The Whipping Boy: Chapters 11–20

by Sid Fleischman
Every time Prince Horace misbehaves, a poor boy named Jemmy suffers the consequences. When the prince and the whipping boy run away together, they are kidnapped by highwaymen — and they must plan a daring escape that will change both of their lives.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–10, Chapters 11–20
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. lurch
    move abruptly
    "I'll whip the mulishness out of him!" exclaimed Cutwater, lurching forward.
  2. parley
    discuss, as between enemies
    "This calls for private words. Let's parley. Follow me."
  3. imposter
    a person who makes deceitful pretenses
    "Imposter! How dare you insult me!"
  4. muddle
    mix up or confuse
    Haven't I so muddled their brains they want to turn you loose?
  5. fathom
    come to understand
    He couldn't fathom what was stirring in the prince's mind. Could he, for once, be concerned for someone other than himself?
  6. scoff
    laugh at with contempt and derision
    The prince scoffed. "He won't miss me."
  7. lark
    any carefree episode
    Do you reckon you're out on a lark? With murderers outside?
  8. bellows
    a mechanical device that blows a strong current of air
    He could hear Cutwater close behind, breathing like a bellows.
  9. foliage
    the collective amount of leaves of one or more plants
    Jemmy turned to the right and beat his way back into the foliage.
  10. resentment
    a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will
    The prince answered with a flash of resentment. "I might as well be stuffed and hung on the wall like a stag's head—for all he notices me."
  11. billowing
    characterized by great swelling waves or surges
    In the distance, against billowing white clouds, stood a jackstraw jumble of ships' masts.
  12. mired
    entangled or hindered
    A weary old coach was mired in a mudhole on the road.
  13. wince
    draw back, as with fear or pain
    The prince moved his arms and shoulders. He winced, but then began to brush himself off.
  14. humble
    cause to feel shame
    “And humble myself?" muttered the prince.
  15. tote
    carry with difficulty
    "Then who'd take me for a prince, toting water?" He smiled. He laughed. "I've never been allowed to carry anything! Not in my entire life."
  16. bleak
    offering little or no hope
    But even as he said it, Jemmy felt a bleak discomfort.
  17. bluster
    vain and empty boasting
    King, is it? he thought. So it was just bluster that you might never go back to the castle.
  18. gnarled
    old and twisted and covered in lines
    Moments later they came to a stout old woman with hands as gnarled as tree roots.
  19. brazen
    face with defiance or impudence
    There was nothing to do but brazen it out.
  20. balk
    refuse to proceed or comply
    The heir to the throne balked for a moment, and Jemmy knew why.
  21. decree
    a legally binding command or decision
    “But you're my friend," the prince stated, as if he were issuing a royal decree.
  22. derelict
    in deplorable condition
    Jemmy led the way through a tarred forest of wharf pilings and over a derelict river barge.
  23. cavernous
    being or suggesting a large dark enclosed space
    Deeper and deeper, darker and darker, they sloshed through the cavernous sewer.
  24. haughtiness
    overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner
    This wasn't the same Prince Brat who'd run away the night before, bored with his own meanness and haughtiness and cruelty.
  25. manacle
    shackle that can be locked around the wrist
    The prince's fingers locked on Jemmy's arm like a manacle.
  26. dank
    unpleasantly cool and humid
    He wondered how he'd ever felt at home in these dank, smelly sewers.
  27. scuttle
    move about or proceed hurriedly
    Jemmy tugged on the prince's hand, and they scuttled along the wall toward freedom.
  28. elation
    a feeling of joy and pride
    But in his sudden elation, Jemmy banged into the wall with the birdcage.
  29. befuddled
    perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements
    The prince returned a quick, playful wink. It befuddled Jemmy for an instant. And then, in a flash, Jemmy saw that for the first time the prince was up to a kindly piece of mischief.
  30. notorious
    known widely and usually unfavorably
    In the days that followed, ballad sellers began to cry out new and final verses to the notorious life of Hold-Your-Nose Billy and his partner, Cutwater.
Created on Sun May 08 22:45:08 EDT 2016 (updated Thu Sep 20 15:37:30 EDT 2018)

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