Bud, Not Buddy Chapter 8 Vocabulary

Vocabulary Terms and Definitions

• Ride the rails: Refers to traveling on a train without authorization or a ticket.
• Hoodlum: Defines a person involved in criminal activity, often associated with gang behavior.
• Cardboard jungle: Term for impoverished areas, specifically referring to Deza Malone's neighborhood, also known as Hooverville, characterized by makeshift huts appearing constructed from cardboard.
• Britches: Colloquial term for pants.
• Hooverville: Describes shantytown communities built by homeless individuals during the Great Depression, representing desperation with themes of hunger, exhaustion, and fear.
• Circle talking/cross talking: Refers to a form of communication that is convoluted or unclear.
• President Herbert Hoover: The U.S. President during the onset of the Great Depression, often criticized for his inaction.
• Hut: A term for a small and poorly constructed dwelling.
• Pulling KP (Kitchen Police): Describes the task of cleaning up after meals, typically in communal settings like wartime or refugee camps.
• China: Sarcasm meaning fancy dishes; highlights the contrast as Bud and Bugs ate from tin cans.
• Crawdads: Refers to crayfish, a type of freshwater crustacean.
• Deza Malone: Represents Bud's first romantic interest, a girl he met in Hooverville; their bond deepens through shared tasks and a kiss.
• Kin: A term for family or relatives.
• Dust in the wind: Symbolizes a state of having no family or place to belong.
• Wiry: Describes someone who is lean yet strong.
• November 14: Marks Bud's birthday, signifying him turning 11 years old.
• Dodging the railroad police: Implies evading or hiding from authorities tasked with overseeing railways.
• Naive: Describes someone who is inexperienced and innocent, lacking worldly knowledge.
• Mooshed: A playful slang term meaning to pucker one's lips.
• Crick: A regional term for a small stream or creek.
• The moon was like a big egg yolk way up in the sky: A metaphor illustrating the large and bright appearance of the moon.
• Shenandoah: Refers to a melancholy tune played on the mouth organ (harmonica).
• "Busted slob with a girl": A phrase indicating someone who has kissed a girl.
• "Rat me out": Informal expression meaning to inform on someone.
• Mouth organ: Another name for a harmonica.
• Whupped: Slang for having been beaten or physically harmed.
• Came clean: Means to confess or tell the truth about something.
• Blab: Refers to the act of revealing information about someone, typically in a gossipy manner.
• Hypnotized: Describes being in a trance-like state or deeply entranced.
• Raid: Refers to a sudden and often surprise attack on a location or group.
• Locomotive: A term for a steam or diesel-powered train.
• Alias: A term for a false name or identity used by an individual.
• Boxcar: Refers to an enclosed railroad car used for transporting goods or passengers.
• Critter: Informal term for an animal, often used in a casual or affectionate manner.

Test your knowledge of key vocabulary from Chapter 8 of 'Bud, Not Buddy'. This quiz features important words and definitions that enhance your understanding of the chapter's themes and setting. Perfect for students looking to master their vocabulary.