Once Upon a Mattress

Glossary of Terms

ALL CAPS = Song lyrics
Sentence case = Dialogue

Bona Fide: Genuine; real. 

WE HAVE AN OPENING FOR A PRINCESS, FOR A BEAUTIFUL, BONAFIDE PRINCESS. 

Bravissimo: Used to express great approval of a performance or performer; stronger than "bravo". 

BRAVO, BRAVO, BRAVISSIMO! 

Chalice: A large cup or goblet, typically used for drinking wine. 

SO INDULGE ME AS I PAUSE TO RAISE MY CHALICE.

Consolation Prize: A reward given to a competitor who fails to win or who finishes last. 

However, to show you that there are no hard feelings, here is a nice consolation prize for you. 

Dawdle: Waste time; move slowly and idly. 

Come along darling, don't dawdle. 

Debonair: Confident, stylish, and charming. 

MY DAD WAS DEBONAIR, AND QUITE AS LIGHT AS AIR.

Draw and Quarter: A painful form of medieval torture and execution.

Oh, she threatens to draw and quarter everyone.

Guild: A medieval association of craftsmen or merchants, often having considerable power. 

You must belong to the guild. Camelot Local 714! 

Limerick: A type of poem that is humorous or obscene in nature and follows a five line AABBA rhyme scheme.

So, more of a limerick town, huh?

Incantation: A series of words said as a magic spell or charm. 

And where is the incantation? The Wizard said it should be written right on the wrapper. 

Pantomime: The art or genre of conveying a story by bodily movements and facial expressions only. 

WHEN SHE DOES HER FUNNY PANTOMIME YOUR SIDES ARE SURE TO SPLIT! 

Perilous: Full of danger or risk. 

Sir Harry's perilous journey took three weeks.

Regale: To entertain or amuse (someone) with talk.

Perhaps I can regale you with a joke.

Sensitivity: The quality of being easily influenced, changed, damaged, or affected by something. 

We’ll test her for sensitivity! 

Sibilance: A hissing quality of sound, or the hissing sound itself. 

Swishing silking sibilance wraps us in a gentle trance. 