Homage to Catalonia Glossary

Homage to Catalonia Glossary

By · Edited by Patrick Kennedy · Last reviewed

Homage

(noun) to pay respects to or reference back to. In the context of war it is to give honor to.

Catalonia

(place) a region in Northeastern Spain. It was known for its fierce and destructive fighting during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939).

Red and black

(term) the colors of the Anarchist flag, used to represent the ideology of Anarchy.

Porron

(noun) a type of wine vessel/pitcher common in the Spanish region of Catalonia. Its long neck allows everyone to drink from it without actually touching/contaminating the vessel with their lips.

Carabineros

(noun) The Spanish term for “carabiniers” or soldiers who use a carbine in war.

Mañana

(noun) technically Spanish for “tomorrow”, but, as Orwell writes, it actually means “eventually”. Any of his requests who be met with repetives “mañanas”. It was a common excuse used by commanding officers and soldiers during the war to avoid taking actions or filling requests.

Marshal

(verb) to gather troops for action in war.

Pannikins

(noun) a small metal cup used for drink or food in the trenches during a war.

Commissar

(noun) a high-ranking official in a Communist party often in charge of some department.

Conscripts

(noun) those drafted, or forced to, fight in a war.

Centuria

(noun) a military unit composed of 100 soldiers.

Sierra

(noun) Spanish for “mountain range”.

Sentries

(noun) those appointed to watch an area for enemy combatants during war.

Desultory

(adjective) without a plan of action or strategy.

Jingo

(noun) one who is easily swayed to support a war for a certain cause.

Pantomime

(verb) to express a meaning or action through gesture.

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