GLOSSARY

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 416.

NOTES

was also handy with the mits – was a good boxer

went to the priest and got a separation from him – The Catholic Church and Irish State do not recognize divorce, but the Church sanctions separations

artistes – ‘artistes' were presumed to have more free and easy attitudes

The Madam – this name reflects the lodgers' view of her as a cunning and firm landlady. The term is also used of the proprietress of a brothel.

“I'm a ... naughty girl.- a song typical of Dublin music-halls of those years. Ironically, Polly shows her nature accurately ad baldly in her song.

Reynold's Newspaper - a Sunday newspaper that supported the policy of the Labour party

to make reparation - (reparation – making good a wrong or sin, used here in its religious sense rather than its legal one)

good screw... bit of stuff put by (coll) – a good salary and some savings

sheriff's man – a messenger in the bailiff's office

pier-glass – a tall wall mirror

foreman

to go to the devil

to plunder the till

to run head-long

take the pledge- take an oath to give up drinking

cleaver

an imposing woman

to give credit

were very chummy with

obscenity

to be handy with

perverse

disreputable

complicity

sash

demeanour

bacon-rind

in a cavalier fashion

to connive

to divine the intention

revery/ reverie

to take advantage of

to bear the brunt

to patch up an affair

had sown his wild oats

rakish

to desist

to brazen sth out

rasping voice

diligence

was being had

celibate

implacable

perturbation