{"id":99,"date":"2008-12-06T15:54:59","date_gmt":"2008-12-06T20:54:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hewins.org\/dhh\/2008\/12\/06\/the-road-words\/"},"modified":"2022-12-13T23:52:13","modified_gmt":"2022-12-14T04:52:13","slug":"the-road-words","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.hewins.org\/dhh\/2008\/12\/06\/the-road-words\/","title":{"rendered":"The Road<\/em>: words"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are a handful of words in Cormac McCarthy’s The Road<\/em> that I didn’t (or should I say didnt) know. And I suspected that some of them are made up by McCarthy. So, I searched a few ways for these words: in definr<\/a>, dictionary.com<\/a>, google<\/a>, and wikipedia.<\/a><\/p>\n

“He descended into a gryke<\/strong> in the stone…” (p11)<\/p>\n

It’s an obscure geological term.<\/p>\n

Found through google: reverso<\/a><\/p>\n

gryke<\/strong>: n\u00a0 a variant spelling of\u00a0 grike<\/p>\n

grike<\/strong>: n a solution fissure, a vertical crack about 0.5 m wide formed by the dissolving of limestone by water, that divides an exposed limestone surface into sections or clints<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

“Her nipples pipeclayed<\/strong> and her rib bones painted white.” (p18)<\/p>\n

This one is pretty darn obscure, as well.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

definr:<\/p>\n

pipeclay<\/strong> (http:\/\/definr.com\/pipeclay)<\/p>\n

n : fine white clay used in making tobacco pipes and pottery and
\nin whitening leather [syn: terra alba]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

dictionary.com:<\/p>\n

Pipeclay<\/strong>
\nPipe”clay`\\, v. t. 1. To whiten or clean with pipe clay, as a soldier’s accouterments.<\/p>\n

2. To clear off; as, to pipeclay accounts. [Slang, Eng.]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

“China in a breakfront<\/strong>, cups hanging from their hooks.” (p21)<\/p>\n

Apparently this really is a piece of furniture.<\/p>\n

dictionary.com:<\/p>\n

\n

breakfront<\/strong>
\nadjective
\n1. (of a cabinet, bookcase, etc.) having a central section extending forward from those at either side.
\nnoun
\n2. a cabinet or the like having such a front.
\nOrigin:
\n1925-30; break + front<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

“…squatted and laved<\/strong> up the dark water.” (p38 plus p122, p147)<\/p>\n

So, McCarthy decided to use the “obsolete” use of this word a bunch of times:<\/p>\n

dictionary.com:<\/p>\n

lave<\/strong>
\nverb, laved, laving.
\nverb (used with object)
\n1. to wash; bathe.
\n2. (of a river, sea, etc.) to flow along, against, or past; wash.
\n3. Obsolete. to ladle; pour or dip with a ladle.
\nverb (used without object)
\n4. Archaic. to bathe.
\nOrigin:
\nbef. 900; ME laven, partly < OF laver < L lav\u00c4\u0081re to wash; partly repr. OE lafian to pour water on, wash, itself perh. < L lav\u00c4\u0081re<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

wikipedia returned the entry for “washing” (http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Laved)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“…the river was choked with great windrows<\/strong> of black limbs…”; “Piled in a windrow<\/strong> in one corner of the roomwas a great heap of clothing.” (p44, p107)<\/p>\n

I guess this one works. It’s a stretch but that doesnt bother me. It’s called poetic license, isnt it?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

dictionary.com:<\/p>\n

windrow<\/strong>
\nnoun
\n1. a row or line of hay raked together to dry before being raked into heaps.
\n2. any similar row, as of sheaves of grain, made for the purpose of drying.
\n3. a row of dry leaves, dust, etc., swept together by the wind.
\nverb (used with object)
\n4. to arrange in a windrow.
\nOrigin:
\n1515\u00e2\u20ac\u201c25; wind 1 + row 1<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

click “read more” to read more.<\/p>\n


\n“Sited<\/strong> there in the darkness the frail blue shape of it looked…” (p48)<\/p>\n

