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ЛИНГВОСТРАНОВЕДЧЕСКИЙ СЛОВАРЬ-МИНИМУМ

(Приложение к учебному пособию “FOCUS ON BRITAIN”)

	A

Aberdeen	The oil centre of Scotland, base for the North Sea oil exploitation and a fishing port connected with the fishing in the North Sea.

Aberdeen Angus	A breed of black, hornless, beef cattle.

the Academy	A fashionable “art cinema” in London.

Act of Parliament	A law that has been passed by the House of Commons and House of Lords and given the royal assent.

the Act of supremacy	The Act of 1534 that declared the sovereign to be the secular head of the Church of England.

the Act of Union	The agreement that declared in 1707 the Union of England, Wales and Scotland as a single kingdom of Great Britain.

the Age of Discoveries = the Age of Exploration	A period in history when great geographical discoveries were made.

Aldermaston	An atomic research centre in Berkshire. People think of Aldermaston especially in connection with the protest marches by CND in the 1950-60s.

Alderney	One of the Channel Islands.

Alderney cow	A breed of light brown dairy cow.

A level	an examination in a particular subject at the age of 18. In order to go to a university, students usually need to pass at least three A levels; the two-year course that students study in order to prepare for the A level examinations. They usually start the course at 16.

Alfred = Alfred The Great	(849-900) King of Wessex; reigned from 871 to 899, the most famous figure in early English history.

Alice in Wonderland = Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland	A book by Lewis carroll about a girl called Alice who falls down a rabbit hole and arrives in a magical land, where she meets many strange animals and people, and has many strange adventures.

Amersham	An atomic research centre.

Anglesey	A Welsh island in the Irish Sea.

the Anglo-Saxons	Angles, Saxons and Jutes, the people who came to live in England from about 600 A.D.

Anglo-Saxon times	The Anglo-Saxon period (5^th -11^th cc), which corresponds to early Middle Ages in the history of Britain. Anglo-Saxons (Angles, Saxons and Jutes) founded a number of kingdoms: Northumbria, Mercia, East Anglia, Sussex, Wessex, Essex, and Kent.

Anne Boleyn	See Boleyn, Anne.

Anne of Cleves	The fourth wife of Henry VIII. The unsuccessful diplomatic marriage was annulled in 1540.

the Armada = the Spanish Armada = the Invincible Armada = the Great Armada	The Spanish fleet sent by Philip II in 1588 against England. It was defeated by the English and later almost destroyed by storms.

Arnold, Matthew	(1822-88) a prominent English writer and critic.

Ascot	A racecourse in Windsor popular with upper-class people.

Ashdown, Paddy	A British politician, the former Social Liberal leader in 1988-1999.

the Athens of the North	Belfast; Edinburgh.

Attila the Hun	Thatcher’s nickname. Attila the Hun was a violent and cruel king of the Huns who attacked and took control of large parts of the Roman Empire.

Attlee, Clement	(1883-1967) a prominent Labour politician; his government carried out nationalization and established the NHS.

Auld Lang Syne	‘the days of long ago’. A traditional song by Robert Burns sung at the end of a gathering.

Australia	A large island between the Indian Ocean and the southern Pacific Ocean, which is both a country and a continent. Australia is a member of the British Commonwealth.

Avon	The river famed by Shakespeare, a tributary of the Severn.



	B

BA	Bachelor of Arts, a University degree.

backbencher	An MP who sits on the back benches as he does not hold any special office.

Baden Powell, Lord Robert	(1857-1941) a British army officer who is known for starting the scout organizations such as the Scouts and the Guides.

BAe	British Aerospace; produces military and civil aircraft, guided missiles and space systems.

bagpipes	A type of Scottish musical instrument.

Bala	The largest lake in Wales.

Balmoral	One of the royal homes, a castle in north-east Scotland.

the Bann	NI’s greatest river.

the Barbican (Centre)	A large cultural centre in London; its theatre is the home of the RSC.

Bard of Avon	A nickname for William Shakespeare.

Barrow-in-Furness	an important ship-building centre in NW England.

Bath	A town in West England with hot mineral springs, a spa.

BAT Industries	One of the largest manufacturing concerns (tobacco products, food, etc).
the battle at Edgehill	the indecisive first battle in October 1642 between the royalist troops and the parliamentary forces.

the Battle of England	The battle between British and German aircraft over London and the south of England in the early years of WW II, in particular 1940.

the Battle of Hastings	An important battle that took place in 1066 when King harold II of England was defeated and killed by the army of William the Conqueror.

the Battle of Lewis	A battle that took place on may 14, 1264, when Simon de montfort defeated Henry III.

the battle of naseby	Took place on June 14, 1645 and was a parliamentary victory.

the Battle of Trafalgar	An important sea battle fought off Cape Trafalgar in SW Spain in 1805, when British ships led by Admiral Nelson beat the French and Spanish forces. Nelson was killed in the battle.

Bayeux Tapestry	Medieval embroidery believed to date from the 11^th century that depicts events leading to and including the Norman Conquest of England [from Bayeux, the French town in which it is kept].

the BBC	The British Broadcasting Corporation, a government controlled radio and television broadcasting company.

the Beatles	One of Britain’s most influential pop groups, first performing in 1959 in Liverpool. The group included Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. the Beatles broke up in 1971.

Becket, Saint Thomas	Thomas à Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, murdered in the cathedral in 1170.

B Ed	Bachelor of Education, a University degree.

Bede, the Venerable	(?673-735) English monk, historian and theologian/ As he wrote about early English history, he is thought of as the first English historian.

Belfast	The capital of Northern Ireland, Belfast has the world’s biggest ship-building berth.

Benn, Tony	(1925 - ) a British politician in the Labour Party, known for his strong left-wing opinions. He gave up his hereditary title of the Right Honourable to be able to become an MP.

Bennet, Arnold	(1876-1931) a British writer known for his novels about the “Five Towns”, which describe the lives of ordinary people in the area of the Midlands where pottery was made.

Ben Nevis	The highest mountain in the UK, in western Scotland, 1343 m high.

Beowulf	A famous Anglo-Saxon poem, named after the great legendary warrior. The epic is composed by an unknown poet, probably early in the 7^th century.

Big Ben	The clock (the bell) in the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament.

bill	A written plan for a new law, which is brought to parliament for it to consider.

the Bill of Rights	an Act of Parliament (1689) that limited the powers of the Monarch.

Birkenhead	A ship-building centre producing oil tankers, in Lancashire.

Birmingham	The second largest city after London, an important industrial centre called the City of Fifteen Thousand Trades.

BL	British Legion; British Leyland (see Rover).

the Black Country	The industrialized region of the West Midlands, where there are many colliers and steelworks [from the black smoke and blackened buildings there].

the Black Death	The plague that spread through Europe, Africa and Asia in the 14^th century. By 1452 it had wiped out one-third of the total population of Europe. It spread through England in 1348-49 and killed large numbers of people.

the Blackface sheep	A breed of sheep, raised for their mutton.

Blackmail	The first English sound film directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

Blackpool	A popular seaside resort in Lancashire.

Blair, Tony	A British politician who became leader of the Labour Party in 1994 and Prime Minister in 1997 to become Britain’s youngest PM of the 20^th century. He made a lot of changes to make the party more modern, and called in “New Labour”.

the Bloodless Revolution	Another name for the Glorious Revolution.

Bloody Mary	A nickname of Queen Mary Tudor (1516-58), given her by the Protestants whom she persecuted cruelly.

“Blue Boy”	One of the best known canvases by Thomas Gainsborough.

Boadicea = Queen Boadicea = Boudicca	The famous Queen of the Iceni tribe who waged war on the Romans. She raised a rebellion against the Romans in east Britain. She was defeated and took poison.

boarding school	A school at which pupils live as well as study.

the Boat Race	The traditional annual rowing race on the river Thames between teams from Oxford and Cambridge Universities. A popular national event shown on TV.

bobby	A common nickname for a policeman. The name comes from Sir Robert Peel, the founder of the first London police force.

the Boer War = the South African War	(1899-1902) a war in South Africa in which Britain fought against the republics of Transvaal and Orange Free State and gained control of them.

Boleyn, Anne	The second wife of King Henry VIII, the mother of Queen Elizabeth I.

Bolton	An aircraft and cotton textile centre in Greater Manchester (Lancashire).

Bonfire Night	See Guy Fawkes Night.

the Book of Common Prayer	A book used in Church of England and Episcopal churches, which contains the words spoken by the priest and by the people in church at weekly services and at weddings, funerals, etc.

the Boston Tea Party	A protest in Boston in 1773 against the British tax on tea.

Boxing Day	The day after Christmas when formerly ‘Christmas boxes’ or gifts of money were given to servants and tradesmen. Today many people still give an annual Christmas gift to regular callers such as dustmen and paperboys/girls.

BP	British Petroleum, a leading oil company, privatized in 1987.

BR	British Rail, the state company that controls Britain’s railways.

Bradford	An industrial city in the North of England, the main centre for worsteds and a chief centre of the woolen industry. Many Asian people now live here.

The bridge on the River Kwai	One of britain’s most ambitious war films (1957) directed by David Lean. It is a tale about the construction of a railway bridge by prisoners in the Siamese jungle and its eventual destruction by a British commando unit.

Brief encounter	A British film (1945) directed by David Lean. It is an English love story, of a housewife and a doctor who fall in love but then decide to separate.

Brighton	A fashionable and select health seaside resort in East Sussex.

