dashing
(v): hurrying, moving quickly
jingle
(n): one of the sounds that a bell makes.
Other sounds are: ding-dong,
ding-a-ling, ring-ting-tingling, etc.
sleigh
(n): a large sled that carries people over the snow.
Bells
on bob-tail ring: The bells hanging from the horse's tail will ring.
The horse
was lean and lank: The horse was thin and tall - all legs and not very
muscular.
Misfortune
seemed his lot: The horse seemed to be very unlucky!
We got
into a drifted bank: We got caught in a small hill of snow - a snow
bank.
upsot:
upset - the sleigh tipped over onto its side.
frosty
(adj.): cold, covered with frost (small ice particles)
corncob
pipe (n): a pipe for smoking tobacco, made from a corn cob (the center
of an ear of corn).
traffic
cop (n): a policeman who directs traffic.
holler
(v): to yell or scream loudly
pa rum
pum pum pum: the sound from the little drummer boy's drum.
A newborn
King to see: to visit Baby Jesus - any time something is written about
Jesus, a capital letter is used.
nod
(v): to shake your head "yes."
rockin'
(v): rocking (Rockin' around the Christmas tree = Dancing around the Christmas
tree.)
hop
(n): a dance (Christmas Party Hop = the Christmas dance party)
mistletoe
(n): an evergreen type plant. At Christmas time in some countries, people
must kiss when they walk under the mistletoe. (pronounced "missile + toe")
pumpkin
pie (v): a dessert served during the winter holiday season.
caroling
(v): singing - the singing of holiday songs is called caroling.
carol (n): a holiday
song
sentimental
(adj): a warm, good feeling - a memory of past good times.
boughs
of holly: branches of holly - a green plant with pretty red berries.
(Holly is pretty, but it's
very poisonous!)
merry
(adj): happy
merrily (adv.) in a
happy way, happily
deck
(v): to decorate,
"Deck the halls" =
decorate the rooms we use for parties.
'tis :
short form of "it is"
'Tis is used in songs
and poems.
don
(v): to put on
"Don we now our gay apparel"
- put on our party clothes now!
eggnog
(n): a traditional drink served during the winter holidays, made with cream,
eggs, sugar, alcohol, and nutmeg.
stumble
(v): to trip and fall, or walk like a drunk person.
hoofprints
(n): feet marks from an animal
a hoof : an animal
foot
elf (n):
Santa's helper, plural form = elves
some
types of birds: partridge, turtle dove, French hen, calling bird, goose
(geese), swan
a-verb
(v): a-laying
= to lay an egg, a-swimming = to go swimming, etc.
maids
(n): a maid is a girl, the maids in this song are milkmaids.
piper
(n): a musician who plays a musical instrument similar to a flute.
pout
(v): to show sadness or anger by puffing one's lips outward like a child.
list
(n): a list of bad children and good children. Only the good children
get gifts from Santa Claus!
naughty
(adj): bad, a naughty child gets no presents from Santa!
frightful
(adj): awful, terrible
giddy
up: say this to a horse to make it go
comfy-cozy
(adj): comfortable and cozy
snuggle
(v): to sit very close together
Currier
and Ives: two famous painters
rosy
(adj): rose colored, pink
bulldozing
(v): to push very hard
tidings:
greetings or a message (tidings is a very old word, and it's only used
in songs and poems.)
'Twas:
Short form of "It was."
prance
(v): to move in a spirited way, like a dancer, or a horse.