The Rag Shop

Chapter XVI Summary

At a breakfast cafe Talos tries to convince Severian to travel with them and act in their play, but Severian decides to skip their planned meeting at Ctesiphon’s Cross and goes to buy clothes at a rag shop.

lambrequin - a scarf or piece of stuff worn over the helmet as a covering.

ingenue - the youngest and prettiest girl in a theatrical troupe.

proscenium - the wall that separates a theatrical stage from the seating area, including the arch over the stage. The arch is often highly decorated.

par-terre - a flat garden, as opposed to a landscaped one, and particularly a garden in which potted plants, statues, and the like stand on a floor or pavement.

tyrian tiles - from "Tyrian purple," a reddish dye obtained from the bodies of certain mollusks and highly prized in ancient times, from Tyre.

balmacaans - a short, rough overcoat.

dolmans - a long robe open in the front, with narrow sleeves, worn by the Turks, or the uniform jacket of a hussar, worn like a cape with the sleeves hanging loose, or a kind of mantle with cape-like appendages instead of sleeves, worn by women.

matelasse - a French dress goods of silk, or silk and wool, having raised design

pavonine - of or pertaining to, resembling, or characteristic of a peacock.

cymars - a robe or loose light garment for women; especially an undergarment.

So many unusual words of so little import. It certainly contributes to the mood and tone. I defined them because the interesting thing about Wolfe is that he is intentional in his writing that any one of these terms could boomerang back with heavy meaning.