Thistle
a wild plant found on fields and which has small thorns on the stem
Reeds
a tall grass which grows near still bodies of water
Spluttering
a person or a machine which makes a splitting sound
Flogging
an ancient punishment through which a person is whipped violently
Usher
in this context, a person in a court of law who swears in witnesses
Toffee
a popular type of sweets which is chewy
Chaise
used here to make reference to a lounge chair
Unfeigned
sincere
To belaud
to praise to an extreme
To be discredited
to lose credibility or perceived trustworthiness