Chapter 1

Philip Pullman, The Ruby in the Smoke
Chapter 1
The Seven Blessings
a blessing
fretful (adj.)
a shipping agent
a hansom cab
definition or example
A priest gave a blessing as
the ship was launched.
irritable; bad-tempered; upset
a licensed agent in a port who
transacts a ship’s business, such as
insurance or documentation, for
the owner
a two-wheeled horse-drawn cab
for two people inside, with the
driver seated behind
mourning (n.)
black clothes worn as an expression of sorrow when someone dies
a bonnet
a woman’s or child’s hat tied under the chin and with a brim framing the face
loose (adj.)
fair (adj.)
drab (adj.)
a penny dreadful
to thrust (thrust/thrust)
grime (n.)
an apparition
not firmly or tightly fixed in
place; detached
(of a person) having a light
complexion or hair
drearily dull; of a dull brown
colour
a cheap, sensational comic
or storybook
to push suddenly or violently
in a specified direction
dirt ingrained on the surface
of something
a ghost or ghostlike image of
a person
German
Segensspruch; Wohltat
unruhig, nervös;
hier: windig und trüb
Schifffahrtagentur;
Schifftransportagentur
Droschke
Trauerkleidung
Haube
lose; locker
blond; hellhäutig
trist; graubraun
Groschenroman
stossen; schieben
Schmutz
Erscheinung; Gespenst
Mind your manners!
(Do) behave yourself!
Benimm dich!
Sei anständig!
conviction (n.)
a firmly held belief or opinion
Überzeugung
property (n.)
a thing or things belonging to
someone
Eigentum
to tame (an animal)
to domesticate (an animal); to
make less powerful and easier to
control
zähmen
(your) old man (informal)
a person’s father or a woman’s husband or boyfriend
Vater
a bloke (informal)
a man
Kerl: Typ
grateful (adj.)
portly (adj.)
thankful; feeling appreciation
for sth done or received
(especially of a man) rather
fat
dankbar
beleibt; füllig; korpulent
to gleam
(of a smooth surface or object) to
reflect light because well polished
leuchten; glänzen
(to gleam) with effort
His head gleamed with effort.
vor Anstrengung (leuchten)
(sb’s) bald pate
He scratched his bald pate.
Glatze
Philip Pullman, The Ruby in the Smoke
Masonic (adj.)
a seal
a paunch
solemn (adj.)
pious /pɑɪəs/ (adj.)
late (adj.)
a loss (n.)
relating to the Freemasons (an
international order of professional
men established for mutual help,
which holds secret ceremonies)
piece of wax, or lead, with an
individual design stamped into it,
as a guarantee of authenticity
a large or protruding belly
ceremonious; formal and
dignified
hypocritical; sanctimonious;
insincere
(of a specified person) no
longer alive
a person who or thing that is
badly missed when lost
freimauererisch
Siegel
Bierbauch; Fettbauch
feierlich; ernst
frömmlerisch; unaufrichtig
verstorben; selig
Verlust
expansive (adj.)
(of a person or their manner)
relaxed and genially frank and
communicative
herzlich; mitteilsam
genial (adj.)
friendly and cheerful
freundlich; jovial
to beam
a chandler
to have dealings with sb
port (n.)
to precede sth
to crumple
(of a light or light source) shine
brightly; to smile radiantly
a dealer in supplies and
equipment for ships and boats
to have business relations with
sb
a strong, sweet fortified wine,
originally from Portugal, typically
drunk as a dessert wine
to come before sth in time,
order or position
(of a person) suddenly flop
down to the ground
strahlen
Schiffsausrüster; Händler
in Schiffsbedarf
mit jemandem Geschäftskontakt pflegen
Portwein
einer Sache vorausgehen; vorangehen
zusammensacken
to clutch at sth
to grasp something tightly
sich klammern an etwas
hideous (adj.)
extremely ugly or unpleasant
abscheulich; grässlich
to faint
to lose consciousness for a
short time
ohnmächtig werden
a hem
the edge of a piece of clothing
which has been turned under
and sewn
Saum
a skull
a remedy (for sth)
to be in turmoil
a fathom
Blast (him)!
the skeleton of a person’s or
animal’s head
a means of counteracting or
eliminating sth undesirable
to be in a state of great disturbance, confusion, or uncertainty
a unit of length equal to six feet
(1.8 metres), chiefly used for the
depth of water
an expression of great annoyance: ‘Blast! The car
won’t start!’
Schädel
Abhilfe; Gegenmittel
aufgewühlt sein
(nautischer) Faden
(Tiefenmass)
Zur Hölle (mit ihm)!
Philip Pullman, The Ruby in the Smoke
stout (adj.)
