Bully Boys Vocabulary List Ch.1-5

Loyalist – people who stayed loyal to Britain during the American Revolution and the War of 1812

Stead – a male horse

Receding (to recede) – to withdraw or fall back

Putter – to move or act aimlessly  

Reinforcements – back up or extra help

Reins – part of a harness that the rider holds to control the horse

Blue coats – American soldiers

Commanding – to tell someone what to do

Hesitant – unsure if you should act

Illustrious – outstanding because of rank or achievement

Brigade -  military unit composed of people for special activity

Ammunition – material for attacking or defending a position

Cavalry – a group of people who move together (in Bully Boys, it’s a group of people moving together on horses)

Red coat – British soldiers serving the King

Cavalrymen – the men who make up the army riding on the group of horses

Trough – gutter shaped object that holds water, usually for animals to drink out of

Musket – weapon with small fire

Coot – a harmless, simple person

Coaxing (to coax) – urging someone or influencing someone to do something.

Plundered (to plunder) – stealing things

Shielded (to shield) - to protect from danger or damage

Militia - A group of civilians that form their own military unit (they have military training but are only called into action in emergencies)

Deception (to deceive) – to make someone believe something untrue

Famine – a great lack of food (towards starvation)

Regiment – organized body of troops and unit in the army

Hemmed (hem) – a border of cloth stitched together

Powder Horn – a bullhorn full of gun powder used to reload a gun

Definitely – of course, something that is for sure

Sympathizers – feel compassion for someone and understanding

Balked (to balk) – not finishing an action, or stopping short of the end

Invader – someone who takes over someone else’s land

Rump – upper rounded part of the hind quarters of an animal

Green Tigers – A group of 50 men on the British side (also known as the Bully Boys)

Squirrelled – to store away

Cripple – A partly disabled individual

Bluster – A storm or something loud

Stride – to move with longer spaced steps

To Retreat – to back away from something

Boisterous – marked by high spirits

Massa – a slave term for “master” or the person in charge

Certainty – being very certain or convinced that something is the case

Petticoat – a skirt that is worn under a dress or outer skirt

Aide – when a military officer acts as an assistant (helper)

Bugle – instrument resembling a trumpet

Bugler – someone who plays the bugle

Flank – refers to the sides of something (going to the flank)

Pickets – a soldier on the front line

Flats – refers to wooden boards you walk across to get from shore to the boat

Negotiating – to confer with someone to come to an agreement