Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Wondrous Words Wednesday - January 20, 2010

Wondrous Words Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Kathy aka Bermuda Onion where we share new (to us) words that we’ve encountered in our reading. Feel free to join in the fun.

THE BOOK OF FIRES by Jane Borodale

scarp - Above us the scarp is thickly wooded, up to the open chalk tops where the sheep graze. (p. 4)

scarp: a line of cliffs formed by the faulting or fracturing of the earth's crust; an escarpment.

tallow - I have found tallow candles nibbled down to the wicks before, and green scrubbing soap ridged and pocked with teeth marks. (p. 21)

tallow: the harder fat of sheep, cattle, etc., separated by melting from the fibrous and membranous matter naturally mixed with it, and used to make candles, soap, etc.
cordwainer - There is a shuffle of footsteps and Mrs. Peart, the cordwainer's wife, is looming over me. (p. 30)

cordwainer: a person who makes shoes from cordovan leather.

What new words did you discover this week?

10 comments:

CMash said...

Good ones. New to me.
http://cmashlovestoread.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

I think these are quite difficult words. At least I don't think I could remember their meaning instantly. Well, maybe besides 'scarp' but only because another word for it is 'escarpment' :)

Anonymous said...

Cordovan leather, as opposed to Corinthian leather? Oh Nooz! Ricardo Montalban would not be pleased! LOL.

bermudaonion said...

What interesting words! I was wondering the same thing as the koolaid mom - does a cordwainer only make shoes from one kind of leather? Thanks for participating!

Beth Kephart said...

I have used scarp and tallow. But never ever ever cordwainer.

I think I'd need to start a whole new book to make room for that one.

Kaye said...

Cordwainer - how dumb am I? I thought that was a rope maker. Duh! Thanks for the list.

Jo-Jo said...

These are all great words and this is the first I have heard of this book. I will be anxiously awaiting your review.

Margot said...

Your new words are a nice teaser for this book. Cordwainer made me think of cords of wood, not the leather of shoes. Interesting.

Sherrie said...

Hi!
Great words! I knew what tallow was but the others are new to me. Thanks for sharing. Have a great day!

Sherrie
Just Books
http://sherriesbooks.blogspot.com/2010/01/wondrous-words-wedensday.html

Lisa notes... said...

Scarp is definitely new to me. As is cordwainer. Interesting!