Glossary
British Words and PronunciationsBallcock(89)- Mechanism in a flush toilet to fill the tank and to prevent backflow and overflow.
Birk (103)- (bɪrk) a birch tree. in context, Ben calls Gus "You birk!", comparing him to a tree as an insult to his intelligence. Blimey (101)- (ˈblīmē) British slang used to express surprise, excitement, or alarm. Bloke (93)- (bloʊk) British slang for a man. Bob (105)- A British slang term for a shilling. Crockery (91)- (ˈkrɒkəri) Plates, cups, dishes, saucer, etc. especially for tea. Football (93)- Americans call it soccer. Football is a national sport of the UK, and England is where the first official code of rules were established in 1863. Since then, people have been fanatics about football and it is now the most popular and rich sport in the UK. There are records of every single game that has been played since the leagues were established, free to be viewed online. See "Time" in the World of the Play for more information about the teams. Lavatory- (ˈlavəˌtôrē) British word for bathroom. In the 1950's they generally were a light pastel color, usually green, pink, or blue. Lavatory chain- The chain pulled to flush the toilet. Light the kettle (97)- Phrase used in Britain meaning to light the stove and boil water for tea. Lorry (86)- (ˈlôrē) A truck usually used to transport troops or a large amount of goods. They eventually became the semi trucks of today. Pong (92)- (pɒŋ) British Slang for a bad smell. Kaw/Carr- Interjection, guttural sound. Kip (91)- To take a short nap. Rheumatism (91)- (ˈrü-mə-ˌti-zəm) A nonspecific medical term for stiffness and swelling of the joints. Shilling (101)- (SHiliNG) Formally used British coin that was one twentieth of a pound or twelve pence. Wireless (91)- A wireless radio. FoodBraised steak and chips (103)- A common British meal. Chips are what Americans call fries.
Cadbury (108)- A type of chocolate. Crisps (105)- What Americans call chips. Tea- A drink exceedingly important in British society. They have a whole meal centered around drinking it and other biscuits. Eccles Cake (105)- (e-kəlz) A light, flakey pastry that is stuffed with fruit. Jam Tart (104)- A traditional English dessert. It is a light pastry with jam on top. Liver and onions (104)- A very traditional English dish. Macaroni Pastitsio (108)- (päs-ˈtēt-sē-(ˌ)ō) A Greek and Mediterranean baked pasta dish. Ormitha Macarounada (108)- A made up dish by Pinter for The Dumb Waiter. According to Ben it is a high-class exotic dish that takes many chefs to make it. Sago Pudding (103)- (sāɡō) A sweet pudding made from boiling sago with water or milk. Sago is a starch taken from various tropical plants. Tapioca pudding is similar to sago pudding. PropsBag (101)- A bag specific to the 1950's that would have been used by men.
Beds in the 1950s- Considering Ben and Gus were in a basement, the beds would not be very fancy. They would be just a mattress and a frame, big enough to fit one man. Braces- The British word for suspenders. Popular in the 1950's. Cigarette packet- Smoking was completely embedded in society in the 1950's. The notion that it was a health risk was just starting to appear, but they tried to keep it low key because they didn't want to frighten people about cancer. Dumbwaiter- A small elevator used for objects and food rather than people. Has a speaking tube attached so one doesn't have to shout up the shaft. Also noted as a serving hatch in the stage directions. See Imagery for more information. Gas stove (96)- Stoves in the 1950's operated primarily on gas. Guns of the 1950s- Revolvers were one of the most common firearm of the time, and it is the type of gun mentioned in the play. Ben's gun would be a nicer quality because he goes on about how Gus has not polished or prepared his gun at all. Gus's gun would be shabbier and of a lower quality. Newspapers- Newspapers, along with radio, were the primary ways to get the news in the 1950's. By the end of this decade, the switch had been made to TV's, but the newspaper was still important. Matches and matchboxes- While lighters had been invented by the 1950's, many people still used matches to light their cigarettes. Places and PeopleAston Villa- The Brimingham football team that plays in Villa Park. See "Time" in The World of the Play for more information.
The First Eleven (89)- Cricket players. Ben and Gus see a picture of them in the newspaper, though they don't know much more than they are the First Eleven. The term means the leading first eleven players in cricket or football. They are often the best on the team for the position they play and are the first players on a field at the start of the game. Tottenham Hotspurs- The Tottenham football team that plays in White Park Lane. See "Time" in World of the Play for more information. Birmingham- The second biggest city in Britain. It was the most prosperous provincial city until the late 1970's. After World War II, the city lost the ability to make most of its own decisions because the central government was expanding its role. Because of bomb damage from the war, the city's government went to work on rebuilding most of the city, especially the slum areas and the city centre. |
|