A-Z of Shakespeare – W

Unfortunately there is no entry for X in the Oxford Illustrated Shakespeare Dictionary so we are moving on straight to W!

National Shakespeare Day

To commemorate National Shakespeare Day, we are sharing an interesting extract from the Oxford Illustrated Shakespeare Dictionary.

A viola da gamba, played between the legs like a modern cello.

Warning! Don’t read in the meaning of ‘a poorly dressed boy’.

Warning! Don’t read in the meaning of ‘teaching’.

Slug-a-bed means lazy-bones! It can also be spelled ‘slug-abed’.

Shakespeare uses rehearse to mean utter.

Quietus is a noun that means release.

A movement used in fencing, a passado is a forward thrust with the foil with the rear foot moving forward at the same time.

Pronounced ‘ill-yad’, an oeillade is an amorous glance.