QYK GLOSSARIES
A basic referece area for further study.
Names and meanings are grouped together when found.
Please keep references to the Middle Ages 500-1500.
Ancient Sayings Anglo Archery Armor Clothing Cooking
Crusades Jobs Language Movies People Royalty
Tournament Timelines Titles War Weapons
Research to Learn ! | The beginning of our English language at times is referred to as Indo-European which originally began in the British Isles inhabited by the Celts. The Old English from the Germanic tribes of Angles, Jutes, and Saxons invading and settling England is also known as Anglo-Saxon,accounting for nearly half of our modern day words.
The basics of Language
Classic Languages Greek and Latin, both contributing to all languages both directly and indirectly
Before Recorded English
Germanic Runes, marks, pictures representing things
For English it was Breton, Erse or Irish, Gaelic Manx, Scottish, Welsh.
Old English
bc- 4th c. Roman Latin
5th c. Celtic languages of Welsh, Scottish, Irish. Their languages of Gaelic, Manx, left
no impact on the modern language of today except in place names.
8th-9th c. Scandinavia Vikings invaded and settled with their languages.
Old Norse
7th-13th Vikings Scandinavian languages derived from Germanic introduced
10000 Old English becomes written
Middle English 1100 -1450
1362 Statue of Pleadings made English instead of William the Conqueror’s French
the official language of Parliament and the courts.
1458 Guttneburg invents block printing press
1475 William Caxton, England's first book printer, was the first to organize rules of
the English language to print Sir Thomas Malory's La Morte D'Arthur.
Tudor Age
1485-1604 New Renaissance of travel, math, and sciences enlarges vocabulary
15th c. A more modern English was added from Shakespear's writing
1582 List of seven-thousand words published by Richard Mulcaster, never becomes
a standard
1611 King James I sanctions a committee of 54 to translate the Bible.
1700 Dictionaries and English grammars were written.
* First English Dictionary written by Samuel Johnson
ANCIENT SAYINGS
Still in use today
ACE UP YOUR SLEEVE 1500 people there were no pockets in clothes so people carried items tucked in sleeves, soon after magician's began placing cards and small animals there.
BAKERS DOZEN Medieval bakers cheated customers by tasting or withholding ingredients from a batch just made. The king made a law to stop them and from then on bakers made 13 of everything, one to taste and an even doze to sell.
BELL,BOOK,CANDLE 14th c. ceremony of excommunicating someone by ‘doing the book, quenching their candle, and ringing a bell’ at the next service to inform other members that a particular member is no longer part of the congregation.
BEYOND the PALE outside of a city boundary, unacceptable behavior
BIRDS DWELL WITH THEIR KIND/or Flock Together ancient Greek quoted in apocryphal book of Ecclesiasticus in 1545.
BLACK SHEEP of the FAMILY 1550 expression said ‘the blacke shepe is a perylous beast‘ with Shepherds seeing a black sheep disturbs the flock, and nobody liked the black wool that couldn’t be dyed therefore it was less valuable.
BOUNCER tavern owner or man standing by door collecting a coin fee to enter. If coin bounced off a keg/table, it was brass/copper therefore good, bad it was lead.
BRING HOME the BACON 12th c. giving a pig for the wedding ceremony if the couple spends the year without quarrel or regret.
BRIDAL BOUQUET 1500’s with May the favorite month for the yearly bath and June usually picked by most to be married in, brides began carrying a bouquet to hide their body odor.
BY HOOK or CROOK allowing peasants gather firewood from a lord’s wood using only a hook and crook that effectively allows them to get only dead branches.
CANOPY BEDS 14th c. bugs and animals fell through the straw or thatched roofs constantly and to keep a bed clean long posts were added to which a sheet was placed on top to keep them out.
CAUGHT RED HANDED anyone stealing had hands dipped in red dye that lasted for weeks telling everyone he was a thief.
CHARITY SHOULD BEGIN WITH HIMSELF/at home 1375 by English John Whycliffe’s ‘Of ‘Prelates’
CHEW the FAT If meat could be obtained a piece would be cut off and shared with guests where they would all sit around eating,
DAMN IT came from the Anglo-Saxon’s ‘Damut’ for Viking, derived from Danish ‘Danute‘, asViking longboats approached a cry ‘Damut’ came from guards.
