Of Mice and Men Ch. 2 Vocabulary

bunkhouse

a building for the sleeping quarters of ranch workers

whitewashed

a composition, as of lime and water or of whiting, size, and water, used for whitening walls, woodwork, etc.

latch

spring-loaded door lock that can only be opened from the outside with a key

burlap ticking

cloth case for a mattress made from a coarse, inexpensive, woven fabric

occupant

someone who lives at a particular place for a prolonged period or who was born there

talcum powder

a toilet powder made of purified talc and usually scented

vial

a small bottle that contains a drug (especially a sealed sterile container for injection by needle)

cast-iron

molten iron poured into a mould to make a product

rushing stars

falling stars, shooting stars

stoop-shouldered

hunched

scourge

a person who inspires fear or dread

splotch

an irregularly shaped spot

bristly

stiff and prickly

liniment

a medicinal liquid that is rubbed into the skin to relieve muscular stiffness and pain

hearty

healthy; strong

to relish

to enjoy greatly

stocky

heavy and compact in form or stature

Stetson hat

a broad-brimmed, high crowned felt hat of beaver and rabbit skins

cultivator

a farm implement used to break up the surface of the soil (for aeration and weed control and conservation of moisture)

bale

a large bundle bound for storage or transport

cesspool

underground reservoir for waste

viciously

likely to do evil

muzzle

a leather or wire restraint that fits over an animal's snout (especially a dog's nose and jaws) and prevents it from eating or biting

nosey

curious

to mollify

to calm; soothe

pugnacious

ready and able to resort to force or violence

to squirm

to move uncomfortably, nervously

levelly

calmly

ominously

In a way that threatens danger

vaseline

a trademarked brand of petroleum jelly

derogatory

insulting or intended to insult

plaintively

expressing sorrow or melancholy; mournfully

to contort

1. (transitive) To twist in a violent manner; as, features contorted with fury.
2. (intransitive) To twist into or as if into a strained shape or expression.

brittle

easily broken when subjected to pressure

apprehensive

in fear or dread of possible evil or harm

complacently

in a self-satisfied way

to douse

to plunge into water, throw liquid on