Slave life: a glossary |
| cassada (cassava) | dried root of a plant which is eaten |
| decreed | decided, ordained |
| degrading | strip of honour, demean |
| desolate | sad, feeling hopeless |
| discouraging | deprived of confidence and hope |
| distressful | worrying, disturbing, upsetting |
| endeavour | to try |
| fortitude | strength of mind which gives a person courage |
| frankly | honestly |
| gauger | someone responsible for weights and measures |
| humiliating | lower the pride, dignity and self-respect |
| life expectancy | how long a person could be expected to live for |
| menial | humble, lowly |
| minutely | with attention to every detail |
| overseer | supervisor, someone who watches over other workers |
| plantains (plantanes) | large tropical herb that looks and tastes similiar to banana |
| plantation | large estate or farm |
| powder monkey | a boy employed to take gunpowder to the cannons aboard a ship when in battle |
| shads | type of fish, similar to herrings |
| spectacle | public performance or display |
| supplement | to make up for a decifiency, for something missing |
| weaned | when babies start to eat food rather than just milk |
| yams | starchy root of a plant, which are eaten |
