Vocabulary in Six of Crows

A powerful, addictive drug in the novel that dramatically amplifies the abilities of Grisha (magic users), making them nearly unstoppable but destroying their bodies and will over time.

People in this world born with the ability to manipulate matter, elements, or the human body using a form of magic called the Small Science; they are feared, prized, and hunted.

A binding legal contract that ties a person to service for a set period, often used in the novel to describe how gang members are bound to the Dregs.

A formal discussion or negotiation between opposing sides, typically to arrange a truce or deal, used here when rival gang leaders meet to talk.

A member of the merchant class in Ketterdam's society, wealthy traders who hold significant political and economic power in the city.

The city guard or police force of Ketterdam, responsible for maintaining order and law enforcement in the streets and harbors.

The unit of currency used in Ketterdam and the surrounding region; the primary monetary denomination characters earn, spend, and gamble with.

A type of Grisha who can control water and tides; their abilities are especially valued for naval or underwater operations.

A Grisha soldier trained to kill or incapacitate enemies by manipulating their internal organs, heart, and lungs from a distance.

A type of Grisha who can manipulate and alter physical materials such as metals, textiles, or chemicals at a molecular level.

A Grisha who can control wind and air currents, useful for sailing, combat, or creating powerful gusts and vacuums.

A type of Grisha who can ignite and direct fire by manipulating flammable gases in the air, used as a combat specialist.

A Latin phrase meaning 'per year' or 'each year,' used in financial and contractual contexts to describe an annual rate or sum.

A thin, sharp knife used for separating meat from bone; in this text it is used as a weapon or tool by characters in the criminal underworld.

A thin metal tool used to manipulate the internal mechanisms of a lock in order to open it without the proper key.

A wire, cord, or thin implement used to strangle or kill someone by wrapping it around their throat and pulling tight.

To descend a steep surface, such as a wall or cliff, by sliding down a rope while controlling speed with friction, used during the heist sequences.

A low protective wall running along the edge of a roof, bridge, or fortification, used by characters for cover or as a climbing point during the infiltration.

A small opening or recess in a thick wall, especially in a fortification, through which weapons can be fired or through which characters slip during the heist.

To trick, deceive, or cheat someone, often through flattery or cunning; used to describe the manipulation of marks or enemies.

A large, bulbous glass or ceramic bottle with a narrow neck, often used to store liquids such as alcohol or chemicals.

A derogatory slang term used in Ketterdam for a person of low social standing or a street criminal; an insult implying worthlessness.

Difficult to control or predict; following an erratic or self-willed path rather than an expected or approved one.

An official list or inventory of a ship's cargo, passengers, or crew, used here in the context of smuggling and harbor inspections.