Bristol	An industrial city and international port in the SW of England, a centre of aircraft industry.

the Bristol Channel	An area of water between South Wales and the south-west of England, which goes from the Atlantic Ocean to the mouth of the Severn River.

the british Commonwealth	See Commonwealth.

the British Empire	A term formerly used for Great Britain and its overseas dominions and colonial possessions. The British Empire was it its largest at the time of WWI, when it included 25% of the world’s area.

the British Isles	The group of islands made up of Great Britain, Ireland, and the smaller islands around the, such as the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
the British Museum	A famous museum in London founded in 1753 and containing one of the world’s richest collections of antiquities.

the british parliament	The law-making body consisting of the house of commons, the House of lords and the sovereign.

British Rail	One of major nationalized industries, with parts of the railway system sold to private companies in 1996-97.

British Steel	A leading steel industry concern which produces 80% of Britain’s crude steel.

Brittany	An area of NW france with a long coast, between the bay of Biscay and the English Channel.

Britten, Benjamin	(1913-76) a noted British musician, composer and conductor.

Brixton	An area of south London with a large black population.

the Broads = the Norfolk Broads	A group of shallow navigable lakes, interconnected by rivers, in East Anglia where many people spend holidays sailing in small boats or barges.

Brontë	The family name of three sisters from Yorkshire in the north of England, who wrote some of the most novels in English. Charlotte Brontë (1816-55) wrote Jane Eyre, Emily Brontë (1818-48) wrote Wuthering Heights, and Anne Brontë (1820-49) wrote The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.

the BRS (1951)	“British Road to Socialism”, also “Britain’s Road to Socialism”; the CPGB’s programme produced in 1951.

BT	British Telecom, the largest company providing telephone services in the UK; a privatized industry.

Buckingham Palace	The Queen’s official London residence.

Burns, Robert	(1759-96) Scottish great ‘national’ poet who wrote in the Scots dialect, author of Auld Lang Syne.

by-election	A special election held between regular elections to fill a position whose former holder has left or is dead.

Byron, George Gordon	(1788-1824) an English writer of romantic and satirical poetry, best known for poems such as Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage and Don Juan. He died of fever in Greece while fighting against the Turks for Greek independence.



	C

the Cabinet	The executive group of ministers, chosen by the Prime Minister from the MPs to determine government policies.

Cabot, John	(? 1450-98) the explorer who reached the coast of North America in 1497.

Caernarfon	A small town in NW Wales, known for its castle where the ceremony of the investiture of the Prince of Wales (ceremony for receiving this title) takes place.

Calder Hall	Britain’s first nuclear power station in Cumbria (1956).

Caledonia	An old name for Scotland (originally the Roman name for northern Britain).

the Cambrian mountains	A group of mountains that go from North to South through the Middle of Wales.

Cambridge	A city famous for its old university, a major tourist centre.

Cambridge University	One of the two oldest and most famous universities in England founded in the 13^th century. There are at present over 10.000 students in residence of whom a third are women.

Cameron, David	Current Tory leader (since December 2005).

Canada	The second-largest country in the world, situated in North America, north of the US, and made up of ten provinces. A member of the Commonwealth.

Canary Wharf Tower	The tallest building in the UK, in the Docklands area of London.

Canterbury	A historic walled city in Kent, famous for its cathedral of the 11^th century, the main church of the Church of England.

The Canterbury Tales	a poem written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14^th century in which pilgrims who are travelling to Canterbury tell stories.

Canute	(?995-1035) The King of England, Denmark and Norway, Canute reigned from 1016 to 1035.

Captain Cook	(1728-79) a British sailor and explorer who sailed to Australia and New Zealand, and claimed the eastern coast of Australia for Britain. He also discovered several islands in the Pacific Ocean, including Hawaii, where he was killed.

Cardiff	The capital of Wales, a port and industrial centre noted for copper works.

Carroll, Lewis	(1832-96) a british writer who wrote two very famous children’s stories, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. His real name was Charles Dodgson and he was also a teacher of mathematics at Oxford University.

Catharine of Aragon	(1485-1536) the Spanish princess, the first wife of King Henry VIII and the mother of Mary I.

Catharine Howard	The fifth wife of Henry VIII, executed for adultery.

Catharine Parr	The sixth wife of Henry VIII who survived her tempestuous husband.

Cavalier	A supporter of King Charles I against Parliament in the English Civil War, in which the Cavaliers fought against the Roundheads.

Cavendish laboratory	A research laboratory in Cambridge.

Caxton, William	(?1422-91) the first person in Britain to print books.

Chancellor of the Exchequer	The title of the british finance minister. He is member of the Cabinet and is responsible for the annual Budget, which makes him one of the most important ministers in the government.

the Channel Islands	A group of british islands in the English Channel near the coast of France. The main islands are Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and Sark. They are a self-governing crown dependency with their own parliaments. The official languages are French and English.

Charles I	(1600-49) the Stuart king (1625-69) who by his unpopular political decisions helped to cause the English Civil War. As a result, he was executed in 1649.

Charles II	(1630-85) the Stuart king from 1660 to 1685 who returned to England to rule from his exile in France.

Chartism	The Chartist movement, a mass working class reform movement in the 1830s and 1840s whose name was taken from the manifesto “People’s Charter’.

the Chartists	A political group of people that was active in the UK in the 1830s and 1840s. They demanded changes that were regarded as very extreme at that time, such as giving all men the right to vote and to become Members of parliament. Some of them were sent to prisons in Australia as a punishment.

Chaucer, Geoffrey	(? 1340-1400) the first great figure in English literary history, called “the Father of English poetry”; wrote The Canterbury Tales.

Chelsea	A fashionable district in west London. A London football club.

Chelternham Ladies’ College	A public school for girls, it was started in 1853 in Chelternham.

Chequers	The official country-house of the British Prime Minister, about 30 miles north-west of London (the full name is Chequers Court).

Chester	A town in Cheshire in NW England. It has many historical buildings, and there is a wall around the old part of the town.

the Cheviot Hills = Cheviots	A range of hills between England and Scotland.

the Cheviot sheep	A breed of hill sheep famous for their wool and named after the Cheviot Hills.

Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage	A poem by Byron of which the first two cantos appeared in 1812, Canto III in 1916, and Canto IV in 1818. The poem describes the travels, experiences and reflections of a pilgrim who, sated with his past life of sin and pleasure, finds distraction in travels through Portugal, Spain, the Ionic Islands, Albania, Belgium, the Rhine, Russia, etc.

the Chilterns	Groups of chalk hills in southeast England, an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Christie, Agatha	(1890-1976) a popular and successful British writer of detective novels who created Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot. A. Christie is called The “Queen of Crime”.

Chunnel	The Channel Tunnel that links England and France (It was opened in 1993).

Churchill, Winston	(1874-1965) a prominent Conservative leader, major political figure during WWII.

the Church of England	The official Church of England which was set up by King Henry VIII.

the City = the City of London	An area in central London where there are many large banks and financial organizations.

the City of Fifteen Thousand Trades	A nickname for Birmingham.

the “City of Spires”	A nickname for Oxford. M. Arnold wrote in “Thyrsis”: “And the sweet City with her dreaming spires She needs not June for her beauty’s heightening”.

“Civil and Religious Liberty”	The slogan adopted by the Liberal Party in the second half of the 19^th century.

the Civil War = English Civil War	The war between parliamentary and royal forces in England that broke out in 1642 ending in 1649 by the execution of Charles I. (see English Civil War).

Cleveland	A county in NE England.

the Clwyd	A river in Wales.

the Clyde	A large and important Scottish river that goes through Glasgow.

Clydeside	A highly industrialized area in Scotland famous for ship-building.

CND	Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. An organization that agitates for the adoption by the government of a nuclear-free British defence policy.

Cockney	the standard London dialect, with characteristic pronunciation and the use of rhyming slang. A “true Londoner” who comes from East End and speaks cockney.

Coe, Sebastian	An outstanding athlete and middle distance runner who won gold medals in the 1980 and 1984 Olympic Games.

Columbus, Christopher	(1451-1505) an Italian explorer who discovered America for Spain in 1492.

the commons	The House of Commons, the main part of the british Parliament

the Commonwealth	the Parliamentary republic of 1649-53; Government established in England by Oliver Cromwell, lasting from 1649 to 1653 or, in some views, to 1660. Also Commonwealth of Nations. An association of countries (currently 53 members) that have been ruled by Britain. The British Queen is the head of the Commonwealth and there is a meeting each year for all its heads of government.

the Communist Party	see CPGB

Conan Doyle, Arthur	(1859-1930) a British doctor and writer who created Sherlock Holmes.

Coniston Water	A lake in the Lake District.

Constable, John	(1776-1837) an English landscape painter who worked in the open air. His picture “The Haywain” is one of the most famous British paintings.

Cornwall	The county at the western end of the southwestern peninsular of England; includes Land’s End and the Isles of Scilly.

Coronation Street	One of the most popular TV programmes (shown since 1960).

the Cotswolds	groups of hills known for the fine limestone of which most towns and villages of southeast are built.

Cottonopolis	Manchester.

Covent Garden	Another name for the Royal Opera House, which is near the former site of the Covent Garden market in central London.

Coventry	An industrial city in central England that was badly bombed during WWII. a car-making centre and the twin-city of Volgograd.

the CPGB	The Communist Party of Great Britain. It was founded in 1920.

the Crimean war	(1853-56) a war between Russia on one side, and Britain, France, Turkey and Sardinia on the other.

Cromwell, Oliver	(1599-1658) an English statesman and soldier who led the army of Parliament against King Charles I in the English Civil War; after the War ruled as Lord Protector of England until his death.

Cross Fell	The highest point of the Pennines (893m).

CTC	City Technology College, a type of state technical college.

the Cumbrian Mountains	Mountains in NW England, Cumbria.

