- slang for “high muck-and-muck,” which is an important, influential, or high-ranking person
ague
- a fit of shivering; chills, fever, and sweating
- IPA translation: [ eI gju ]
commissary
- a store for equipment and provisions, including food supplies
hearken back
- to recall something from the past; to refer back to
two/five hundred dollars
For context, $200 in 1925 is worth almost $3,000 in today’s standards. $500 would then be close to $7,400.
scaredy-cat
- also scairty cat; an unduly fearful or timid person
crawlway
- low passageway only traversed by crawling
half-pint
- a short, small, inconsequential person; diminuative
picnic
- easy task or free; pleasant and carefree experience
- ex. “hilltop picnic”
slice of pie
- often referring to a portion of the spoils or benefits.
- In this context, the meaning is similar to our use of “piece of cake,” “a cake-walk,” or “as easy as pie”
Floyd Collins - University of Utah 