roll - a loud, reverberating peal; a continuous reverberation

to curl up - to collapse

crumple - a crushed fold or wrinkle produced by compression; to become incurved or crushed together + crumpleback - crook-back.

butt - a terminal point; a hillock, mound; promontory

THE CASTLE - Dublin Castle, was first built on the site of an early Danish fortress by Henry de Londres; Until 1921, the Castle was the official residence of Lords Lieutenant, the highquarters of British administration, and the hated symbol of British rule + Children’s game: 'I'm the king of the castle, Get down you dirty rascal' (English rhyming game, in which a player jumps on top of sand castle and then the player who pulls him down becomes the new king).

parsnip - a biennial umbelliferous plant (Pastinaca sativa), a native of Europe and part of Asia, having pinnate leaves, yellow flowers, and a pale yellow root.

MOUNTJOY - Prison, between NCR and Royal Canal, East of Phibsborough Road.

slow coach - one who acts, works or moves slowly; a slow, idle or indolent person.

openair - outdoor

hideous - terrible, distressing, or revolting to the moral sense; abominable, detestable, odious.

Leader 11 Nov 1922, 327/1: 'Our Ladies' Letter': 'You heard - or did you - Mary Rose of the bog was married. He's a general or something... How did they manage it, says you' + (notebook 1922-23): 'How did they manage it, says you'.

I will go bail - I am certain

dairyman - one who operates dairy farm

bumping - huge, great; 'thumping'

Roberts: The Proverbs of Wales 59: 'The butter is in the cow's horns (that is, when she gives no milk)'.

Pearce: Sims Reeves, Fifty Years of Music in England 93n: (of Hector Berlioz) 'On one occasion at rehearsal the harps with their cases were put together to enclose a small space wherein he could change his shirt, the operation being necessary in consequence of his intense exertions'.

balbuties - stammering, stuttering; lisping + balbo (it) - stuttering + -accio (it) - (pejorative) + -uccio (it) - (diminutive).

chow-chow chop - the last boat-load of sundry small packages sent down to a cargo-ship to complete her loading.

chicken pox - the common name for Varicella, a mild eruptive disease, bearing some resemblance to small-pox, and chiefly attacking children.

chamber - chamber pot

soft soap - to soothe or persuade with flattery or blarney → soft-soaping (Colloquial) - flattering.