Cumbria	A county in NW England containing the Lake District.

the Curzon	Fashionable “art cinema” in London.

Cymru	The Welsh name for Wales.



	D

the Daily Worker	Former name of the Morning Star.

the Dales	Also the Yorkshire Dales. An area of broad, open valleys and hills in northern England, popular with tourists.
the Danelaw (Danelagh)	1) Region in east and north-east England ruled by the danes during the 9^th and 10^th centuries. The danes retained their customs and laws in this part of the country. 2) Body of laws enforced by the Danes in this region (OE Dena lagu = Danes Law).

the Danegeld	The money originally paid to the Danes to buy them off and later a tax paid to the benefit of the Danish king Canute.

the Danes	One of the northern people who began to attack England in the 9^th century and took control of England in the 9^th and 11^th centuries.

Dartmoor	A bleak region of moors and hills in Devon, through which flows the river Dart.

David Copperfield	A novel by Charles Dickens which describes the life of a poor orphan.

the Dee	A Scottish river that empties in the North Sea.

Defoe, Daniel	(1660-1731) a British writer whose best known works are the novels Robinson Crusoe, and Mall Flanders.

the Democratic Left	The new name taken by the CPGB in 1991.

Derry	Another name for Londonderry, the second largest city in NI, used by Catholics.

Derwent Water	A lake in the Lake District.

Devon, Devonshire	A county in south-west England known for its natural beauty. It includes Dartmoor and part of Exmoor National Park.

Diana, Princess of Wales	(1961-97) also Princess Di, Princess Diana, Lady Di. The former wife of Prince Charles and the mother of Prince William and Prince harry.

Dickens, Charles	(1812-70) one of greatest English novelists of the Victorian England whose books include David Copperfield, Oliver twist, Great Expectations, A Christmas carol, A Tale of Two Cities, and The Pickwick Papers.

Dictionary of the English Language	A famous dictionary (1755) compiled by Dr. Samuel Johnson.

Docklands	A large, modern development of houses and offices in east London, along the River Thames, built mainly in the 1980s. a lot of yuppies have moved into this part of London.

Doctor Zhivago	A successful romantic film (1965) about a doctor in Russia during WWI and the Russian Revolution, based on the book by Boris Pasternak.

Dodgson, Charles Lutwidge	The real name of Lewis Carroll, author of Alice in Wonderland.

the Dogger Bank	A shallow area of the North Sea off the coast of north-east England, an excellent fishing ground.

Dombey and Son	A novel by Charles Dickens.

Domesday	The survey of land made by order of William the Conqueror in 1086.

the Domesday Book	The document recording a detailed survey of land holdings in England in the 11^th century, ordered by William the Conqueror.

the Dominions	An old British name for the countries of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, which had their own governments but were still parts of the british Empire in the early part of the 20^th century.

Don	A member of the teaching staff of a university or college, especially at oxford university or cambridge university

Don Juan	An unfinished epic satire in ottava rima by Lord Byron published in 1819-24.

Douglas Doulton pottery	Capital of the Isle of Man. a type of stoneware, typically brown and salt-glazed, originally made by Henry Doulton in London

Dover	“The gateway to England”, an important passenger port in south-east England.

Downing Street	A short street in central london, where the official homes of the Prime Minister (Number 10) and of the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Number 11) are. A term used for the british government.

Drake, Francis	(1540-96) an English sea rover and circumnavigator. Drake was one of the leaders of the English navy when it defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588.

druids	The priesthood of Celtic Britain, Ireland, and Gaul.

Drury Lane Theatre	London’s most famous theatre said to have a ghost. Founded in 1663, it is London’s oldest theatre still in use.

the Duke of Edinburgh	The principal title held by prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth.

Dundee	A major industrial and commercial city in eastern Scotland, where the River Tay enters the North Sea.




	E

East Anglia	An Anglo-Saxon kingdom. a large flat area of eastern England, between the Wash and the Thames, known for the production of wheat, flowers and vegetables.

Eastbourne	A seaside resort in south-east England.

The East end	An extensive industrial area of London traditionally thought of as a working class area where people called Cockneys live. However, since the 1980s parts of the East End have been yuppified and many business and middle class people have moved.

East enders	A popular british soap opera on TV which is about the working class people who live in Albert Square in the East End of London.

the Ecology Party	See the Green Party.

the Economist	A leading weekly journal of opinion, read especially by business people.

Eden, Anthony	(1897-1977) a prominent Conservative leader.

the Eden	A river in northern England that flows to the Irish Sea.

Edgehill	See battle of Edgehill

Edinburgh	The capital of Scotland, famous for its fine buildings and for the annual Edinburgh Festival.

Edinburgh Festival	Edinburgh International Festival of Music and Drama, first held in 1947.

Edward the Confessor	King of England (1042-66) who founded Westminster Abbey.

Edward I	(1239-1307) King of England (1272-1307) who took part in the crusades and later established English control over wales. He tried to do the same with Scotland (and deserved the nickname the hammer of Scots), but was unsuccessful.

Edward VI	(1537-53) the King of England from 1547 to 1553.

Egbert	King of Wessex, acknowledged in 829 by Kent, Mercia and Northumbria, thus, the first king of England.

Eisteddfod	An annual Welsh national bardic festival of music, literature and drama.

Ekofisk	An important North sea oilfield.

the eleven-plus	An examination formerly used to select school pupils at about the age of 11 for an academic secondary education at a grammar school, for a non-academic education at a secondary modern school, for a technical education at a technical school.

Elizabeth I	(1533-1603) Queen of England from 1558 to 1603; daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. She never married and is sometimes called ‘the Virgin Queen’. Elizabeth I is thought of as an effective ruler.

Elizabeth II	The british queen since 1952, and also the head of Commonwealth. In 2003 she marked her golden jubilee.

Elstree Studios	Britain’s first film studio.

England	The largest country in Britain.

the English Channel = the Channel	The narrow piece of water between southern England and northern France, which French people call ‘La Manche’.

English Civil War	The war between the Cavaliers (supporters of King Charles I) and the Roundheads (supporters of Parliament) in the mid-17^th century. A series of battles led to the defeat of the king and his supporters and the establishment of the Commonwealth (see Civil War).

Essex	An Anglo-Saxon kingdom. County in south-east England.

Eton	The top public school founded by Henry VI in the 15^th century. Eton is the most famous public school in the UK. Prince William and Prince Harry have been educated at Eton.

Exeter	Devonshire county seat.

Exmoor	The high, bleak moorland of Somerset and Devon.



	F

the FA	The Football Association.

Father of English poetry	Geoffrey Chaucer.

Fawley	An important oil refining centre in Hampshire.

the Fens	The low, marshy districts of Eastern England. The name (also Fen District) particularly applies to the rich agricultural land bordering the Wash.

Fielding, Henry	(1707-54) an English writer most famous for his humorous novel Tom Jones.

Fleet Street	A street in central London, famous as the centre of British national newspapers (see Wapping). the press and the world of journalism generally.

Fleming, Alexander	(1881-1955) a British microbiologist who discovered penicillin.

the FO	The Foreign Office.

Ford	A car manufacturer.

The Forsyte Saga	A series of novels by John Galsworthy about a wealthy English family.

the Forth	A Scottish river that flows into the North Sea.
Forties	An important North sea oil field.

frontbenchers	MPs who occupy the front row of seats in the british parliament.

the FT	A serious British daily newspaper, printed on pink paper.



	G

Gaelic	The Celtic language spoken or understood by some people in the Highlands and western coastal regions of Scotland.


Gainsborough, Thomas	(1727-88) a british artist best known for his portraits and considered to be essentially the women’s painter.

Galsworthy, John	(1867-1933) a british writer of books and plays who won the Nobel prize for literature in 1932. He is best known for his series of novels called The Forsyte Saga, about a wealthy English family called the Forsytes.

Gama, Vasco da	(?1469-1524) a Portuguese navigator who was the first European to discover the way to India by sea.

the Garden of England	Nickname for Kent because of the fruit and vegetables it produces.

Garrick, David	(1717-79) a great English actor and theatrical manager.

“the gateway to England”	Dover, an important passenger port.

Gaul	An area in western Europe that in Roman times included the territory of modern France, Belgium, the southern part of the Netherlands, south-west Germany and part of northern Italy.

the GCSE	The General Certificate of Secondary Education, the standard school-leaving examination, taken at the age of 15 or 16.

general election	An election held throughout the uk to elect a government.

George VI	(1895-1952) the British king (1936-52) and parent of Queen Elizabeth II.

Georgia	The 13^th colony in America, 1733.

Gibraltar	Britain’s overseas base on the rock of Gibraltar on the southern coast of Spain.

Gielgud, John	(1904- ) a prominent English actor and director, famous for playing Shakespearean roles.

Gladstone, William	(1809-98) a prominent Liberal politician and PM.

Glasgow	The third most populous city in the UK, an important ship-building centre.

Glen More = Great Glen	A long crack in the earth’s crust that separates the Highlands of Scotland into two parts and includes Loch Ness.

the Globe Theatre	A London theatre that existed in 1599-1644 and where William Shakespeare’s plays were first performed.

the Glorious Revolution	The time in British history (1688-189) when King James II was removed from power.

God Save the Queen (King)	British National Anthem.

Goneril, Regan, Cordelia	The three daughters of King Lear in the play King Lear by William Shakespeare. .

Gordonstoun	A public school near Elgin in Scotland that was attended by the Duke of Edinburgh and his sons.

