"The streaked saffron in the west passed before the all-merging darkness, and the sea to the east was black...."See in text(The Open Boat)
“Saffron” is a color made up of orange and yellow. The “streaked saffron in the west” refers to the sun’s setting as darkness moves over the face of the ocean from east to west.
An “epithet” is a name or phrase that characterizes someone, often in a derogatory way. Expecting to be rescued soon, the men give way to anger and name calling directed at those whom they believe are on shore but not mindful of them.
“Opprobrious” means harshly critical and scornful. Believing they are within sight of a life-saving station, the men are upset that no one on shore sees them.
“Motley” is an adjective that describes a group of people or a collection of things that don’t seem to belong together because each one is so different from the others.
A thwart is a strut or brace placed crosswise across the width of a boat to give it more stability. In a rowboat, a thwart can serve as a seat for a rower.
"In the meantime the oiler and the correspondent rowed. And also they rowed.
..."See in text(The Open Boat)
The verb “to row” (that rhymes with “to stow”) means to propel a boat forward with an object, such as an oar. The verb “to row” (that rhymes with “to bow”) means to have a quarrel or disagreement.
"gruesome and ominous...."See in text(The Open Boat)
“Gruesome” means so ghastly as to be shocking, and the word is generally associated with death or injury. “Ominous” is defined as threatening or indicating that something bad is about to happen. The men’s perception of the gulls suggests the crew’s feelings of fear and vulnerability.
"Canton flannel gulls..."See in text(The Open Boat)
Canton flannel, first made in Canton, China, in the 1880s, is a type of cotton fabric with soft fleece on one side of the material. Describing the gulls by associating them with Canton flannel suggests that at a distance, they appear to be soft and beautiful.
A “dinghy” is small rowboat; when carried on a ship, it serves as a lifeboat in case of an emergency at sea. The dinghy holding the captain and three of his crew is only ten feet long.
"Hemming and hawing" refers to the idea of being lost for words or possibly speaking hesitantly, even stammering; for example, when a person says "er...er...er..." before getting to the point.
"Gunwale," pronounced "gunnel," refers to the upper edge of the side of a boat—the "wall"—or planking. The gunwale’s being only six inches in height indicates how small the boat is.