This is obviously the verb form.<\/p>\n

dictionary.com:<\/p>\n

site<\/strong>
\nnoun, verb, sit\u00e2\u2039\u2026ed, sit\u00e2\u2039\u2026ing.
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u201cnoun
\n1. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 the position or location of a town, building, etc., esp. as to its environment: the site of our summer cabin.
\n2. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 the area or exact plot of ground on which anything is, has been, or is to be located: the site of ancient Troy.
\n3. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Computers. Web site.
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u201cverb (used with object)
\n4. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 to place in or provide with a site; locate.
\n5. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 to put in position for operation, as artillery: to site a cannon.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

“…where he was used to stropping<\/strong> the blade of his knife.” (p63)<\/p>\n

dictionary.com:<\/p>\n

strop<\/strong>
\nnoun, verb, stropped, strop\u00e2\u2039\u2026ping<\/strong>.
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u201cnoun
\n1. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 any of several devices for sharpening razors, esp. a strip of leather or other flexible material.
\n2. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Also, strap. Nautical, Machinery.
\na. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 a rope or a band of metal surrounding and supporting a block, deadeye, etc.
\nb. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 a metal band surrounding the pulley of a block to transmit the load on the pulley to its hook or shackle.
\nc. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 a rope sling, as for handling cargo.
\nd. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 a ring or grommet of rope.
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u201cverb (used with object)
\n3. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 to sharpen on or as if on a strop.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

“He was lean, wiry, rachitic<\/strong>” (p63)<\/p>\n

definr:<\/p>\n

rachitic<\/strong> (http:\/\/definr.com\/rachitic<\/a>)
\nadj : of or relating to or resulting from rickets<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

dictionary.com:<\/p>\n

rachitic<\/strong>
\nadjective
\naffected with, suffering from, or characteristic of rickets; “rickety limbs and joints”; “a rachitic patient” [syn: rickety]<\/p>\n

WordNet\u00c2\u00ae 3.0, \u00c2\u00a9 2006 by Princeton University.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u00c2\u00a0wikipedia turned up Osteomalacia<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“…and cut a perimeter around their siwash<\/strong> camp…”\u00c2\u00a0 (p68)<\/p>\n

This one seems to have some controversy to it. It can be a derogatory term for ‘natives.’<\/p>\n

dictionary.com:<\/p>\n

si\u00e2\u2039\u2026wash<\/strong>
\nPacific Northwest, Northwest Canada, and Alaska.
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u201cnoun
\n1. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 (sometimes initial capital letter) Disparaging and Offensive. a North American Indian.
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u201cverb (used without object)
\n2. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 to camp out without a tent or supplies.
\nOrigin:
\n1830\u00e2\u20ac\u201c40; < Chinook Jargon < North American F sauvage Indian, F: wild, savage<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

in wikipedia: Chinook Jargon use by English-language speakers<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“The new snow lay in skifts<\/strong> all through the woods…” (p76)<\/p>\n

I couldnt find a definition for this one.\u00c2\u00a0 Score one for me!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“The sacred idiom shorn of its referents<\/strong> and so of its reality.” (p89)<\/p>\n

dictionary.com:<\/p>\n

ref\u00c2\u00b7er\u00c2\u00b7ent<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 (r\u00c4\u203af’\u00c9\u2122r-\u00c9\u2122nt, r\u00c4\u00ad-f\u00c3\u00bbr’\u00c9\u2122nt)
\nn.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 A person or thing to which a linguistic expression refers.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

“…the crude tattoos etched in some homebrewed woad<\/strong> faded in the beggared sunlight.” (p90)<\/p>\n

definr:<\/p>\n

woad<\/strong> (http:\/\/definr.com\/woad<\/a>)
\nn 1: a blue dyestuff obtained from the woad plant
\n2: any of several herbs of the genus Isatis<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u00c2\u00a0dictionary.com:<\/p>\n

woad<\/strong>\u00e2\u20ac\u201a \u00e2\u20ac\u201a\/wo\u00ca\u0160d\/
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u201cnoun
\n1. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 a European plant, Isatis tinctoria, of the mustard family, formerly cultivated for a blue dye extracted from its leaves.
\n2. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 the dye extracted from this plant.
\nOrigin:
\nbef. 1000; ME wode, OE w\u00c4\u0081d (c. G Waid); akin to F gu\u00c3\u00a8de, ML waizda < Gmc<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

wikipedia returned Isatis tinctoria<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“…the crude tattoos etched in some homebrewed woad faded in the beggared<\/strong> sunlight.” (p90)<\/p>\n

