In other words, death to white people.
ct To begin an activity energetically, often under command.
cu Body of armed troops in close formation.
cv Malevolent.
cw Happily; willingly; with pleasure.
cx Eyes that endeavor to search out, discover, expose.
cy Distinguished in appearance, manner, or bearing (French).
cz Tying up or tightly binding.
da No boy as bloated as Slightly could fit into a carved-out tree trunk that an average adult would get stuck in; carving the trunk bigger makes it large enough for a man to use and undermines a key defense of the Lost Boys’ underground home.
db Soft, wet area of low-lying ground that is difficult to cross.
dc Something used for carrying things or people.
dd Trailing herb of the dogbane family, with blue flowers.
de Peter’s home underground.
df Burned low and unsteadily; flickered.
dg Native American infants or very small children.
dh Encircled with; Peter’s gear is worn all around his body.
di Two-masted sailing vessel.
dj The parts of a ship’s side that are above the upper deck.
dk Thick, vaporous atmosphere that corrupts or poisons.
dl Pseudo-biblical phrase meaning the body is only a temporary and unworthy dwelling place for the soul.
dm Hook was a student at Eton College, an exclusive English prep school.
dn Respectable manners; appropriate behavior meant to elicit respect and admiration.
do Eton College is divided into a number of houses, which compete with one another in academics and sports.
dp His body’s vital organs.
dq Pale, waxy.
dr close-fitting garment worn by men.
ds Highly respected club at Eton, consisting of very few members, usually the top sportsmen in the school.
dt Characterized by drunken revelry.
du Lower boys in a school, or boys with untidy or ill-mannered habits.
dv Shut up.
dw Stiffly starched, frilled, or pleated circular collar made of fine fabric.
dx Officer responsible for steering the ship.
dy Section of the upper deck of a ship located at the bow forward of the foremast.
dz Punishment using a cat-o’-nine tails, a whip, made with nine lines bound with a handle, that leaves marks like a cat’s claws.
ea Angry, sullen, or threatening.
eb Short for “cock-a-doodle-do”; a childish name for a rooster, from the sound it makes when crowing.
ec Short Short for “God’s death.”
ed Flung himself down.
ee Handcuffs.
ef Person believed to bring bad luck to those around him; from the biblical tale of Jonah, who fled God’s command onto a ship, only to be swallowed by a whale.
eg Cut him to the breast!
eh Wet with moisture, such as blood or sweat.
ei Small, round shield or other armor carried by its handle at arm’s length to intercept blows.
ej Death; final settlement. Hook means to stab Peter with a blow that will finish him off.
ek Long wooden handle or staff with a shorter, free-swinging stick attached to its end.
el Cut in two.
em Place where gunpowder is stored on board ship.
en Showing contempt and scorn for.
eo Expression at Eton meaning “sent up for good work or effort”; a boy would show his work to the headmaster, who would give him a prize.
ep Unique to Eton, the wall-game is a modified soccer game on a field 5 meters wide; the best place to see it is from the top of a brick wall that runs along the field.
eq Decline to lower status.
er By 3:00 the next morning they were all awake and moving their legs.
es The bo’sun (see note on p. 45) would beat negligent sailors with the end of a rope.
et Ordinary sailors; “tar” is short for “tarpaulin” (sailor).
eu Variant of “forecastle,” the crew’s quarters, typically located in the ship’s bow
ev Good fellows; comrades; sailors.
ew Group of volcanic islands in the northern Atlantic Ocean about 1,448 km (900 mi) west of mainland Portugal.
ex Petition on which the signatures are arranged in a circle in order to conceal the order of signing.
ey Got lashed with a whip twelve times (perhaps only in make-believe).
ez Take the depth measurement of the water.
fa Prickly.
fb Unrealistic and idealistic; unconcerned with practicality. Taken from the name Don Quixote, the hero of a novel by Miguel de Cervantes.
fc Person of no influence or importance.
fd Public announcement of a proposed marriage.