GP	General Practitioner, a doctor who is trained in general medicine and who deals with all types of ordinary illness. GPs treat people in a particular local area, not in a hospital.

grammar school	A state or independent secondary school which takes pupils aged 11-18 and provides a mainly academic education and prepares pupils for higher education.

the Grampian Mountains = the Grampians	A range of mountains in the highlands of central Scotland.

the Grand Remonstrance	The formal statement of public grievances from the House of Commons to Crown, 1641.

Grangemouth	An important oil refining centre in Scotland.

the Granite City	A nickname of Aberdeen, since many of its buildings are made of local silver-grey or pink granite.

the Great Armada	See the Armada.

Great Britain	The largest island of the british isles comprising England, Scotland and Wales.

the Great Fire	A fire in 1666 that destroyed more than half the city of London.

Greater London	London and the area surrounding it.

Greater Manchester	The name given to Manchester and the area surrounding it.

Great Expectations	A novel by Charles Dickens (1861) about a young man called Pip who wants to become rich and successful. David Lean’s brilliant film (1946), a poetic version of Ch. Dickens’ novel.

the Green Party	A political party, founded in 1973 as the Ecology Party, renamed in 1985.

Greene, Graham	(1904-91) a british writer of novels and plays. The characters in his stories often have to make difficult moral decisions.

Grimsby	The largest fishing port in Great britain.

the Guardian	A daily quality paper.

Guernsey	One of the Channel Islands.

Guernsey cow	A breed of dairy cattle producing high-quality creamy milk.

Guinness, Alec	(1914- ) a British actor in films and the theatre, whose best films are The bridge on the River Kwai, Lawrence of Arabia, Star Wars.

Gulliver’s Travels	A book by Jonathan Swift which is a satire on britain in the 18^th century.

the Gunpowder Plot	A conspiracy to blow up the English Parliament in 1605.

guy	a crude model of a human figure, representing Guy Fawkes, made by stuffing old clothes with straw, paper, leaves, etc., and burnt on top of a bonfire on Guy Fawkes Night.

Guy Fawkes	An English Roman catholic in the pay of Spain, Guy Fawkes and accomplices planned to blow up the English Parliament in 1605. (See the Gunpowder Plot).

Guy Fawkes Day = Guy Fawkes Night	The Fifth of November. Also Bonfire Night. A popular celebration when a bonfire is lit to burn a guy and a firework display is arranged.

Gwyn, Nell	(? 1650-87) an English actress who became the lover of King Charles II.



	H

the Habeas Corpus Act	An Act of Parliament adopted in 1679 during the reign of Charles II, a safeguard against wrongful imprisonment.

Hadrian	The Roman Emperor who reigned from 117 A.D. till 138 A.D.

Hadrian’s Wall	A high wall built by the command of the Emperor Hadrian in the North to guard the province against the Picts and Scots.

haggis	A Scottish food in the shape of a ball, made from chopped up sheep’s meat and grains.

“the Hammer of Scots”	Edward I.

Harley Street	A London street where many well-known and expensive doctors have their offices.

Harold Godwin = King Harold II	Earl of Essex who was chosen by the Witan as king at Edward the Confessor’s death.

Hampshire	A county in southern England on the English Channel.

Harrods	the most famous department store in Knightsbridge, in London, where rich and fashionable people go to shop.

Harrow	A famous british public school for boys, in NW London.

hastings	A town on the south-eastern coast of England. The Battle of hastings took place near there in 1066.

The Haywain	The famous painting by John Constable, showing horses pulling a cart across a river. It is thought of as a typically English country scene, and is often printed on cards, posters and calendars.

Heath, Edward	A prominent Tory politician who was PM (1970-74) and who negotiated Britain’s entry into the Common Market in 1973.

Heathrow	The largest international airport in the UK, serving London.

the Hebrides	A group of islands off the west coast of Scotland divided into Outer and Inner Hebrides.
Henry I	(1068-1135) the king of England from1100 until his death. He was the youngest son of William the Conqueror.

Henry II	(1133-89) the king of England from1154 until his death. He tried to reduce the power of the church and as a result he quarreled with Thomas à Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Henry IV	(1366-1413) the king of England from1399 when he took power from King Richard II until his death.

Henry VI	(1421-71) the king of England from1422 to 1461 and from 1470 until he was murdered in the Wars of the Roses.

Henry VII	(1457-1509) the King of England from 1485 to 1509, the first Tudor king.

Henry VIII	(1491-1547) the King of England from 1509 to 1547; founder of the Church of England. Today he is often more popularly remembered for his six wives.

hereditary peer	A titled member of the aristocracy who has the right to speak and vote in the house of Lords provided he or she is 21 or older.

Hewett	An important North Sea gasfield.

higher education	Education at a university or polytechnic, at degree level or higher, as distinct from further education.

the Highlands	A mountainous region of northern Scotland, in particular the area north of the Grampians, famous for its Gaelic speakers.

Hitchcock, Alfred	(1899-1980) a famous film-maker of thrillers such as The Thirty-Nine Steps (1935), Psycho (1960), the Birds (1962).

Hockney, David	A contemporary British painter who lived for many years in California. One of his best known paintings is called A Bigger splash.

Holmes, Sherlock	The famous detective in stories by Arthur Conan Doyle.

Hogarth, William	(1697-1764) the first great English artist, known especially for his very detailed pictures showing the immoral pleasures of his time, in works such as The Rake’s Progress and Marriage à la Mode.

the home counties	The area of SE England around London, including the counties of Hertfordshire, Essex, Kent, Surrey, east and West Sussex, Berkshire, and Buckinghamshire. the home counties is regarded as a wealthy, middle-class area.

the House of Commons = the House = the Commons	The lower house of the British Parliament. The members are elected by citizens. The discussions are controlled by the Speaker.

the House of Lords = the lords	The upper house of the British Parliament, currently consisting of some 800 non-elected members of whom only 92 are hereditary, the rest are appointive.

the Houses of Parliament	The seat of British government.

Hull = Kingston-upon-Hull	the 4^th largest port in the UK.

the Humber	A river formed by the confluence of the Trent and the Ouse.

Humberside	The former name of East Yorkshire.

Humpty Dumpty	An egg-shaped character in a popular nursery rhyme.

the Hundred Years’ War	Intermittent struggle between England and France from 1337 to 1453 which was carried during the reign of five English Kings and during which England lost all her French possessions, except Calais.

Hunt, W.H.	(1827-1910) a leading member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.

Hyde Park	One of the most popular green spaces in London. It includes the Serpentine, Speaker’s Corner and Rotten Row.



	I

IBA	Independent Broadcasting Authority.

ICI	Imperial Chemical Industries, an international company based in the UK. It produces drugs, medicines, paints, chemicals for farming and is the world’s largest paint producer.

The Importance of Being earnest	a play (1895) by Oscar Wilde in which a man pretends that his name is Earnest because he thinks this will give him an advantage with a woman he admires. an English film by Anthony Asquith based on the play of the same title.

independent school	A fee-paying school, usually a public school or preparatory school that operates outside the state system.

India	A large country in south Asia which was ruled by the British from 1757 until 1947.

Inverness	A town in northern Scotland, a popular tourist centre and “capital” of the Highlands.

the Invincible Armada	See the Armada.

Ipswich	An important industrial centre of East Anglia, Suffolk’s county seat.

IQ	Intelligence Quotient.

the IRA	The Irish Republican Army, an illegal organization that wants Northern Ireland to leave the UK and become part of the republic of Ireland.

Ireland	A large island to the west of Great Britain, comprising the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland (which is part of the UK). the name normally used to mean the Republic of Ireland.

the Irish Sea	The sea between Great Britain and Ireland.

the Iron Lady	Mrs. Thatcher’s nickname. She was called this because she was seen as a strong leader who did not change her mind easily.

the Isle of Man	An island in the Irish Sea, popular with tourists. A self-governing crown dependency with its own parliament Tynwald.

the Isle of Wight	An island off the coast of south England, popular with tourists.

the ITC	The Independent Television Commission, the organization responsible for controlling the operation of private television companies in the UK.

Ivanhoe	The main character, a brave knight, in the novel Ivanhoe (1819) by Sir Walter Scott, set in England in the 12^th century.



	J

James I	(1566-1625) the King of England (1603-25) who before becoming king of England was already the king of Scotland (as James IV).

James II	(1633-1704) the King of England (1685-88) who was forced to give up his position because he had become a Catholic.

Jane Eyre	A book by Charlotte Brontë (1847) about a young woman who becomes a governess and agrees to marry her employer, Mr. Rochester, not knowing that he already has a wife who is mentally ill and is kept locked in the attic of the house. The popular book has been made into several films and plays.

Jane Seymour	See Seymour, Jane.

Jersey	The southernmost and the largest of the Channel Islands, 16 km away from France.

Jersey cow	A type of brown cow that produces creamy milk.

Joan of Arc	A peasant girl (1412-1431) who inspired the French army to fight the English. She is known as the “Maid of Orleans”

John, King	(1167-1216) the king of England from 1199 to his death, who signed the Magna carta in 1215, by which he agreed to accept limits on his power as king.

John O’ Groats	A place in NE Scotland thought of as the most northern point in the UK, although in fact it is not.

Johnson, Samuel	(1700-84) an English lexicographer, critic and poet. His reputation as man, wit and conversationalist outweighs his literary reputation.

Jones, Inigo	(1573- 1652) a british architect who designed many important buildings, especially in London. He was the first person to introduce the Italian Palladian style of building in England. He also designed scenery for the theatre.

Julius Caesar	A roman general, statesman and writer who lived about 100 B.C. till 44 B.C. In 55 B.C. he fought against the Celts.

The Jungle Book	A book of stories by Rudyard Kipling about a young boy called Mowgli who grows up in the jungle in India and is cared for by animals, such as Baloo the bear and Bagheera the panther.