DEAD as a DOORNAIL 14th c. carpenters called their wire spikes disappearing in wood.
DIRT POOR 1500 refers to a commoner's dirt floor house
DONT KILL the MESSENGER 13th c. diplomatic messengers sent to rival kingdoms where upon the king’s anger would kill them for bringing bad news.
DON’T THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATH WATER 1500 yearly baths were done in a big tub set before the fire. Husbands bathed first, then sons, any men on the farm, women and finally the baby. By then the water was like mud and not easy to see them.
DYED in the WOAD/WOOL exactly the same as a parent, good or bad.
EAT ONE’S WORDS 1370 Pope sent two delegates to the Viscount Bernabo with a rolled parchment who informed him he was excommunicated. It so infuriated him he arrest them and made then eat the parchment, lead seal, and all.
FAMILY JEWELS triangle codpiece/Braguette of cloth sewn into hose large enough to carry jewels or coin.
FEATHER in YOUR CAP common practice to award a feather to a soldier who killed an enemy. They were worn in the helmet as a status symbol.
FROM in theTHROAT a fear after drinking from a pond or stream, worse ingesting the eggs which would hatch and cause the tickling sensation trying to get out.
FREELANCE William of Normandy first used the phrase when he promised to reward every ‘free lance’ weapon carrier who joined his conquest of England with lands and title.
GET OFF YOUR HIGH HORSE 13th c. Nobles chose taller/bigger horses to ride above the peasantry to signify their authority and status over them.
GOLF 15th c. Scotland invented a new game merely called Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden
GOOD NIGHT SLEEP TIGHT in Shakespeare's time rope was tied to a wooden bed frame and a mattress laid over it, when ropes were pulled the mattress was tightened.
GRAVEYARD SHIFT 1500 one who sat beside a grave incase someone was buried alive.
HAUL OVER THE COALS heretics were hauled over a bed of burning coal, if innocent they survived, if guilty they died.
HERE TODAY GONE TOMORROW 1549 from John Calvin ‘Life and Conversion of a Christian Man’ wrote that man is here today and gone tomorrow.
HOLDING A WAKE 1500 lead cups were used to drink ale or whiskey, often the combination knocked people out for days. Unknowingly a family would then prepare them for burial by laying them out in the kitchen as they ate and drank and waited to see if they would wake up.
HONEY MONTH/Honeymoon Babylon 3,500 years ago a brides father had to supply the groom with all the mead he could drink for an entire month after the wedding. Mead is made of honey and their calendar was a lunar one, so it became the Honey Month.
KNOCK on WOOD superstition of tapping on wood to prevent something bad from happening comes from banging on trees or wood in Maypole festivities to reawaken the good spirits from their winter slumber.
LICK into SHAPE comes from bestiary lore of bear cubs born blind require the mother’s caressing tongue to awaken and begin their bear shaping.
MIND YOUR PINTS and QUARTS/P's&Q's English pubs ale was bought in pints and quarts, when a customer was unruly the barkeep would yell 'Mind your Pints and Quarts!
PAY THROUGH THE NOSE Vikings slit a nostril of those refusing to pay the Dane geld they demanded.
PEAS PORRIDGE HOT Peas porridge cold, Peas Porridge in the pot nine days old big kettles were hung over fires to cook food in and if any food was left over it stayed there and more food would then be added the next day and the next and etc. Food was never thrown out nor were pots ever washed.
PENACHE comes from crests/feather plumes fixed to top of helmets for show comes from crests/feather plumes fixed to top of helmets for show
PIN MONEY 16th c. women held aside money to buy straight pins to hold their dresses and hats together.
QUIET AS A MOUSE 1500 meaning as quiet as the mice in the house.
RAINING CAT and DOGS most houses had thatched roofs of thick straw not wooden roofs, and during the winter all types of animals went there to keep warm. When it rained the straw became slick and the animals would fall through.
RULE of THUMB 15th c. a law not allowing a man to beat his wife with a stick thicker than his thumb.
