Wondrous Words Wednesday 14/3/12

Wondrous Words Wednesday is a fabulous weekly meme hosted by Bermuda Onion, where we share new (to us) words that we’ve encountered in our weekly reading.  

Recently I read The Wind in the Willows for the first time. It was a treasure trove of new words. I've already made one Wondrous Words post from it.  This is the second. 

1. Corsair (Noun)

They gave us a capital one last year, about a field-mouse who was captured at sea by a Barbary corsair, and made to row in a galley; and when he escaped and got home again, his lady-love had gone into a convent.

i) A pirate, especially along the Barbary Coast

ii) A swift pirate ship, often operating with official sanction. The Free Dictionary. 

2. Wonted (adjective)

It was a bright morning in the early part of summer; the river had resumed its wonted banks and its accustomed pace, and a hot sun seemed to be pulling everything green and bushy and spiky up out of the earth towards him, as if by strings. 

Accustomed, usual. The Free Dictionary. 

3. Panoply (Noun)

A good deal of his blustering spirit seemed to have evaporated with the removal of his fine panoply. 

i) A splendid or striking array: a panoply of colourful flags.

ii) Ceremonial attire with all accesories: a portrait of the general in full panoply.

iii) Something that covers and protects: a porcupine's panoply of quills. 

iv) The complete arms and armor of a warrior. The Free Dictionary. 

The meaning here is a bit of all 4 I think. They have just removed Toad from his motor-clothes. 

4. Casquet (Noun)

...up time-worn stairs, past men-at-arms in casquet and corselet of steel, darting threatening looks through their vizards;

A light open casque (15-16th century term for any armour for the head; usually ornate without a visor), without a visor or beaver. 

Oh dear it just gets more confusing, beaver here refers to a piece of armour attached to a helmet or breastplate to protect the mouth and chin. Or indeed the visor. It's all rather circuitous. And seriously, how much would these kids have known about 16th century armour?

Picture credit

5. Corselet (Noun)

Body armour for the trunk, usually consists of a breastplate and back piece. 

Picture credit

6. Halberds (Noun)

past ancient warders, their halberds leant against the wall, dozing over a pasty and a flagon of brown ale:

A two-handed pole weapon that came to prominent use during the 14th and 15th centuries. Wiki. 

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