air
in the context of Elizabethan & Jacobean music, an accompanied song or melody, usually in strophic form; the term can be used interchangeably with ballad
arrears
the state of being behind in the discharge of obligations, usually a debt
ballad
a simple and often popular song
catches
popular songs, often burlesque or obscene
coquette
a self-consciously flirtatious woman
Covent Garden
London's largest public gardens and, in previous centuries, a well-known domain of prostitutes
doxy
a floozy, or prostitute
drawer
in the context of the opera, a servingman
Drury Lane
London's theatre district, famous in previous centuries as a domain for streetwalkers
fetters
some type of confinement, usually in the form of chains or shackles
filch
to steal or nab, usually something small
guinea
an English gold coin, issued between 1663 to 1813; it was fixed in value in 1717 at 21 shillings
jointure
an estate or property established for a widow in the event of her husband's death
lock
in the context of the opera, a warehouse for keeping stolen-goods
maxim
the pithy expression of a general truth, fundamental principle, or rule of conduct; a cliche
mercer
a dry goods merchant
Newgate
London's most notorious prison, razed in 1902
perquisite
a tip, or gratuity
recitative
a sung passage delivered in a rhythmically free vocal style, imitating the natural inflections of speech; in operas and oratorios, these passages are often used for dialogue and narration
Sessions
meetings of the criminal court in England
tipple
to drink liquor excessively, but in small amounts
