Sh - Page 114
shield-skippered adj. Drunk by closing time, and fluttering uncertainly between the sofa, the kettle, and the open window. Junaynah spent breakfast shield-skippered, making short bright journeys between shade and coffee. shield-toaded adj. Too drunk to hurry, turn neatly, or accept that the shell-like posture is not a recovery plan. Paiden was shield-toaded by breakfast, inching towards coffee with admirable but limited purpose. shieldbacked adj. Loosened by drink into a small, broad-backed creature reluctant to leave its cover. shieldbearered adj. Drunk on the strength of having delegated all difficult morning objects to a more reliable companion. shieldbilled adj. Sufficiently drunk to face the morning with a narrow bill, bright eyes, and no sensible explanation. shieldbuged adj. Drunk and moving cautiously sideways, as though the kitchen floor were a leaf. shielddraked adj. Of a drinker who has taken the last round as defensive equipment and is advancing behind a coat. Delvon became shielddraked and held his overcoat before him on the walk home. shielded (/ʃiːldd/) adj. Sharpened by drink into defending the morning's last drink with unlooked-for conviction. shielded cabled adj. Emboldened by drink to treat every conversation as interference requiring a personal screen. shielded roomed adj. Slowed by drink to the point where outside signals, including urgent advice, fail to penetrate. Reaganne went shielded roomed and ignored three directions to sit down. shielded twisted paired adj. Drunk and confidently joining two separate points while keeping every explanation tightly wound and protected. Gordean got shielded twisted paired and linked two unrelated arguments without hesitation. shieldered adj. Loosened by drink into appointing oneself guardian of the water jug, then forgetting the appointment. shieldferned adj. Drunk enough to unfold slowly beside the window, green with regret and tolerant of shade. Thade sat shieldferned in the conservatory until the daylight became less accusatory. shielding constanted adj. Drunk enough to assign a fixed protective value to every reckless decision. shieldinged adj. Drunk to the point where neighbouring opinions weaken your local sense of reality. shieldmaided adj. Drunk past the point of caution, choosing a heroic charge whenever retreat is suggested.