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Definitions for Murial Robertson

Since my Murial Robertson Mysteries take place in the late 1800s, you might have come across a word or phrase that is not in use today. Not sure on what it meant in the story? Feel free to scan on down this page for definitions.
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Don't see the one you were looking for? Please contact me with the one you have a question on and I will get back to you as soon as I can with an answer.

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The Serpent's Star

Murial Robertson #1

The Serpent's Star Cover

The above definitions are based on the following public domain book, in the United States of America, and have not been altered in any way from their original publication:

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Bartlett, John Russell. Dictionary of Americanisms: A Glossary of Words and Phrases Usually Regarded As Peculiar to The United States. Fourth Edition ed., Little, Brown and Company, 1877.

Boot-Lick - One who cringes to and flatters a superior for the purpose of obtaining favors; a lickspittle, a toady. (used on page 10, 14)

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Lunk-Head - A heavy, stupid fellow. (used on page 12)

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To Wind Up - 1. To close up; to give a quietus to an antagonist in debate. Also, intransitively, to shut up; to stop business. 2. To "wind up his worsted" is to give the very last turn of which an undertaking is capable. (Used on page 11 in the first meaning)

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Soft-horn - A weak, credulous person. (used on page 64)

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Dirt - In California, "dirt" is the universal word to signify the substance dug, — earth, clay, gravel, or loose slate. The miners talk of rich dirt and poor dirt, and of stripping off so many feet of "top dirt" before getting to "pay dirt," the latter meaning dirt with so much gold in it that it will pay to dig it up and wash it. (used on page 70 as poor dirt, meaning lower than dirt itself)

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Angled for Revenge

Murial Robertson #2

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The above definitions are based on the following public domain book, in the United States of America, and have not been altered in any way from their original publication:

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Bartlett, John Russell. Dictionary of Americanisms: A Glossary of Words and Phrases Usually Regarded As Peculiar to The United States. Fourth Edition ed., Little, Brown and Company, 1877.

Boot-Lick - One who cringes to and flatters a superior for the purpose of obtaining favors; a lickspittle, a toady. (used on page 10, 14)

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Lunk-Head - A heavy, stupid fellow. (used on page 12)

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To Wind Up - 1. To close up; to give a quietus to an antagonist in debate. Also, intransitively, to shut up; to stop business. 2. To "wind up his worsted" is to give the very last turn of which an undertaking is capable. (Used on page 11 in the first meaning)

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Soft-horn - A weak, credulous person. (used on page 64)

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Dirt - In California, "dirt" is the universal word to signify the substance dug, — earth, clay, gravel, or loose slate. The miners talk of rich dirt and poor dirt, and of stripping off so many feet of "top dirt" before getting to "pay dirt," the latter meaning dirt with so much gold in it that it will pay to dig it up and wash it. (used on page 70 as poor dirt, meaning lower than dirt itself)

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A Counterfeit of Death

Murial Robertson #3

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The above definitions are based on the following public domain book, in the United States of America, and have not been altered in any way from their original publication:

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Bartlett, John Russell. Dictionary of Americanisms: A Glossary of Words and Phrases Usually Regarded As Peculiar to The United States. Fourth Edition ed., Little, Brown and Company, 1877.

A Funk - 1. Fear, or sensibility to fear; cowardice. 2. A coward. (used on page 4 in the second meaning)

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Mulada - (Spanish) A drove of mules. (used on page 5)

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Sorrel Top - A derisive appellation for a red-haired person. (used on page 11)

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All-hollered - To beat one all- holler, or all hollow , is to beat him thoroughly. (used on page 15)

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Monongahela - A river of Pennsylvania, so called , gave its name to the rye whiskey of which large quantities were produced in its neighborhood, and indeed to American whiskey in general, as distinguished from Usquebaugh and Inishowen, the Scotch and Irish. sorts. (used on page 16)

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All Any More - A common expression in Pennsylvania among the illiterate to mean "all gone." Thus a servant will say, "The potatoes is all any more, i.e. are all gone; or she will say simply, "They's all." (used on page 50)

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Media Kits will be available soon for the Murial Robertson Mysteries.

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