besmirch
smear so as to make dirty or stained
bight
a bend or curve (especially in a coastline)
brine
a strong solution of salt and water used for pickling
bushel
a United States dry measure equal to 4 pecks or 2152.42 cubic inches
dray
a low heavy horse cart without sides; used for haulage
erstwhile
belonging to some prior time
forsooth
an archaic word originally meaning `in truth' but now usually used to express disbelief
heir
a person entitled by law to inherit the estate of another
hither
to this place (especially toward the speaker)
**added
mizzen
fore-and-aft sail set on the mizzenmast
Middle English - comes from latin medianus
ness
a strip of land projecting into a body of water
oft
many times at short intervals
pannikin
a small pan or cup (usually of tin)
scaup
diving ducks of North America having a bluish-grey bill
soothsayer
someone who makes predictions of the future
stalwart
having rugged physical strength
swain
a man who is the lover of a girl or young woman
thither
to or toward that place; away from the speaker
thwart
hinder or prevent, as an effort, plan, or desire
weir
a low dam built across a stream to raise its level or divert its flow
whence
from what place, source, or cause
wight
a human being; `wight' is an archaic term
archaic term for human
sleight
adroitness in using the hands
tithe
a levy of one tenth of something
piddock
marine bivalve that bores into rock or clay or wood by means of saw-like shells
liverish
suffering from or suggesting a liver disorder or gastric distress
banshee
a female spirit who wails to warn of impending death
forswear
formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief
wizened
lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness
shriveled
(used especially of vegetation) having lost all moisture
trumpery
ornamental objects of no great value
forswear
formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief
Beowulf
the legendary hero of an anonymous Old English epic poem composed in the early 8th century; he slays a monster and becomes king but dies fighting a dragon