Some people say Cormac McCarthy is a pretensions poseur. I’m not sure this list will help but I love that he writes unapologetically in language relevant to the time, place, and circumstance of the story. Harold Bloom calls Blood Meridian one of the great American novels, equal to Moby Dick. It is well worth the time. Just bring a dictionary.
Adduce
Cite as evidence.nFrom “Blood Meridian"
Bole
The trunk of a tree.\nFrom “The Crossing”
Debouch
Emerge from a narrow or confined space into a wide open area.nFrom “Blood Meridian"
Esker
A long ridge of gravel or other sediment, typically having a winding course.nFrom “Blood Meridian"
Flense
Slice the skin or fat from (a carcass).nFrom “Blood Meridian"
Gobbet
A piece or lump of flesh, food, or other matter.nFrom “Blood Meridian"
Helve
The handle of a tool or weapon.\nFrom “The Crossing” (used as a verb: “The spade was a primitive thing helved in a long paloverde pole…”)
Lemniscate
This thing: ∞
Mendicant
A beggar.nFrom “Blood Meridian"
Merestone
A stone indicating a boundary.nFrom “Blood Meridian"
Nacre
Mother-of-pearl.nFrom “The Crossing"
Procrustean
Enforcing uniformity or conformity without regard to natural variation or individuality.nFrom “Blood Meridian"
Relict
A thing that has survived from an earlier period, or in a primitive form.nFrom “All the Pretty Horses"
Revetment
A retaining wall or facing of masonry or other material, supporting or protecting a rampart, wall, etc…nFrom “Blood Meridian"
Salient (as a noun)
A piece of land or section of fortification that juts out to form an angle.nFrom “Blood Meridian"
Scoria
A cindery, vesicular basaltic lava, typically having a frothy texture.nFrom “Blood Meridian"
Sprent
Not found in the American Heritage Dictionary, the New Oxford American Dictionary, or the public OED, but apparently it is an archaic word meaning “sprinkled over” which Blood Meridian brought back from a 400 years limbo. It is now being added to dictionaries.
Systole
The phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscle contracts and pumps blood from the chambers into the arteries. Contrast with diastole.nFrom “Blood Meridian"
Thaumaturge
A worker of wonders and performer of miracles, a magician.nFrom “Blood Meridian"
Thrapple
Not found in the American Heritage Dictionary, the New Oxford American Dictionary, or the public OED. Apparently a Scottish word for throat or windpipe.nFrom “Blood Meridian"
Vadose
Relating to or denoting underground water above the water table. Compare phreatic.nFrom “Blood Meridian"