Glosses for reading J.R.R. Tolkien's translation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Tolkien's translation is relatively easy to read--just a few suggestions of medieval language. For the most part, you could skip these words, but it is always good to know. Glosses below are by Carol Pasternack. Items you will need to refer back to because they are not repeated are in bold font.

Guide to the language:

• Note: In certain situations w can be switched for g; hence, sometimes Tolkien will use "Wawain" for "Gawain" if he needs a w for his alliterative pattern.
• St. 1: "brae," Scottish hillside (not actually in the original--a line-filler)
• St. 8: "molains," "Ornamental bosses at each ends of a horse's bit" (Tolkien's ME edition).
• St.10: "pisane," "armor for upper breast and neck" (Tolkien's edition).
• St. 10: "in town": not in the original.
• St. 13: "guisarme," battle-axe
• St. 53: There is a lot of technical language in this stanzas and others about hunting and butchering the prey, which I am not going to translate. If you are interested in knowing about these terms, please inquire and I will show you how to look it up.