	K


KC	King’s Counsel, a high-ranking barrister.

Kent	An Anglo-Saxon kingdom; a county in south-east England, known as the “Garden of England” because of the fruit and vegetables it produces.

kilt	A skirt with many pressed folds at the back and sides, and usually of a tartan pattern, worn especially by Scotsmen.

King Lear	A play by William Shakespeare about an old king who decides to divide his kingdom between his three daughters according to how much each of them says she loves him.

Kinnock, Neil	(1942 - ) A prominent labour politician who was leader of the Labour party from 1983 to 1992.

Kipling, Rudyard	(1865-1936) a British writer known for his novels, poems and short stories set in India, e.g. The Jungle Book. He won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1907.

the Kirk	The Church of Scotland.



	L

the Labour Party	A major political party that occupies the political centre, especially since Tony Blair became party leader in 1994. Since then the party has also been known as New labour.

Lady Di	See Diana, Princess of Wales, also Princess Di, Princess Diana.

the Lady with the Lamp	Florence Nightingale. She walked around the hospital in the evenings with a lamp to check that everything was in order.

the Lake District	A picturesque area in North-West England known for its beautiful lakes.

Lake Poets = the Lake School	The name given to the trio of William Wordsworth, samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey who lived in the lake District in the 19^th century and drew inspiration from the local scenery.

La Manche	The French name for the English Channel.

Lancashire	A county in North-West England, formerly the centre of Britain’s cotton industry.

Land of Cakes	A nickname for Scotland.

Land’s End	The extreme south-west point of England, in Cornwall. It is used especially in the phrase ‘from John O’ Groats to Land’s End’, because John O’ Groats is thought of as the furthest point in the northeast of the UK.

Lawrence of Arabia Lawrence, Sir Thomas	A famous film (1962) about a British soldier and writer who helped Arabs in their fight against the Turks in 1914-18. (1769-1830) A prominent English portraitist. Famous aristocrats, soldiers and royals sat for him.

LEA	Local Education Authority.

Lean, David	(1908-91) a prominent British film director who made Brief encounter, Great Expectations, The bridge on the River Kwai, Lawrence of Arabia, Dr Zhivago.

Leeds	An important industrial centre in west yorkshire.

leek	One of the national emblems of Wales.

Leicester	The centre of the footwear industry in central england.

Lennon, John	A musician and former member of the Beatles who was married to Yoko Ono. John Lennon was shot outside his home in NY.

the Lib Dems	The liberal Democrats, the third largest political party in the UK, which was formed in 1988 when the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party joined together.

the Liberal Party	One of the two main political parties in the UK during the 19^th century and until WWI. with the appearance of the Labour party, however, much of the considerable influence of the Liberals declined.

Lincolnshire	A county in East England, on the North Sea coast.

Liverpool	A big port and city on the River Mersey.

Loch Lomond	A lake in West Scotland near Glasgow.

Loch Ness	A large very deep lake in North Scotland in which a monster is supposed to live. The Loch Ness Monster is informally called Nessie.

Liverpudlian	A native or resident of Liverpool.

London	The capital city of the UK on the River Thames with the population of about 7 mln.

London Bridge	A bridge on the River Thames in London, famous because of a nursery rhyme called London Bridge id falling Down. In 1965, it was sold and taken to the US state of Arizona. A new bridge was built over the Thames to replace it.

Londonderry = Derry	The second largest city in NI, noted for linen manufacture.

the London School of Economics	The LSE, one of the colleges of London university, which is famous for teaching politics and economics. It was well known in the 1960s as a centre of left wing student politics and protests.

London university	The third oldest university in England, which consists of several different colleges in London, including Imperial College, University College, King’s College, and the London School of economics. Students usually mention the name of the particular college that they go to, instead of saying that they study at London University.

longbow	A large powerful bow for shooting arrows, especially as made in former times from a single long thin curved piece of wood (like the one used by Robin hood).

Lord Chancellor	The presiding officer of the House of Lords.

Lord Protector	The official title of Oliver Cromwell and his son, Richard Cromwell, when they ruled Britain (1653-1659).

Lough Neagh	A lake in NI, the largest lake in the UK.

the LSE	See the London School of Economics.

Luddites	Groups of English industrial workers in the early 19^th century who tried to destroy new labour-saving machinery as a protest against unemployment and low pay.

Luton	A car-making centre in south central England.



	M

Macmillan, Harold	(1894-1986) a prominent Conservative leader who was Prime Minister from 1957 to 1963.

Madam Tussaud’s	A famous waxworks museum in London.

the Mad Hatter and the March Hare	Characters in the Alice stories by Lewis Carroll. Alice goes to the Mad hatter’s tea party where no one eats or drinks anything, the Mad hatter and the March Hare talk nonsense, and the Dormouse keeps falling asleep.

the “Maid of Orleans”	Joan of Arc.

Magna Carta	Charter granted by King John in 1215 under the pressure from barons. It defined the limits of English king’s power.

Magnus	An important North sea oilfield

Major, John	(1943 - ) A Tory politician who became Prime Minister when Margaret Thatcher resigned in 1990.

Manchester	A large city in the north-west of England, a chief centre of the cotton industry.

Manchester United	A leading English Football club.

Mancunian	A native or inhabitant of Manchester.

The Man of Property	The first book in The Forsyte Saga series by John Galsworthy.

Marriage à la Mode	A famous cycle by William Hogarth which is a protest against marriage for money and vanity.

Mary I	(1516-1558) Queen Mary Tudor (1553-1558), the daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. Mary I tried to return England to the catholic religion and persecuted cruelly the protestants who gave her the nickname Bloody Mary.

Maugham, Somerset	(1874-1965) a British writer of novels, and especially short stories, who is considered one of the best story writers in English.

Mayfair	The most expensive part of London, east of Hyde park.

the Mayflower	The ship that took the Pilgrim Fathers to North America in 1620.

McCartney, Paul	Former member of the Beatles.

Mercia	An Anglo-Saxon kingdom.

the Mersey	Its source is in the Peak District and it empties into the irish Sea.

the Merry Monarch	A nickname for Charles II who was known for enjoying himself and having many lovers.

Merseyside	A highly industrialized area in Lancashire.

Middlesbrough	An important industrial centre in Teesside, Cleveland (steelmaking, shipbuilding).

the Midlands	The central part of England around Birmingham, known for its car factories and its light industry.

Milford Haven	The main port in Wales, known for its oil refining

Millais, John	(1829-96) a leading member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.

Milne, Alexander Minton	(1882-1956) a British writer, best known for his books for children such as Winnie the Pooh and his collection of poems When We Were Very Young. a fine quality chinaware made in Stoke-on-Tren,t first produced by the potter Thomas Minton

Miss Marple	Miss Jane Marple, a character created by Agatha Christie, a very nice polite old English lady who is also clever at discovering criminals.

MOD	Ministry of Defence.

the Modern Athens	Edinburgh.

The moon and Sixpence	One of the best known novels by Somerset Maugham.

More, Sir Thomas	(1478-1535) an English statesman, humanist and author. By his Latin Utopia (1516, Eng. tr. 1556) More takes his place with the most eminent humanists of the Renaissance.

the Morning Star	A daily popular paper that formerly supported the Communist Party who founded it in 1930 as the ‘Daily Worker’. The new name was taken in 1966.

Mosley, Oswald	(1896-1980) a British politician with extreme right-wing ideas who in 1932 started the british Union of Fascists (BUF) which organized attacks on Jewish people in London.

Motherwell	An important steel making centre in Scotland.

MP	A Member of Parliament.

Murdoch, Iris	(1919-99) a british writer born in Ireland who was known for her intelligent, humorous, and often complicated novels.

Murdoch, Rupert	(1931 - ) a media magnate who owns newspapers (such as the New York Post, The Times), TV and film companies (Sky TV, the Fox film company), and book publishers.



	N

the Narrow Seas	The waters that separate Great Britain from Europe and Ireland (the English Channel, the Straits of Dover, the St george’s Channel, the North Channel).

the National Front	An extreme right-wing political party founded in 1966.

National Gallery	A famous picture gallery in Trafalgar Square, founded in 1824.
	.
Nelson, Horatio	A British naval commander who defeated the French at the battle of Trafalgar (1805).

Nelson’s Column	A column with the statue of Admiral Lord Nelson on top, in the centre of Trafalgar Square.

Nessie	An informal name for the Loch Ness monster.

Newcastle = Newcastle upon Tyne	A large industrial city and port on the River Tyne in NE England, whose full name is Newcastle upon Tyne.

the New Forest	An area in Hampshire in southern England, which has many oak and beech trees and large stretches of heath. New Forest is popular with holiday makers.

“New Labour”	An unofficial name for the British Labour party used especially by Tony Blair to show that the party has changed and has become more modern.

the New Model Army	An army started by Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil war in 1645, which was known for being well trained and skilled at fighting. It consisted of roundheads, fighting against King Charles I and his cavaliers.

the New Statesman	A leading journal of opinion.

Newton, Isaac	A British physicist and mathematician who is best known for discovering gravity.

NFU	National Farmers’ Union. It lobbies government on behalf of the agricultural community.

the NHS	The National Health Service, established in 1948.

NI	Northern Ireland

Nightingale, Florence	(1820-1910) an English nurse who organized hospitals and nursing services in the Crimean War.

Nineteen Eighty-Four = 1984	A novel by George Orwell which describes an imaginary society of the future where the government has complete control of everyone’s lives, thoughts, and behaviour, and watches everything they do.

