Early words

Many of the following words are no longer in use, or are no longer in use in particular senses. Many of them are marked hist. [ = historical] meaning that they are only used with historical reference, that is only used when we are talking about the past.

What are the historical senses of the following words?

What do the words in the list have in common?

Why do you feel they have been included in your dictionary?

birthstain

bolter

canary

conditional emancipation

cornstalk

croppy

currency lad

dump (sense 2)

educated

emancipist

free-born

gentleman convict

holey dollar

ironed gang

knight of the road

legitimate

new chum

old chum

public servant

remittance man

servant of the crown

servitude

sevener

sterling

take to the woods (see wood)

ticket-of-leave

triangle

Vandemonian

Updated:  19 October 2010/Responsible Officer:  Head of School/Page Contact:  CASS Marketing & Communications