Shlemihl
(Yiddish) a character archetype of the unlucky, klutzy fool
Fashoda Incident
A geopolitical crisis in 1898, in which the imperial powers of Britain and France struggled for territory in East Africa, threatening war; Britain, ultimately, triumphed
scungille
a mollusk (especially, when eaten as a delicacy)
reconnaissance
A preliminary search of a region (often, for military tactics); a scouting expedition
catatonic
(informal) immobile; unresponsive (from the behavioral syndrome of 'catatonia')
C of E
acronym for Church of England
jarhead
(informal) nickname for a US Marine
sjambok
(in South Africa) a heavy, stiff whip, often made of rhinoceros hide
gaucho
a cowboy of the South American pampas (plains of Northeast Argentina, Uruguay, Southern Brazil, and Southern Chile); an archetype of folklore
deracinated
uprooted from one's home/heritage
interregnum
a period of governmental pause, during the transition between rulers and/or regimes
peregrine
wandering; migratory; of a foreign place
crepitate
to make a crackling, rattling sound
spoor
(noun) the tracks, droppings, or scent of an animal (especially, wild);
(verb) to follow someone or something's trail
stochastic
characterized by randomness; defined by chance
mosey
to hurry away; or: to walk aimlessly
lambent
(of light) glowing or gleaming gently
demimonde
a subsection of the population (often women) of poor reputation, outcast; or: the world of prostitution
dance of death
Danse macabre; an artistic portrayal of the living convivial with the dead (often of the Middle Ages)