Norfolk	A county in eastern England, consisting mainly of rather flat farmland with some marshes.

Norfolk Broads	See the Broads.

the Norman Conquest	Conquest of England by the Normans under William the Conqueror, in 1066.

the Norman French	The dialect of French spoken by the people of Normandy in the Middle Ages and brought over to England when it was conquered by the Normans.

the Normans	A people from Normandy, in northern France, who originally came from Norway. Led by William the Conqueror, they took control of England in the 11^th century, and had a very important influence on the law, language, and culture of England.

North America	The third largest continent in the world, consisting of Canada and the Unites States of America, as well as Mexico, Central America, Greenland, and other smaller islands.

the North Channel	A water passage that separates GB from Ireland.

Northern Ireland	The northern part of the island of Ireland, which is politically part of United Kingdom.

the North Sea	Part of the Atlantic Ocean, between Great Britain and NW Europe.

Northumberland	A county in NE England known for Hadrian’s Wall.

Northumbria	An Anglo-Saxon kingdom on the north of England and south of Scotland.

the North York Moors	See the Yorkshire moors.

Norwich	The largest town in East Anglia.

Nottingham	An industrial city in central England (chemicals, engineering, and clothing), famous for its lace and associated with Robin Hood.

the NUS	The National Union of Students.

the NUT	The National Union of Teachers.



	O

OAP	An old age pensioner.

the Odeon	A fashionable “art cinema” in London.

the Observer	A Sunday national newspaper.

old boy	A former student of a secondary school, especially a public school.

Old Etonians	Men who have been educated at Eton.

Oldham	A cotton textile centre in Lancashire.

Old Harrovians	Men who have been educated at Harrow.

old (school) tie	A distinctive (often striped or crested) tie worn by an old boy as a member of an association of former students.

Oliver twist	A novel by Charles dickens about a poor boy; a film (1948) based on this story, directed by David lean.

Olivier, Laurence	(1907-89) one of the finest stage and film actors of his generation, a prominent theatre manager and producer. Was made a life peer in 1970.

the Open University	A British university for adult students of any age who study for their degrees mainly in their own homes. Study is by means of a correspondence course linked to radio and television programmes. The OU is based in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.

the opposition	The major political party not currently in power.

the Order of the garter	A group of 24 British men who have been given a special title of honour for their achievements. Members of the Order of the garter have the title ‘Sir’, and place the initials KG after their names. together with the order of the Thistle, it is the highest level of knighthood. According to tradition, the order was founded in 1348 by King Edward III, who is said to have picked a garter dropped by the Countess of Salisbury at a court festival and gallantly tied it round his own knee, saying, ‘Honi soit qui mal y pense’ (Shame on him who thinks evil of it’), words which today form the motto of the Order.

Orwell, George	(1903-50) the penname of Eric Blair, a British writer best known for his novel Nineteen Eighty-Four.

the OU	The Open University.

OUP	Oxford University Press.

the Ouse	The river in NE England which flows southeast to the Humber.

Owen, David	(1938 - ) A founder of the SDP which he led from 1983 to 1987.

Oxbridge	The British universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

Oxford	A historic city in England famed for its university and its medieval architecture, a car making centre.

Oxford accent	An informal name for RP or BBC English.

Oxford English	Another name for RP.

Oxford Street	A street in London famous for its shops.

Oxford University	One of the two oldest and most famous universities in England founded in the 12^th century. There are at present about 10.000 students in residence of whom nearly half are women.



	P

Parker-Bowles, Camilla	(1947 - ) a British woman who had a love affair with Prince Charles while both she and Charles were married to other people. Some people blame her for causing the end of Charles’ marriage to Diana, Princess of Wales. The idea that she and Charles should get married was often discussed in the newspapers. The two long-time lovers finally married in April 2005.

Parliament	The main law-making body in GB, consisting of the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

the Parliament Act of 1911	Fixed the life of a parliament (the House of Commons) at 5 years, curtailed the veto of the Lords to a period of 2 years and abolished the veto over Bills on expenditure or taxation.

the Parliament Act of 1949	Reduced the delaying powers of the Lords to 1 year for Bills passed by the House of Commons.

Pas de Calais	The French name for the Straits of Dover.

PC	Police Constable.

the Peak District	A moorland area in the southern part of the Pennine Chain (pennines).

the Peasants’ Revolt	A protest in 1381 involving large numbers of English peasants who formed an unofficial army and marched to London, led by Wat Tyler. King Richard II pretended to agree to some of their demands, but after their leaders were killed, he changed his mind, so the revolt failed.

Peeping Tom	A person who secretly looks at others (when they are undressing), who don’t know they are being watched. (From the story about Lady Godiva).

the Pennines	A range of hills in a line down the middle of England from the Scottish Border to central england, which are sometimes called the ‘backbone of England’.

People’s Charter	The manifesto of the working class reform movement of the 1830s-40s known as Chartism.

Perth	A city in central Scotland on the River Tay.

Peter Grimes	The character in the opera of the same name by Benjamin Britten.

Peterhouse	The oldest college in Cambridge, founded in 1284.

Peter Pan	The main character in the play Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie. He is a young boy who never grows up and lives in a magic place called Never-Never Land and can fly.

Piccadilly	A central shopping street in London.

The Picture of Dorian Gray	A novel by Oscar Wilde about a beautiful young man, Dorian Gray, who has a painting of himself. Dorian’s face remains young and beautiful, but the face in the picture gets older and ugly as Gray becomes more and more evil and immoral.

Pilgrim Fathers	A group of Puritan objectors in the Church of England who sailed to America in the Mayflower and founded Plymouth Colony in 1620, the second permanent settlement by Europe in New England.

Plaid	thick material (tartan) having a pattern of squares formed by brightly coloured crossing bands; a piece of plaid worn over the shoulder and across the chest by Scotsmen as part of their national costume.

Plaid Cymru	Welsh nationalist party which wants Wales to become an independent country, and also wants the Welsh language to be used more.

the Plantagenet dynasty	The royal family of England from Henry II to Richard II (from 1154 to 1399).

Plymouth	A port of call and naval base in Devon. The Pilgrim Fathers sailed to America from Plymouth.

Plymouth Colony	the second permanent British settlement in North America.

the PM	Prime Minister.

Poirot, hercule	A clever Belgian detective who solves crimes by using the ‘little grey cells’, a character in books by Agatha Christie.

the Potteries	The centre for the china and pottery industry; the part of England associated with writings of Arnold Bennet.

the PRB	The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.

preparatory school = prep school	A private school for children between the ages of 8 and 13, where they are made ready to attend a public school.

the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood	A group of 19^th century British artists whose aim was to return to a style of painting of the late Middle Ages. Many of the group chose biblical and romantic subjects for their themes. Among leading members were Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Holman Hunt, John Millais, Edward Burne-Jones.

Prime Minister = the PM	The head of the government, who presides over the Cabinet and gives posts to ministers.

Prince Albert	The Prince consort of Queen Victoria

Prince Charles	(1948- ) the first son of the British queen, Elizabeth II, who is expected to become the next British king (See also Diana, Prince Harry, Prince William).

Prince harry	(1984 - ) the younger son of Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales. His official name is Prince Henry.

Princess Di, Princess Diana	See Diana, Princess of Wales, Lady Di.

Princess Street	The main street in Edinburgh.

the Prince of Wales	The title of the eldest son in the royal family who is heir to the throne.

Prince William	(1982 - ) the elder son of Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales.

Private Eye	The leading satirical fortnightly.

private school	An independent (fee-paying) school as different from a state school.

the Privy Council	A group of important politicians in the UK who are officially chosen to be advisers to the king or queen. At one time this group had real power, but its purpose now is purely ceremonial. Its members include past and present government ministers and the leaders of the other main political parties. They are given the title ‘Right Honourable’.

public school	An independent (fee-paying) school that prepares students for university entrance. The most famous british public schools include Eton, Harrow, and Winchester.

Punch	The title of a weekly humorous journal founded in 1841.



	Q


quality paper	A British daily or Sunday newspaper aimed at educated readers. quality papers are sometimes called the serious papers.

the Queen of Crime	Agatha Christie.

the Queen of the Midlands	Nottingham.

Queen Victoria	(1837-1901) The british queen from 1837 until her death, who also had the title ‘Empress of India’. She was queen for 64 years.

Question time	The period of time in a parliament when ministers answer MPs’ questions.

The Quiet American	A novel by Graham Greene.



	R

Radio IV	The main speech channel of the BBC.

the RAF	The Royal Air Force.

The Rake’s Progress	A famous cycle by William Hogarth showing the immoral pleasures of his time.

Red Dragon	The symbol of Wales.

Redgrave, Michael	(1908-85) A renowned British actor.

Redgrave, Vanessa	(1837- ) A British film and theatre actress praised for her ability to express strong emotions or excitement. She is also known for her strong left-wing beliefs.
the Regency rep = repertory theatre	(1811-20) the last years of the reign of King George III. Also called the little/small thetre. Usu. a small provincial theatre, sometimes subsided by local authorities.
the Restoration	The time when the monarchy was established again in England in 1660

Reynolds, Joshua	(1723-92) A british painter who became the first president of the Royal Academy and who is known especially for his portraits.

the Rhondda	An important coal-mining area in South Wales until the closure of all the coal mines by 1990.

rhyming slang	Words and phrases that rhyme with those which are really meant, e.g. ‘plates of meat’ for ‘feet’, ‘loaf of bread’ for ‘head’. rhyming slang is popular among cockneys.

Richard the Lionheart	English King who reigned from 1189 to 1199 but spent most of his term participating in Crusades in the Holy land.