I’m not sure this one works for the definition I found. What do you think?<\/p>\n

dictionary.com:<\/p>\n

beg\u00c2\u00b7gar\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 (b\u00c4\u203ag’\u00c9\u2122r)
\ntr.v.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 beg\u00c2\u00b7gared<\/strong>, beg\u00c2\u00b7gar\u00c2\u00b7ing, beg\u00c2\u00b7gars
\n1. To make a beggar of; impoverish.
\n2. To exceed the limits, resources, or capabilities of: beauty that beggars description.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

And there are some that I didn’t know but I suspected they were real words, just that I didn’t know them:<\/p>\n

“She sat there smoking a slender length of dried grapevine as if it were some rare cheroot<\/strong>.” (p56)<\/p>\n

dictionary.com:<\/p>\n

che\u00e2\u2039\u2026root<\/strong> \u00e2\u20ac\u201a\/\u00ca\u0192\u00c9\u2122\u00cb\u02c6rut\/ [shuh-root]
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u201cnoun
\na cigar having open, untapered ends.
\nAlso, sheroot.
\nOrigin:
\n1660\u00e2\u20ac\u201c70; < Tamil curu\u00e1\u00b9\u00ad\u00e1\u00b9\u00adu roll (of tobacco)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u00c2\u00a0wikipedia sez: cheroot<\/a> is also a stogie<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“He walked…through a stile<\/strong> and out to where the boy was waiting.” (p91)<\/p>\n

This makes sense to me. Maybe it’s a turnstile that doesn’t turn.<\/p>\n

dictionary.com:<\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0stile<\/strong> \u00e2\u20ac\u201a\/sta\u00c9\u00aal\/ [stahyl]
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u201cnoun
\n1. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0a series of steps or rungs by means of which a person may pass over a wall or fence that remains a barrier to sheep or cattle.
\n2. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0a turnstile.
\nOrigin:
\nbef. 900; ME; OE stigel, deriv. of st\u00c4\u00abgan to climb, c. G steigen<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u00c2\u00a0Actually, wikipedia’s is best because there are pictures: Stile<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“…and lastly a supplimentary consort of catamites<\/strong> illclothed against the cold and fitted in dogcollars and yoked each to each.” (p92)<\/p>\n

This one is not pleasant, but there aren’t too many things in The Road<\/em> that are. Again, wikipedia comes through with the best one<\/a> for description and because it mentions The Road<\/em>:<\/p>\n

A catamite<\/strong> is the younger partner<\/a> in a pederastic<\/a> relationship between two males, which was a popular arrangement in many areas of the ancient world.<\/p>\n

Kings<\/a> and Emperors<\/a> in the ancient world<\/a> (depending on their sexual orientation<\/a>) had not only concubines<\/a> but also catamites (male concubines), in addition to their many wives<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The word is also used to describe the practice in early Japan<\/a>, where monks would have sexual relationships with younger monks; samurai<\/a> with pages<\/a>; and noblemen with younger members of the aristocracy<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The word catamite<\/em> is derived from the Latin<\/a> catamitus<\/em>, itself borrowed from the Etruscan<\/a> catmite<\/em>, a corruption of the Greek<\/a> Ganymedes<\/em><\/a>, the boy who was seduced by Zeus<\/a> and became his beloved and cup-bearer<\/a> in Greek mythology<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

“The plaster ceiling was bellied in gread swags and the yellowed dentil<\/strong> molding was bowed and sprung…” (p107)<\/p>\n

Okay, wikipedia is turning out to be the best source becuase it has pictures that help. Dentil<\/a><\/p>\n

“…a small tooth-shaped block used as a repeating ornament…”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

“…set the jars carefully in the duff<\/strong> and picked up the pistol…” (p124)<\/p>\n

This one on dictionary.com seems to be the one McCarthy was intending:<\/p>\n

duff<\/strong> \/d\u00ca\u0152f\/ [duhf]
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u201cnoun
\n1. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 organic matter in various stages of decomposition on the floor of the forest.
\n2. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 fine, dry coal, esp. anthracite.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

“…through the paint could be seen a pale palimpsest<\/strong> of advertisements…” (p129)<\/p>\n

