Herman Melville, Moby-Dick; or, The Whale

Most of the words, phrases, and allusions that I looked up when reading Moby-Dick are also those noted at this excellent, if ridiculously-titled, resource: Power Moby-Dick: The Online Annotation. The exceptions are below.

p. 82: cruet: small bottle for condiments, especially oil and vinegar; an object that holds holy water

p. 91: calabash: a tropical tree found in the Western Hemisphere, or its fruit, also called bottle gourd, especially when the fruit has been hallowed out to be used as a musical instrumental, container, or decoration

p. 152: buckler: a small, round shield either carried or worn on the arm

p. 164: unrecking: not to care about or take an interest in; failing to take heed, being incautious

p. 215: swart: swarthy

p. 248: windlass: any of numerous hauling or lifting machines consisting essentially of a horizontal cylinder turned by a crank or a motor so that a line attached to the load is wound around the cylinder

p. 397: "this second whale seemed even more of a nosegay than the first": 

p. 400: jib-boom: a spar forming a continuation of the bowsprit; a boom that swivels usually from a pivot at the bow of a boat to hold the foot or clew of a jib

p. 404: Cologne-water: a perfumed liquid made of essential oils and alcohol

p. 411: mottled: spotted or blotched with different shades or colors

p. 442: warp and woof: the underlying structure on which something is built; a base or foundation