Richard II	(1347-1400) the king of England from 1377 to 1399; was removed from power by his cousin who then became King Henry IV.

robin	The national bird of the UK.

Robin Hood	English legendary medieval outlaw who lived in Sherwood Forest with his band of men and robbed the rich to help the poor

Robinson Crusoe	The character created by Daniel Defoe.

the Roman Empire	The countries of Europe, north of Africa, and western Asia that were ruled by the ancient romans from around 44 BC until AD 395, when the Empire was divided into two parts. The Western Roman Empire continued until 476, and the Eastern Roman Empire until the 15^th century.

Roman Britain	ancient Britain under the Roman rule when it was a province of the Roman Empire (from 43 AD until 410 when legions were withdrawn from Britain; in 449 it was invaded by Germanic tribes).

Rossetti, Dante Gabriel	A leading member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.

Rotten Row	A horse-riding track running along the south side of hyde Park, also called the Row (coll.).

Roundhead	A supporter of Parliament against King Charles I in the English Civil War, in which the Roundheads fought against the Cavaliers.

Rover	A major car manufacturer in Britain, formerly known as BL.

the Royal Academy	The oldest society in Britain devoted entirely to the fine arts, founded in 1768 and well known got its annual summer exhibition of contemporary art held at its headquarters, Burlington house, in Piccadilly, London.

royal assent	The official signing of an act of parliament by the sovereign, as a result of which it becomes law of the country

the Royal Ballet	Britain’s national ballet company, with its base at Covent Garden in London.

the Royal Opera	A leading London opera company with its own orchestra, based at Covent Garden in London.

the Royal Opera House	The leading theatre of opera and ballet in London, also known, from its location, as Covent Garden. It is the home of the Royal Opera and Royal Ballet companies.

the Royal Pavilion	A famous building in oriental style, with onion-shaped domes, spires and minarets, in Brighton.

RP	Received pronunciation, a prestige form of standard English accent.

the RSC	The Royal Shakespeare Company.

Rugby (School)	a leading public school in the town of the same name, founded in 1567, where the game of rugby was first played.

Rutherford, Earnest	(1973-1937) a great English physicist who explained in 1902 the process of radioactive decay, for which in 1908 he received the Nobel Prize.



	S


St. Andrew	(1^st century AD) in the Bible, one of Jesus’ disciples. He is the patron saint of Scotland and St. Andrew’s Day, 30^th November, is celebrated as the Scottish national day.

St. Andrews	The oldest university in Scotland (1441) in the ancient town and seaside resort of the same name.

St. Augustine (of Canterbury)	An Italian priest who was sent to England in 597 to teach the people about Christianity.

St. David	the patron saint of Wales who lived in the 6^th century. St. David’s Day, 1^st March, is celebrated as the Welsh national day.

St. George	The patron saint of England. St. George’s Day, 23^rd April, is celebrated as the English national day.

St. George’s Channel	The passage of water that separates GB from Ireland.

St. Patrick	the patron saint of Ireland who helped to spread the Christian religion there. St. Patrick’s day, 17^th March, is celebrated in Ireland and in the US, where people drink Irish beer and often wear green clothes.

St Paul’s Cathedral	The greatest of English churches designed by Sir Christopher Wren, one of the best known buildings in London.

St. Valentine’s Day	February 14 when young lovers send each other anonymous valentines.

Salisbury Plain	a grass-covered chalky upland in Wiltshire used by the army as a training area, with Stonehenge as the main tourist attraction.

Saxons	One of the germanic tribes that invaded Britain after the Romans had left it.

Scafell Pike	The highest peak in England (in the Lake District, Cumbria).

Scillonian	A native or inhabitant of the Scilly Isles.

the Scilly Isles = the Isles of Scilly	A group of 140 islands some 25 miles south-west off Land’s End. Popular with tourists as the weather there is warmer than in the rest of Britain.

Scotland	A country in the UK, north of England.

Scots, Scotsman, Scotswoman	People from Scotland. A man or woman from Scotland.

Scott, Walter	(1771-1832) a Scottish writer and poet best known for his historical novels based on Scottish history, such as Rob Roy, and on old English stories, such as Ivanhoe.

the Scout association	The British organization that controls the Boy scouts.

Scunthorpe	An important steel-making centre in East Yorkshire (Humberside).

the SDP	The Social Democratic Party, founded in 1981. Most of its members joined with the Liberal party in 1987 to form the Social and Liberal democrats (Lib Dems).

secondary modern school	(esp. formerly) a school for children over the age of 11 who are not expected to go on to higher study later.

the serious papers	Another name for quality papers.

the Serpentine	A lake in Hyde park in london. It is a custom for some people to swim in it on Christmas Day.

the Seven Years War	A war fought in Europe, North America and India between 1756 and 1763 (mostly against France).

the Severn	The longest English river which follows a puzzling course and drains to the Bristol Channel.

Seymour, Jane	The third wife of King Henry VIII who bore him a son.

the Shadow cabinet	The team of ministers in the opposition who would probably form the cabinet if their party won the next general election.

Shakespeare, William	(1564-1616) the great poet and dramatist who was born and buried at Stratford-on-Avon.

Sharp, Becky	The main character in the book Vanity Fair by William Thackeray. She is a clever, attractive, and ambitious young woman, who treats people cruelly and unfairly to get what she wants.

Shaw, George Bernard	(1856-50) an outstanding Irish British playwright, sociologist and critic (Man and Superman, Candida)

Sheffield	An important steel-making centre in Yorkshire, famous for cutlery.

Shell	A leading oil company.

Shellhaven	An important oil refining centre at mouth of the Thames.

Sherwood Forest	Forest in central England which is famous as the place where Robin Hood is supposed to have lived.

the Shetlands	The most northerly group of islands in Great Britain.
Siddons, Sarah	(1755-1831) nee Kemble. A famous tragic actress, good in Shakespearean parts, esp. Lady macbeth. Sarah Siddons is immortalized in portraits by Gainsborough and Reynolds.
Simon de Monfort	A leader of the barons who summoned the first English parliament in 1265.

Sinn Fein	An Irish political party, active especially Northern Ireland, which wants NI to become part of the republic of Ireland.

six form	The highest level in a British secondary school; a two-year course of study preparing students to take their A Levels.

the SLD	The Social and Liberal Democrats, a British political party (1988).

Slieve Donard	The highest point in NI (852m).

the Smoke	London’s nickname.

Snowdon	The highest mountain in wales (1085 m).

Snowdonia	An area with many mountains in North Wales, which is a National Park and is a popular place for climbers and tourists.

the SNP	The Scottish national Party. Scotland’s largest nationalist party, founded in 1928 and advocating the separation of Scotland from the UK.

the Social Democratic Party	See SDP.

Soho	A district of west central London well known since the 19^th century for its striptease clubs and sex shops. the area is also known for its restaurants.

Somerset	A county in south-west England.

Southampton	The largest port for ocean going liners in Hampshire.

South and North Downs	Ranges of chalk hills in southern England. The North Downs run through surrey and kent, the south downs extend from hampshire in the west to east Sussex in the east.

South wales	The southern part of Wales which formerly contained many coal mines, but now has a lot of modern industries.

the Spanish Armada	See the Armada.

Speaker	The presiding officer of the House of Commons

the Speaker’s Corner	The area in hyde park, London, where at weekends individuals and representatives of various organizations and causes make public speeches from improvised stands (soapboxes).

the Spectator	A leading journal of opinion.

the Spey	The Scottish river that drains into the North Sea; the fastest river in GB.

Sporran	Part of the traditional costume of a highlander or other Scot; a large leather or fur pouch worn in front of the kilt.

the Square Mile	The City, one of the most powerful business centres in the world.

the Star Chamber	A group of ministers who decide how much money a government department will be allowed to spend if that department cannot reach agreement with the Treasury.

state school	A British school which receives money from the government and provides free education.

the Statute of Westminster	The law adopted in 1931, granted legislative authority to the Dominions.

Stevenson, Robert Louis	(1850-94) a Scottish writer whose books Treasure Island and Kidnapped are among the best known adventure stories in English.

Stoke-on-Trent	A city in central England famous for pottery.

Stonehenge	Structure in southern England erected by a prehistoric people, consisting mainly of a circular arrangement of stone blocks, now in ruins.

the Straits of Dover	A narrow passage of water between SE England and France, 21 miles wide. The French name is Pas de Calais.

Stratford-on-Avon	A town in central England, Shakespeare’s home town.

Stuart	The name of the royal family that ruled Scotland from 1371 to 1603 and britain from 1603 to 1649 and from 1660 to 1714.

Stubbs, George	(1724-1806) a British artist known especially for his paintings of horses and other animals.

the Sun	A British tabloid newspaper, the biggest-selling newspaper in the UK.

Sunderland	an important ship-building centre in NE England at the mouth of the Wear, known for its rope works.

surrey	A county in South-East England, which one of the home counties.

Sussex	An Anglo-Saxon kingdom; a former county which in 1974 was divided into East Sussex and West Sussex.

Swansea	A city in south Wales, once an industrial port used for coal.

Swift, Jonathan	(1667-1745) an Irish writer who is best known for his book Gulliver’s Travels. He wrote many other satirical stories and articles in which he criticized British institutions.



	T


Taffy	A nickname for a Welshman (from the supposed Welsh pronunciation of Dafydd, a common Welsh forename)

tartan	Woollen cloth woven with bands of different colours and widths crossing each other at right angles; a special pattern of this cloth worn by a particular Scottish clan, and known by the clan’s name, e.g. the Macdonald tartan.

the Tate Gallery = the Tate	One of london’s best known art galleries, opened in 1897 with the financial support of Sir Henry Tate, who also gave a collection of 65 paintings.

the Tay	The largest river in Scotland, flows into the North Sea.

technical school	A state secondary school that provides an integrated academic and technical course. Under 1% of secondary school pupils attend such schools.

