Word-list
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Air-raids: sudden attacks by aeroplanes dropping bombs.
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Baisakhi: also spelt Vaisakhi; a festival celebrating the Sikh New Year and the founding of the Sikh community, known as the Khalsa.
biryani: a spicy meal made from rice, vegetables and sometimes chicken, beef or lamb.
(the) Blitz: the continuous, heavy bombing of British cities and ports by Germany between September 1940 and May 1941.
branches: different shops in different places owned by the same company.
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cashiers: people in charge of taking payment and giving change.
cereals: grains produced by crop plants, such as wheat, oats, rice and barley.
Christmas: the Christian festival held on the 25th December, celebrating the birth of Christ.
communist: someone who believes that things such as property, land and factories should be owned and controlled by the government rather than individual people or businesses.
Continental: from one of the countries in mainland Europe.
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dairy: a place where milk is stored and cream, butter and cheese are made.
dairy products: food made from milk, such as cream, butter and cheese.
depot: a place used for storing things.
diet: the food eaten by a person or animal.
dietary: to do with the food eaten by a person or animal.
Divali: also spelt Diwali or Dewali; the Hindu festival of lights lasting five days, celebrated in October or November.
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Easter: the Christian festival celebrating the rising of Christ after his death, held in March or April.
evacuees: children, and sometimes mothers, sent from cities to the countryside during the Second World War for their own safety.
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fast/fasting: to go without food, or some types of food, usually for a religious reason.
First World War: a war that was fought mainly in Europe during the years 1914-1918.
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game: the meat of wild birds or animals that have been hunted for sport, such as pheasant, duck and deer.
greengrocers: traders that sell fresh fruit and vegetables
groceries: dried foods traditionally sold by grocers such as tea, coffee and sugar
grocers: traders who sell dried goods such as tea, coffee and sugar.
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hygienic: very clean, free from germs that can cause diseases.
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Id: also spelt Eid; short for Id ul-Fitr, the Muslim festival celebrating the end of Ramadam, the month of fasting.
ice boxes: wooden boxes, often lined with lead, filled with ice to keep food cool.
import/ imported /importing: to bring something into a country from overseas.
Industrial Revolution: the name given to the period in British history from about 1750 to1850 when great changes took place in farming, manufacturing and transport because of new inventions, such as the steam engine.
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Lent: the 40 days before Easter which represent to Christians the 40 days Christ spent in the desert.
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manufacturers: people or businesses who make things, usually by machines in factories.
manufacturing: making things; in the past by hand, now usually by machine.
migrants: people who move from one country to live in another.
migrate/migrated: to move from one country to live in another.
multicultural: a society made up of people who have many different beliefs, traditions, languages and backgrounds.
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noodles: a type of pasta shaped like a ribbon, usually made with eggs.
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package holidays: a type of holiday invented by Thomas Cook in Victorian times; travel, accommodation and sometimes meals are included in the price.
pagan: someone who does not follow any of the world’s main religions, such as Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Passover: the Jewish festival celebrating the Israelites’ escape from slavery in Egypt.
perishable: something that can rot or spoil rapidly.
plastics: materials made by humans that can be moulded or shaped, usually by heating them.
polluted: made dirty or harmed.
poultry: birds that are kept by humans for their meat or eggs such as chicken, geese, ducks and turkeys.
preserve/preserved: to prevent something from rotting or going bad.
preserves: jam or marmalade made from fruit.
produce: fresh fruit and vegetables.
product/products: something that has been made or grown and is for sale.
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rationed: a fixed, limited amount.
refrigerators: often called fridges today; insulated cabinets that produce and maintain low temperatures so that food can be kept fresh for longer.
refugees: people who have fled from one country to find safety and protection in another.
resource: a supply of something.
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samosa: a small, fried pastry parcel filled with spicy vegetables or meat.
Second World War: the world-wide war that was fought between 1939 and 1945; it started in Europe when Germany invaded Poland.
shellfish: sea creatures that have hard outer coverings such as prawns, crabs and lobsters.
soy sauce: a thick, dark, salty liquid made from soy beans and flour.
spices: strongly flavoured vegetable substances, often grown in hot countries and then dried, such as pepper, nutmeg and cinnamon.
symbol: something which represents something else; symbols can be anything including objects, shapes, patterns or colours.
symbolic: something which is used to represent something else.
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trestle table: a board resting on a simple support, often a horizontal plank with sloping legs.
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Victorian: the name given to the period in British history when Queen Victoria was on the throne (1837 – 1901).
Victorians: people who lived in Britain during the time when Queen Victoria was on the throne (1837-1901).
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wicker: made out of wooden twigs, often used for baskets or containers.
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