Great Guns
The formidable artillery cannons mounted on warships. The term "Great" suggests something large and powerful, with positive implications that soon reveal themselves as ironic.
Chancel
The chancel is the section of the church that everyone faces throughout the service.
Window-squares
The stained-glass windows behind the chancel of the cathedral.
Altar-crumb
Bread crumbs left on the altar in the church, presumably after the Holy Communion service.
Glebe cow
A cow that the priest keeps on a patch of land in the church compound that he uses to support himself.
Red war
The bloodiness of war.
Mad as hatters
Crazy, demented.
Christés sake
Christés means Christ, as in Jesus Christ. The expression Christés sake refers to adhering to the Christian doctrine which promotes peace and love.
Scour
Scour refers to cleaning with abrasive soap and sponge. In the poem, scouring the floor is a form of punishment.
Stonehenge
A well-known structure composed of stones arranged in a large circle believed to have been built between 2000 and 3000 BCE.