Teesside	A highly industrialized area in NE England in Cleveland noted for the oil and chemical industries.

Thackeray, William Makepeace	(1811-63) a British writer, born in India, best known for his novel Vanity Fair.

the Thames	The longest river in England, which flows from the west into the North Sea. Ocean-going vessels can sail it up as far as London.

the Thames Barrier	A flood barrier built across the Thames to protect London from serious flooding.

Thatcher, Margaret	(born 1925) a prominent Conservative politician, who became leader of the party in 1975 and was elected as Britain’s first woman Prime Minister to become the longest-serving PM of the 20^th century. The political and economic policies pursued by Margaret Thatcher are known as Thatcherism.

the Thirty Years’ War	A European war fought mainly in Germany between 1616 and 1648. It led to the Habsburgs and the Holy Roman Empire losing power in Europe.

the Thistle	The national symbol of Scotland.

Through the Looking Glass	A famous children’s story by Lewis carroll

the Times	The oldest newspaper in GB.

Today	A popular BBC radio programme which consists chiefly of news reports and comments, interviews with people in the news and up-to-the-minute details of traffic hold-ups, train cancellations, etc.

Tom Jones	A humorous novel by Henry Fielding about the travels, adventures, and sexual relationships of a young man, Tom Jones; A very successful british film (1963).

Tommy	The nickname for British soldiers.

Torquay	A seaside resort with mineral waters in Devonshire.

the Tower of London = the Tower	A fortress built in the 11^th century where the Crown Jewels are kept. There is a superstition that if the ravens ever leave the Tower of London, the british monarchy will end.

Trafalgar Square	A square in central London where Nelson’s Column stands. The Square was built in honour of Admiral Nelson. There are always public celebrations in Trafalgar Square on New Year’s eve.

Treasure Island	An adventure story for children by Robert Louis Stevenson about a young man called Jim Hawkins who is trying to find some treasure that has been buried on an island. He discovers that some of the sailors on his ship are pirates led by Long John Silver.

the Treasury	The state department responsible for the management of Britain’s finances and economy, officially headed by the Prime Minister (as First Lord of the Treasury) but actually the responsibility of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

the Trent	The river in the Midlands of England, flowing NE into the Humber

the Troubles	A name used in Ireland for the political problems connected with Ireland’s relationship with the UK in the early 1920s and the problems and violence in NI since the late 1960s.

TUC	Trade Union Congress

Tudor	Connected with the English royal family that ruled from 1485 to 1603.

Turner, Joseph	(1775-1851) one of the greatest English painters who devoted many of his canvases to the sea.

the Tweed	A Scottish river that drains to the North Sea.

Tyler, Wat	The leader of the Peasants’ Revolt in 1381.

the Tyne	A river in NE England flowing through Newcastle to the North Sea.

Tyneside	A highly industrialized area in NE England noted for the heavy industry and shipbuilding.

the Tynwald	The parliament of the Isle of Man.

the Tywi


	U

the UK	The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Ullswater	A lake in the Lake District.

Ulster	Another name for NI. Originally the name of a former kingdom there.

Unicorn	A mythical animal that looks like a horse with a long straight horn growing from its forehead. It has appeared on the Scottish and british royal coats of arms for many centuries, and is a symbol of purity.

Unilever	One of the largest manufacturing concerns, known for chemicals (detergents), milk and food products.

the Union Jack	The national ensign (flag) of the UK, combining the St. George’s cross of England, St. Andrew’s cross of Scotland and St. Patrick’s cross of Ireland (now represented by NI).

the University of London the University of Warwick	See London University. One of the plateglass universities established in 1965. about 7.200 students

	V

Valentine	A greeting card (= valentine card) sent (anonymously) to arrive on Saint valentine’s Day (February 14^th), declaring one’s love for someone; the person to whom a valentine card is sent.

Vanity Fair	A novel by William Thackeray about upper-class English society at the time of the war against napoleon. the characters in the book, who include Becky Sharp, are often shown to be stupid or to have no moral principles.

Vauxhall	A car manufacturer.

the Victorian England	England of the times of Queen Victoria (reigned 1837-1901).

Viking	Important North Sea gasfield.

Vikings	Seafaring race from Scandinavia that attacked and raided the coast of Europe from the 8^th to the 11^th cc. They sailed across the North Sea and the Baltic Sea to harry the adjacent countries. [Old Norse vikingr = pirate].

the Virgin Queen	Elizabeth I (She never married).



	W


Wales	A country in the UK, west of England.

Wallace, William	(1272-1305) a Scottish soldier and politician, who was a leader of the fight to keep Scotland independent of England. After being defeated in battle by the English king, Edward I, he was taken to London and hanged. He is regarded in Scotland as a national hero, and the film ‘Braveheart’ (1995) tells his story.

Wapping	Part of the Docklands area of E. London, which has been a centre of the British newspaper industry since the 1980s, when several newspapers moved their offices there from Fleet Street.

Wars of the Roses	The period of civil war in England (1455-85). It was a war of the House of York (White Rose) against the House of Lancaster (Red Rose)

the Wash	A large but shallow inlet of the North Sea on the east coast of England between Lincolnshire and Norfolk.

Wastwater	A lake in the Lake District.

Watling Street	One of the chief roads in Roman Britain which ran from Dover to London, then to Chester and into Wales.

Wedgwood Wedgwood blue	A famous make of pottery and china. The blue colour used in Wedgwood china.

the Welsh language	The Celtic language spoken in Wales.

Wembley Stadium	The great sports and athletics centre in London

Wessex	An ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom in the south and southwest England, which continued until England became united in the 9^th century.

Westminster Abbey	A national shrine where famous people are buried.

West Sole	Important North Sea gasfield

Whigs	A member of a British political party of the 18^th and early 19^th centuries which supported the power of parliament and wanted to limit the royal power: It later became the Liberal party.

Whip	An MP responsible to the leader for party discipline on important divisions.

the White Tower	The oldest tower of the Tower of London.

Whit Monday	The day after Whit Sunday, which used to be a public holiday in the UK. There is now a holiday around the same time called ‘the Spring bank Holiday’, but it is not always on Whit Monday.

Whitsun= Whit Sunday	A Christian religious holiday on the seventh Sunday after Easter, which celebrates the time when the Holy Spirit came from heaven to Jesus’s followers; Pentecost.

Wight = Isle of Wight = IOW	An island off the coast of S. England and an English county.

Wilde, Oscar	(1854-1900) an irish writer of poems, stories, and especially humorous plays. He is best known for the play The Importance of Being earnest and for his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray.

William the Conqueror	(1027-1087), Duke of Normandy who invaded and conquered England in the battle of hastings in 1066.

Wiltshire	A county in SW England.

wilva	Nuclear power station in Anglesey.

Winchester	An ancient city in S. England, known especially for its cathedral and for its public school, Winchester College. Winchester was England’s capital city in the 9^th and 10^th centuries.

Winchester College	A famous and expensive private school in Winchester.

Windermere	The largest lake in England, in the Lake District.

Windsor	A town in S. England on the River Thames famous for its castle.

Windsor Castle	One of the official homes of the royal family, a castle on the R. Thames upstream London.

Winnie The Pooh	A famous book (1926) for children by A.A. Milne about a boy called Christopher Robin and his teddy bear; The toy bear in Alexander Milne’s books, also called Pooh or Pooh Bear. His friends are Eeyore, Piglet, and Tigger.

Witan	The king’s council in Anglo-Saxon times, an assembly of the leading wisest rich men from various districts (Witenagemot) that could make laws and elect new kings.

Wolsey, Cardinal Thomas	(?1475 – 1530) an English cardinal and politician who was very rich and powerful, but who lost power after failing to persuade the Pope to allow King Henry VIII to end his marriage to Catherine of Aragon.

Wolverhampton	An important steel-making centre in the Midlands.

Woolsack	The Lord Chancellor’s seat in the House of Lords.

Wordsworth, William	(1770-1850) a British romantic poet whose poems are mainly about the beauty of nature. They often describe the countryside in the lake District, where he lived in the village of Grasmere.

Workington	Iron and steel industry centre in Cumbria.

Wren, Christopher	Rebuilt many London churches after the Great Fire.

Wuthering Heights	A famous novel by Emily Brontë. It is a romantic and exciting story, set on the Yorkshire moors, about the love between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff.

Wykehamist	Someone who is, or has been, a student at Winchester College, a famous private school in southern England.



	X


	Y


Yarmouth	A fishing town and port connected with the fishing in the North Sea, a base for natural gas exploitation in the North Sea.

York	An ancient city in north Yorkshire. York was originally a roman city. York is a popular place for tourists and is famous for its large cathedral York Minster and an area of medieval streets called ‘the Shambles’. York is a centre of the chocolate industry.

Yorkshire	An area and former county in NE England, now divided into North, East, South and West Yorkshire. It has large areas of beautiful, wild countryside, including the Yorkshire Moors and the Dales.

the Yorkshire Dales	See the Dales.

the Yorkshire moors	The North York Moors, an area of high, open land in the former county of Yorkshire.

the Yorkshire Post	A daily quality paper published in Leeds.

You’ve never had it so good	The slogan of the Conservative Party in 1959 Parliament Election.

Yuppie/-y	Abbr. of young upwardly-mobile professional. A young person in a professional job with a high income. In Britain, yuppies are seen as people who are more concerned with enjoying their lifestyle than with having a family or helping others in society.



	Z

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