(BR= Boxer Rebellion --- TR= Taiping Rebellion)
bazaar |
Oriental market (Persian bazar) |
Bersaglieri | Italian elite light infantry. Famous for the green-black feather worn on their head gear. |
cangue | wooden punishment collar |
cat, catted | to vomit |
catty, catties |
Asian unit of weight, about 600 grams (Malay kati) |
chandoo | high quality prepared opium |
chin-chin |
conference |
chit |
short letter, voucher (Hindi citth) |
chop |
document or mark |
chop-chop |
urgent document, fast |
coolie |
unskilled laborer (Hindi kull) |
East Asia Brigade | Special German force shipped to China during the Boxer Rebellion |
ESA |
Ever Secure Army – formed at Ningpo by British, eventually merged with EVA. (TR) |
ETA |
Ever Triumphant Army – formed by French at Ningpo. (TR) |
EVA |
Ever Victorious Army – European armed and led Chinese troops organized to protect Shanhai (TR). |
fan-qui | foreigner |
Franco-Chinese Corps |
Formed at Kiangsu by French, eventually merged with EVA. (TR) |
fusiliers-marins | French sailors pulled from ships and used as marines during the Boxer Rebellion. |
gingal rifle | Chinese - About 25mm (1 inch) in caliber, barrel about 2 meters (7 feet) long. Fired one large and several small bullets. The barrel was laid on a brace to fire and it required a crew to use. (BR) |
Green-headed devil |
EVA troops who wore green turbans. (TR) |
hong |
flood |
huangdi |
emperor |
International Gun | Anglo-French gun barrel on Italian carriage firing Russian shells and manned by US troops at the siege of Peking (BR). |
joss |
Chinese for god (from Portuguese deos) |
joss pidgin |
god talk |
junk |
various types of Chinese ships (Javanese jon, Portuguese junco) |
Kansu Braves |
Imperial troops from western China, mostly Moslems. |
Kingsley’s Force |
Imperial force formed at Fahwa. (TR) |
lorcha | a vessel with a Western-type hull, but junk-type sails |
Macartney’s Force |
Imperial force formed at Sungkiang. (TR) |
mandarin |
one who commands (from Portuguese mandar) |
Manilamen |
Filipinos in China |
men |
gate |
niangniang |
empress |
pa chi |
Imperial banner men |
pagoda |
Oriental temple (Portuguese pagode) |
pidgin |
business, commercial language |
Qing |
Manchu dynasty |
Sha, sha! |
"Kill, kill!" Boxer chant during siege of Peking (BR). |
Seebataillon | German marines. |
Ta |
Tartars |
tael |
Chinese currency based on silver (Portuguese from Malay tahil) |
taipan | great man |
ten nai |
tiger men |
Thornhill’s Roughs |
AKA Carving Knife Brigade. Legation civilian militia during siege of Peking (BR). |
wang |
king |
Yam Luo |
king of hell |
yellow |
color only worn by royalty |
yung |
brave ones, supplementary Imperial troops |
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