attracted

Mauser - a military rifle adopted by the German military experts in 1871, and perfected in  1884.                                                                                                                           mothers

it is

coursse = corse (obs.) - a living body; a dead body                                                        course

toller - one who tolls a bell; one who takes toll, a toll-collector                                      tailor

dotter - one who or that which dots; an instrument for making dots                            daughter

moke - a donkey; a stupid fellow, a dolt

wanst = once

porter

shopper - one who frequents a shop or shops for the purpose of inspecting or buying goods; an informer;         to shut up shop - to close business premises.

rouged - coloured with rouge

battler* - one who battles or fights; a warrior, a fighter.

Benjamin - the name of the patriarch Jacob's youngest son. Hence allusively, the youngest (and, consequently, favourite) son of a family.

lief - beloved, dear, agreeable, acceptable, precious

whereas - in view or consideration of the fact that; seeing that, considering that, forasmuch as, inasmuch as.

supporters

Seanad - the upper house of the parliament of the Republic of Ireland. 

senators

gateway* - a frame or arch in which a gate is hung; a structure built at or over a gate, for ornament or defence.

Welsher - a Welshman

rainy day* - a time of need;     drain - to drink (a liquid) off or to the last drops.

chalk - to write up in chalk (a record, esp. of credits given)

humptydumpty

to gain, get, or take the wind of* - to get to windward of (another ship) so as to intercept the wind, to get the weather gage of.

abroad - broadly, widely, at large, over a broad or wide surface.

passenger* - a traveller (usually on foot), a wayfarer

Dear!, Oh dear!, Dear, dear!, Dear me!* - exclamations expressing surprise, astonishment, anxiety, distress, regret, sympathy, or other emotion.

oh boy!* - a colloq. (orig. U.S.) exclamation of shock, surprise, excitement, etc.

landsman* - one who lives or has his business on land

hasty - quickly excited to anger, quick-tempered, passionate, irritable; characterized by undue quickness of action; precipitate, rash, inconsiderate.

ludification* - a deception or mocking

bludgeon - a short stout stick or club, with one end loaded or thicker and heavier than the other, used as a weapon.

tore - pa. tense of tear (v.)

party - to give a party; to attend a party; to have a good time.

Finnegan

cunning - skill employed in a secret or underhand manner, or for purposes of deceit; skilful deceit, craft, artifice.

four

older* - a person advanced in life: = elder

 

absolutely

at one's wits end* - utterly perplexed, at a loss what to think or what to do.