Regency Term Explanations

[Renee]

So I can usually find an unfamiliar regency word online but today I am at a loss....I thought maybe others come across a difficult word from time to time...hopefully we can help each other out. :-)

I am reading "Mistaken" and came across this on page 83 "as he cowered in the back room of a 'pounding house' in Edmonton" and I am thinking that the pounding house is some kind of disreputable pub or lending house.

Anyone have any ideas?

[Anji]

Hi Danielle.

The only definition I can find is in the Oxford English Dictionary which states: "A building housing an apparatus for pounding or crushing apples; a cider mill. Also occasionally more generally: a building in which anything is crushed or pulverised."

I haven't yet read Mistaken, so does this make any sense in the context in the book?

[Renee]

Anji that makes perfect sense! Thanks so much!!!!

I miss my OED...I left it back in the US when I moved because it was so big and took up so much other book space in my carry on....lol

I am trying to decide if it is worth it to try and lug it back with me this summer...can't bring my self to pay the $100 for a yearly subscription to the online version.

[Anji]

Danielle wrote: "Anji that makes perfect sense! Thanks so much!!!!

I miss my OED...I left it back in the US when I moved because it was so big and took up so much other book space in my carry on....lol ..."

Danielle, I live in the UK and have a card for my local library (in North Yorkshire). If I put the number on my library card into the sign in box on the OED website, I can access it for absolutely nothing! That's right, I don't have to pay a single penny for the privilege! Apparently, it's because North Yorkshire Libraries subscribe to the site. It's a tip I picked up a few years ago but can't for the life of me remember where. I find it a godsend when I'm undertaking a beta/proofread and want to look up language use and etymology.

[Renee]

Anji wrote: "Danielle ......."

Yes, I miss having a local library I can use. Technically I do use the digital part and can check out ebooks, I just can't access the main library page because I am currently in the Dominican Republic. I am either going to lug back my OED or I am going to have to pay for the subscription...I miss using it and it would be helpful. Who knows, maybe I can even write it off on my taxes since I am an English teacher....I should look into that now that I think about it! :-)

[James]

The Earl being head of the family. I haven’t been able to find out what that means legally. Can an Earl for I’d a marriage? Can an Earl decide not to pay debts? Etc.

[Abigail]

I don't think being "head" of a family carried any special powers then, any more than it does now. The position relies on the consent of the family members, who grant that individual authority and privilege. Of course, the head of the family held most of the money and property, which gave him leverage if he chose to deploy it. But he only holds that power as long as his subordinate family members are unwilling to take the consequences of defiance.

An interesting lesson for our times.

[James]

Thank you very much Abigail. It’s less meaningful a title than I thought. In the end it is his power and money, by which I don’t consider the title trivial, just there isn’t any body of law supporting the title. I did notice when doing a bit of research that except for murder and treason, peers could only be tried by other peers so if no one in the aristocracy brought forth a legal complaint, they could get away with not paying debts and everything else. Nice gig.

[Abigail]

Sure was!