From the Yarns of Black Vulmea

Five Entries for the Robert E. Howard Lexicon

Before lending out Black Vulmea’s Vengeance last year I did note which words needed to be addressed but failed to lift quotes for them, Crom forgive me.

Note from Lynn:  Internet to the rescue!  Robert E. Howard's work is available at Gutenberg Australia (link gets you to 'H' authors, scroll down a bit and you'll find Howard).

Winsome

"Truth, there are few women who could endure such exertions, sleep all night on the bare sand of a cavern floor and still look elegant and winsome." 

The Isle of Pirate's Doom.

Attractive or appealing in appearance or manner, in an innocent or childlike way. From the old English wynn, circa 900.

Plaint

"All was silent save for the occasional raucous plaint of some jungle bird."
The Isle of Pirate's Doom.

In British law a charge or wrongdoing. In literature the act of mourning or lament, possibly even in song.

From the Middle English: from Old French plainte, feminine past participle of plaindre ‘complain’, or from Old French plaint, from Latin planctus ‘beating of the breast’.

Certes
"But, certes, any man could look on that accursed shrine and instinctively feel that doom overshadowed the place."
The Isle of Pirate's Doom.

Certainly or assuredly, to be sure

From the Middle English: from Old French, based on Latin certus ‘settled, sure’.

Gorge

"My gorge rose against running and hiding from them, but I saw naught else to do."
The Isle of Pirate's Doom.

Gullet or throat, related to gulch, gizzard and guzzle and the root for the knightly neck guard or gorget worn into modern times.

From the Middle English (as a verb): from Old French gorger, from gorge ‘throat’, based on Latin gurges ‘whirlpool’. The noun originally meant ‘throat’ and is from Old French gorge; gorge (sense 1 of the noun) dates from the mid-18th century.

Alarums

"At the first alarum, she had attacked Gower and he had met her with his blade held in a posture for defense rather than attack."
The Isle of Pirate's Doom.

Shouts of alarm or an archaic term for alarm of an unknown origin.

(c) 2018 James LaFond