Othello, Act 1 Scene 1
Glossary of difficult Elizabethan terms in Act 1 Scene 1 of Othello
Terms
undefined, object
copy deck
- Florentine
- A foreigner; not a Venetian
- Barbary horse
- African stallion
- Jennets
- Little Spanish horses
- Tupping
- Copulating with (a language of sheep-farmers)
- Provender
- Feeding
- Germans
- Blood relations
- Saucy
- Insolent
- Like timorous
- Such frightening
- Grange
- Isolated country house
- Dull watch
- Late time
- Arithmetician
- Theorist
- Certes
- Assuredly; certainly
- Bombast
- Fancy
- Doting on
- Enjoying
- Bags
- Money-bags
- Tinder
- Tinder-box
- Devision
- Devising; strategic planning
- Odd-even
- Just after midnight
- Toged
- Wearing official gowns (like the Roman toga)
- Counter-caster
- Petty accountant
- Charms
- Spells, love-potions
- The devil
- In some traditions, the devil is depicted as black
- Cashier'd
- Dismissed, sacked
- Maidhood
- Girlish immaturity
- Peculiar
- Personal, private
- Taper
- Candle
- Knee-crooking knave
- Bowing and scraping servant
- Be lee'd
- Be delayed
- Certes
- Military jargon
- Coursers
- Racehorses
- Zounds
- By God's wounds
- Haunt
- Hang
- Spinster
- Person (usually a woman) who spins wool
- Off-capp'd
- Removed their hats (a sign of respect)
- Complement extern
- Outward demonstration
- Distempering draughts
- Intoxicating drink
- Loud
- Good
- Thick-lips
- An insult to 'the Moor', suggesting he is negroid
- 'Sblood
- By Christ's blood; a strong oath
- Covered with
- Mated with
- Owe
- Possess
- Deserve
- Reward
- Making the beast with two backs
- Having sex
- Old black ram
- A reference to Othello
- Charg'd
- Ordered