(of a person) rather fat or of
heavy build
whiskers (n.)
the hair growing on a man’s
face, especially on his cheeks
to conceal
to keep secret; to hide
verdecken; verstecken
to have the decency to do
sth
to behave morally and respectably
It was clear that he was dead
as a mutton.
having or showing a cautious
distrust of sb or sth
den Anstand haben, etwas zu tun
mausetot (wörtlich: tot wie
Hammelfleisch)
to yell
to shout in a loud, sharp way
brüllen; schreien
a ledger
a book of financial accounts
Hauptbuch (für Buchhaltung)
a witness
a person who sees an event, typically a crime or accident, take
place and who can give a sworn
testimony to a court of law or the
police
Zeuge
dead as mutton
suspicious (adj.)
an inquest
to venture sth
subtle (adj.)
an inquiry by a coroner’s court
into the cause of a death
to undertake a risky or daring
course of action
capable of making fine distinctions
robust; korpulent; kräftig
Backenbart
misstrauisch
gerichtliche Untersuchung
etwas riskieren; wagen
scharfsinnig; subtil
to suspect
to have an idea of the existence
or truth of sth without certain
proof; to doubt the truth of sth
ahnen; verdächtigen
a copper (informal)
a police officer
Polizist; Bulle
to die of fright
struck dead with terror
to beware of sth
Blimey! (informal)
eventually
You bet! (informal)
to skulk
to wink at sb
a blackguard
anxious (adj.)
to die because you’re so
frightened
having died because of extreme fear
to be cautious and alert to
the dangers of
an expression used to show
one’s surprise, excitement, or
alarm
in the end, especially after a
long delay, dispute, or series of
problems
You may be sure! Certainly
to keep out of sight, typically
with a sinister or cowardly motive
to blink one eye, to indicate that
something is a joke or secret or
as a signal of affection
a man who behaves in a dishonorable or contemptible way
worried, uneasy, or nervous, typically about something with an
uncertain outcome
vor Furcht sterben
vor Schreck erschlagen
sich hüten vor etwas
Verdammt!
irgendwann; schlussendlich
Bestimmt!
Darauf kannst du wetten!
herumschleichen
jemandem zuzwinkern
Schuft; Lump
beunruhigt; besorgt
Philip Pullman, The Ruby in the Smoke
to dwell on sth
to think, speak, or write at length
about a particular subject
bei einem Thema verweilen; bleiben
to forward (a letter)
to send (a letter or e-mail) on to
a further destination
weiterleiten; nachschicken
a schooner
a discrepancy
brave (adj.)
a sailing ship with two or more
masts
There is a discrepancy when
there is a difference between
two things that should be alike.
ready to face and endure danger or pain; courageous
Schoner
Unstimmigkeit; Diskrepanz
tapfer
a sepoy
an Indian soldier serving under
British or other European orders
indischer Soldat
a cheroot
a cigar with both ends open
Stumpen
a busybody
the stock market
a good shot
to suffocate
agony (n.)
a gossip; a meddling or prying person
an exchange where security
papers are traded
someone who is good at
shooting
to die or cause to die from lack
of air or inability to breathe
extreme physical or mental
suffering
Wichtigtuer
Aktienmarkt; Börse
ein guter Schütze
ersticken
Qual; Pein; Tortur
drenched (adj.)
thoroughly wet; soaked
durchnässt
a trust
an arrangement whereby a person (a trustee) holds property as
its nominal owner for the good of
one or more beneficiaries
ein Fonds; eine Stiftung
a second cousin
the grandchild of someone’s
great-aunt or -uncle
Cousin(e) zweiten Grades;
Coucousin
clumsy (adj.)
awkward; without skill
unbeholfen; ungeschickt
a sermon
a talk on a religious or moral subject, especially one given during a
church service
Predigt
to loathe sb
frail (adj.)
to not lift a finger
to feel intense dislike or disgust for sb
(of a person) weak and delicate
to not make the slightest effort
to do sth, especially to help sb
jemanden verabscheuen
gebrechlich; schwach
keinen Finger rühren; keine
Anstrengung unternehmen
the scale of sth
the range of something
das Ausmass von etwas
It is plain that…
It is evident that…
Es ist offenkundig, dass...
an accomplishment
an activity that a person can
do well; a skill
Fähigkeit; Fertigkeit
modesty (n.)
the quality of being unassuming in
the estimation of one’s abilities
Bescheidenheit
in charity
out of pity
aus Mitleid
Philip Pullman, The Ruby in the Smoke
prospects (n.)
malice (n.)
chances or opportunities for
success or wealth
the desire to harm someone;
ill will
(Zukunfts-)Aussichten
Bosheit; Niedertracht