The Thirty-Nine Steps (50 page)

schooners
NOUN
A schooner is a fast, medium-sized sailing ship
if schooners, islands, and maroons
(
Treasure Island
by Robert Louis Stevenson)

science
NOUN
learning or knowledge
Even Science, too, at hand
(
The Prelude
by William Wordsworth)

scrouge
VERB
to scrouge means to squeeze or to crowd
to scrouge in and get a sight
(
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
by Mark Twain)

scrutore
NOUN
a scrutore, or escritoire, was a writing table
set me gently on my feet upon the scrutore
(
Gulliver’s Travels
by Jonathan Swift)

scutcheon/escutcheon
NOUN
an escutcheon is a shield with a coat of arms, or the symbols of a family name, engraved
on it
On the scutcheon we’ll have a bend
(
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
by Mark Twain)

sea-dog
PHRASE
sea-dog is a slang term for an experienced sailor or pirate
a ‘true sea-dog’, and a ‘real old salt,’
(
Treasure Island
by Robert Louis Stevenson)

see the lions
PHRASE
to see the lions was to go and see the sights of London. Originally the phrase referred
to the menagerie in the Tower of London and later in Regent’s Park
We will go and see the lions for an hour or two – it’s something to have a fresh fellow
like you to show them to, Copperfield
(
David Copperfield
by Charles Dickens)

self-conceit
NOUN
self-conceit is an old term which means having too high an opinion of oneself, or
deceiving yourself
Till swollen with cunning, of a self-conceit
(
Doctor Faustus chorus
by Christopher Marlowe)

seneschal
NOUN
a steward
where a grey-headed seneschal sings a funny chorus with a funnier body of vassals
(
Oliver Twist
by Charles Dickens)

sensible
ADJ
if you were sensible of something you are aware or conscious of something
If my children are silly I must hope to be always sensible of it
(
Pride and Prejudice
by Jane Austen)

sessions
NOUN
court cases were heard at specific times of the year called sessions
He lay in prison very ill, during the whole interval between his committal for trial,
and the coming round of the Sessions
. (
Great Expectations
by Charles Dickens)

shabby
ADJ
shabby places look old and in bad condition
a little bit of a shabby village named Pikesville
(
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
by Mark Twain)