The Casual Vacancy Glossary

The Casual Vacancy Glossary

Casual Vacancy

A situation in which a seat in a deliberate assembly, in this case a Town Council, becomes available whilst the assembly is in session.

Town Council

The British equivalent of a city commission

Council Estate

British equivalent of public housing, or projects

Abacus

One of the first counting instruments, an ancient calculator that consists of beads strung along a grid.

Tantamount

Almost the same thing

Decorum

Socially acceptable behavior; forced manners

Tallied

Added up

Proximity

Closeness

Sturdy

Chunky, well-built

Fermenting

The process of using yeast to make either bread or beer

Alchemical

Another form of early chemistry; alchemists were part scientist, part wizard in traditional or Medieval literature

Hooker

Prostitute

Royal China

A typically middle class possession; royal china was made by china companies that carried the official seal of Her Majesty the Queen, such as Royal Doulton or Royal Worcester.

Wizened

Wrinkled, aged in appearance

Painted

Overly made-up, in the context of the novel

Gas Fire

Popular in Britain, gas log fires were heaters that appeared to be traditional log fires but were in fact faux logs and powered by gas burner

Squalling

Raining and windy

Celestial

Of a heavenly realm

Lounge

British term for a living room or family room

Shot Putter

A person who participates in the shot putt, one of the oldest events in the track and field discipline that originated from the Ancient Greeks

Painstakingly

With great care and attention to detail

Whining Cow

In Britain, "cow" is used as a derogatory term, for example, silly cow, stupid cow, in this case, whining cow, a disrespectful reference to her protestations

Blabbed

Said something that was supposed to be a secret

Vouchsafed

Bequeathed, given by the heavens

Devoid of workaday morals

Workshy, lazy

Synthesis

A coming together of two individual things to form one

Tamped

Pushed down, squeezed

Slack

In the context of the novel this refers to the physique of the men of Pagford, and refers to their complete lack of muscle or tone

Pallid

Pale, devoid of color, unhealthy looking

Porky

Fat

Women's Institute

A women's recreational society in Britain often known as the W.I.

Jumble Sale

Rummage sale

Jubilee Celebrations

This refers to the nationwide celebrations that took place in the U.K. for the Queen's reign, for example, the Silver Jubilee and the Golden Jubilee that were national holidays

Lucid

Making sense

Masonic Handshake

The Freemasons are a semi-secret, famously clandestine organization known to outsiders for their secret handshake

Brownnose

Suck up to, ingratiate oneself in an over-keen manner

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