Man, these are good words. dictionary.com:<\/p>\n

pal\u00c2\u00b7imp\u00c2\u00b7sest<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 (p\u00c4\u0081l’\u00c4\u00admp-s\u00c4\u203ast’)
\nn.
\n1. A manuscript, typically of papyrus or parchment, that has been written on more than once, with the earlier writing incompletely erased and often legible.
\n2. An object, place, or area that reflects its history: “Spaniards in the sixteenth century . . . saw an ocean moving south . . . through a palimpsest of bayous and distributary streams in forested paludal basins” (John McPhee).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

And wikipedia has pictures: Palimpsest <\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“The cold relentless circling of the intestate<\/strong> earth.” (p130)<\/p>\n

I like this particular usage!<\/p>\n

dictionary.com:<\/p>\n

in\u00e2\u2039\u2026tes\u00e2\u2039\u2026tate\u00e2\u20ac\u201a \u00e2\u20ac\u201a\/\u00c9\u00aan\u00cb\u02c6t\u00c9\u203aste\u00c9\u00aat, -t\u00c9\u00aat\/ [in-tes-teyt, -tit]
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u201cadjective
\n1. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 (of a person) not having made a will: to die intestate.
\n2. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 (of things) not disposed of by will: Her property remains intestate.
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u201cnoun
\n3. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 a person who dies intestate.
\nOrigin:
\n1350\u00e2\u20ac\u201c1400; ME < L intest\u00c4\u0081tus, equiv. to in- in- 3 + test\u00c4\u0081tus testate<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

“…he found a double handful of gold krugerrands<\/strong> in a cloth sack.” (p142)<\/p>\n

This is an interesting choice for McCarthy to have used.<\/p>\n

dictionary.com:<\/p>\n

Kru\u00c2\u00b7ger\u00c2\u00b7rand<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 (kr\u00c5\u008d\u00c5\u008d’g\u00c9\u2122-r\u00c4\u0081nd’, -r\u00c3\u00a4nd’)
\nn.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 A one-ounce gold coin of the Republic of South Africa.
\n[Afrikaans : after Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger + rand, rand; see rand.]\u00c2\u00a0 \"Kruggerands\"<\/p>\n

(photo from wikipedia)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

And then ones that I know are word, just that I didn’t know the definition:<\/p>\n

macadam<\/strong> (all over the place)<\/p>\n

Wikiawesome tells us about macadam<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Macadam<\/strong> is a type of road construction<\/a> pioneered by the Scotsman<\/a> John Loudon McAdam<\/a> in around 1820. The method simplified what had been considered state-of-the-art at that point.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

piedmont<\/strong> (I forgot to mark the page)<\/p>\n

dictionary.com:<\/p>\n

Pied\u00e2\u2039\u2026mont<\/strong> \/\u00cb\u02c6pidm\u00c9\u2019nt\/ [peed-mont]
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u201cnoun
\n1. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 a plateau between the coastal plain and the Appalachian Mountains, including parts of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama.
\n2. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Italian, Piemonte. a region in NW Italy. 4,540,822; 11,335 sq. mi. (29,360 sq. km).
\n3. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 a city in W California, near Oakland. 10,498.
\n4. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 (lowercase) a district lying along or near the foot of a mountain range.
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u201cadjective
\n5. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 (lowercase) lying along or near the foot of a mountain range.
\nOrigin:
\n< It Piemonte lit., foothill<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

“Darkness implacable<\/strong>.” (p130)<\/p>\n

dictionary.com:<\/p>\n

im\u00e2\u2039\u2026plac\u00e2\u2039\u2026a\u00e2\u2039\u2026ble<\/strong> \u00e2\u20ac\u201a\/\u00c9\u00aam\u00cb\u02c6pl\u00c3\u00a6k\u00c9\u2122b\u00c9\u2122l, -\u00cb\u02c6ple\u00c9\u00aak\u00c9\u2122-\/ [im-plak-uh-buhl, -pley-kuh-]
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u201cadjective
\nnot to be appeased, mollified, or pacified; inexorable: an implacable enemy.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

I did this on my second reading of the book but I haven’t finished yet, so, more to come.<\/p>\n

As it turns out, there is only one word that I couldn’t find the definition for, “skifts.” I suspect is has some real meaning though. It may just be more obscure.<\/p>\n

Other interesting things that McCarthy does in the book is to create a lot a new (to me) compound words. It is one of the English Language’s idiosyncrasies that some compound words exist like fireplace and foothills but these, that McCarthy uses are not (yet?) compound words:<\/p>\n