gingham

"...she wore a huge gingham apron with pockets..."

Chapter 6, page 96, Steinbeck Centennial Edition

I believe that gingham is some kind of material that was used for clothing.

scudded

"...the brown, dry leaves on the ground scudded a few feet."

Chapter 6, page 95, Steinbeck Centennial Edition

Based on the context in which the word is used, I believe that it means the
leaves blew or floated a few feet along the ground.

pugnacious

"He glanced coldly at George and then at Lennie. ... His glance was at once calculating and pugnacious."

Page 96 Chapter 6

hard-bitten: tough and callous by virtue of experience

hoosegow

“On the trigger of the hoosegow.”

Page 56 Chapter 3

Another word for jail or the "slammer"

bindle

George unslung his bindle and dropped it gently on the bank.

Page 3
Chapter 1
Penguin Classic
I think a bindle is something that holds something.

graybacks

"...'then how come he got graybacks?' Gerorge was working up a slow anger."

page 18 chapter 2

Penguin Classic

I have no idea what graybacks means, but for some reason I think it has to do with money, although that may be completely wrong.

mottled

"sycamores with mottled, white, recumbent limbs and ranches that arch over the
pool."

page 1 chapter 1

Penguin Classic

Although I am not to sure what mottled means, when I researched the word a book called the Mottled Dawn appeared. Therefore, i think it means something beautiful, used to describe nature, maybe having to do with streaks of sun or color.

dabbled

"Lennie dabbled his big paw in the water and wiggled his fingers so the water
arose in little splashes."

page 3 chapter 1

Penguin Classic


I remember from middle school my art teacher would always say "dabble your paint brush." It means to splatter and often used in art termonology.

scowled

"The little man jerked down the rim of his hat and scowled over at Lennie."

Page 4 chapter 1

Penguin Classic

At FreeDictionary.com they said it is used to express anger or displeasure.

droned

"Lennie droned to himself softley, 'I ain't gonna say nothin'.."

page 6 chapter 1

Penguin Classic

I have heared the word droned used in many other stories read in school. I think it could be a synonym for moan, complain or, groan.

recumbent

"...and sycamores with mottled, white, recumbent limbs and branchedthat arch
over the pool."

ch. 1 pg. 1 Steinbeck Centennial Edition Penguin

I really don't know what this means, but my guess is that it means bent.

Liniment

"Crooks sat on his bunk and looked at the door for a moment, and then he
reached for the liniment bottle."

Pg 83 Penguin Edition

I think this has to do with some kind of medicine.

Sycamores

"there is a
path through the willows and among the sycamores..."

chapter 1 pg 1 Penguin Edition

i think it has something to do with trees?

scuttled

"Lennie fairly scuttled out of the room."

ch. 3 pg. 41 Steinbeck Centennial Edition Penguin


I think this means to exit in a quick or quiet manner.

mottled

"But by the pool among the mottled sycamores, a pleasant shade had fallen."

chapter 6, page 97, Penguin Books

Mottled means spotted or blotched with different shades or colors.

apprehension

"Well, s'pose, jus' s'pose he don't come back. What'll you do then?" Lennie's face wrinkled with apprehension.

chapter 4, page 70, Penguin Books

Apprehension is a noun that means fearful or uneasy anticipation of the future.

wisps

"The resting horses nibbled the remaining wisps of hay, and they stamped their feet and they bit the wood of the mangers and rattled the halter chains."

chapter 5, page 82, Penguin Books

A wisp is a small bundle or bunch of straw, hair or grass.

plaintively

"I don't want no trouble, he said plaintively."

chapter 2, page 29, Penguin Books

This word means sorrowful or melancholy.

derision

"Through the open door came the thuds and occasional clangs of a horseshoe game, and now and then the sound of voices raised in approval or derision."

chapter 3, page 38, Penguin Books

This word is a noun that means contemptuous or jeering laughter; ridicule.

slough

"He'd slough me!"

Chapter 2, page 27, Penguin Books Ltd.


dictionary.com says,
verb (used without object)

5.	to be or become shed or cast off, as the slough of a snake.

6.	to cast off a slough.

7.	Pathology. to separate from the sound flesh, as a slough.

8.	Cards. to discard a card or cards.

–verb (used with object)

9.	to dispose or get rid of; cast (often fol. by off): to slough off a bad habit.

10.	to shed as or like a slough.

11.	Cards. to discard (cards).