This workbook defines some 4000 medieval terms and expressions from art and architecture, sex and science, costume and cookery, literature and magic, liturgy and astrology, and warfare and ceremony. A companion to medieval culture; the book also included geneal concepts central to medieval thinking, such as allegory, polyphony, and numerology. Entries include: blackmail: Scottish for rent or tribute paid in grain or meat, as opposed to "white mail" paid in sliver or coin; corduroy: from the French corde du roi, "cloth of the king," is a ridged silk or cotton fabric; gossip: from the Anglo-Saxon god sib, "sister in God," a friendly woman companion; and upper crust: the top crust cut from round loaves of bread presented to the noble guest at feasts.
- ISBN10 081604497X
- ISBN13 9780816044979
- Publish Date 1 March 2001
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 5 January 2008
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Facts On File Inc
- Edition New edition
- Format Paperback
- Pages 304
- Language English