Glossary
abolitionist - a person active in the movement to do away with slavery
acre - a measure of land
blotter - a piece or pad of blotting paper
boarding house - a house where paying guests are provided with meals and a room to sleep
bookkeeper - a person who records the money earned and spent for a company
brownstone - a house built or faced with brownish-red sandstone
buggy - a small, light, one-horse carriage usually having four wheels
bun - a tight roll of hair worn at the back of the head
chaperone - a person who goes with a young unmarried woman in public
charity - giving help to those in need
chores - jobs to be done around a house or farm
commission house - a company that makes money buying and selling things for other companies
corncob pipe - a pipe with a bowl made of a dried, hollowed corncob
courtship - the act of trying to get someone's love
custom - a practice followed by a group of people
deeded - gave property using a legal document (paper)
diligently - working very hard
dip pen - a writing tool that had to be dipped in ink
federal - having to do with the government of the United States
foundation - an organization that gives money to fund causes
goods - things that are bought and sold
hansom cab - a two-wheeled covered carriage with the driver's seat above and behind the cab
hookworm - a disease of the intestines
incorporate - to combine several companies into one
industry - having to do with one kind of business
kerosene - a thin oil that burns, made from petroleum, used as a fuel for heating and cooking and for lighting lamps.
landscape - to change the way land looks by clearing it, moving soil and planting trees, shrubs, etc.
ledger - a book in which money that is earned and spent is recorded
mutton-chop whiskers - side whiskers that are narrow at the temple, broad along the lower cheek
Numerica - a game
petroleum - an oily flammable liquid from oil wells drilled in the ground, refined into gasoline, kerosene and other products.
refinery - a plant (building) where products such as petroleum or sugar go through a process to purify (clean) them
research - to study carefully
restore - to bring back to an original condition
rural - country-like area
stickpin - a decorative pin worn on a necktie
tall desk - a desk where you stand while working
trust - a combination of companies for the purpose of reducing competition and controlling prices throughout a business or an industry
whale-oil lamp - a lamp that burns whale oil