RUN THE GAUNTLET 12th c. tournament in Somersville England was first to hold a ‘Gauntlet‘ which was a pathway through a series of obstacles and perilous occurrences that the runner would attempt to overcome.
SAVED by the BELL/Dead Ringer England at one point ran out of burial space, so it wasn’t unusual for folks to dig up the dead, take their bones to the bone-house and reuse the grave. But digging up coffins they often found scratch marks where people were buried alive. So they began tying a string on the wrist of the corpse and the other end was tied to a bell topside. They would then have someone sit in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift.) to listen for it's ring.
SPILL THE BEANS Greeks voted on society members by dropping a black or white bean into a jar.
If you didn’t want someone to get in you knocked the jar over.
SHOT or SCOT FREE meetings to get people to buy drinks to extort money, ones who got away were Scot Free.
STONE THE CROWS children had to throw stones at birds to keep them off crops
TAKE the CAKE servants won prizes for household services.
THROWN DOWN the GAUNTLET 14th c. Sir William deHaverford threw his gauntlets and armor on his lord's table protesting unpaid wages. Lord Geoffrey Clare drew his weapon for the insult but was slain. News spread of his revolutionary victory, ‘Throwing down The Gauntlet’ becaming a symbolic gesture for an open duel.
THRESHOLD the wealthy had stone or slate floors that became slippery in winter, so they spread thresh or straw on floor to keep their footing, but as more was added it eventually spread outside so a piece of wood was placed in the doorway to prevent that.
TO LARK ABOUT ME ‘laik’ meant o play OE ‘lak’ meant a contect
TOWN AIR IS FREE words in town charters proclaiming freedom of any serf who lived there for a year and a day, without being claimed by his lord.
TRENCH MOUTH 1500 old bread or wooden trenchers used to eat, both were used again and again without washing or throwing out, and eating from moldly or wormy dishes caused trench mouth.
UPPER CRUST 14th c. in manors and castles bread was given out according to status with workers given the burnt bottom from the brick ovens, the family getting the middle, and guests were always served the top.
WEAR YOUR HEART ON YOUR SLEEVE 12th c. knights wore family crests/COA on sleeves into battle to symbolize their love, devotion and defense of family honor, but not until 13th c. did they wear them to battle or joust in tournaments.
WET YOUR WHISTLE English mugs molded with whistles on side to call for refills.
WORSE/SHORT END OF THE STICK 1500 having the shortest stick in fighting
WRITING IS ON THE WALL in Medieval times a favorite scene for paintings and tapestries of evil King Belshazzar who drank from a sacred vessel looted from the Temple of Jerusalem where a hand appeared and wrote four words on the wall, predicting his disaster.
YOU CAN LEAD A HORSE TO WATER BUT YOU CAN’T MAKE HIM DRINK 12thc.rider trying to make his horse drink and it stubbornly refusing to.
XEROX an Anglo-Saxon scribe copied Norman/Saxon history into English-German- French-Latin.
ANGLO
The Norman literature and language of France dominated England for nearly three hundred years
before dying out. From the many Norman manuscripts left behind little has been translated by
the countries of France having fifty, and England over three-hundred. It was the Danish prince Cnut who defeated Aethelred the Unready, married his widow the Norman princess Emma and ruled England from 1016-1035. After his death disputes over who would rule next eventually lead to the Norman Conquest.
ANGLO-FRENCH spoken in England during 14th and 15th centuries as a second
language, now mean s any type French associated with England.
ANGLO-NORMAN England’s 12th century aristocracy whose families had
holdings in both countries. Norman inhabitant of England after 1066. Norman
French spoken in medieval England called Anglo-French
AMERCEMENT until 13th c. Norman system of penalties for offending
Kings Peace replaced by statutory penalties.
ASSIZE court of landowners
BLOODWITE fine paid to alderman or king for shedding blood
FERDWITE fine for avoiding military service
FIETWITE fine paid for disturbing the peace, or kings peace
GUILDPENNY tax paid to crown
HIDAGE extraordinary tax assessed by king on amount of land held
COMMUNE CONCILIUM Norman equivalent of Anglo-Saxon Witan,
judicial/military decisions at such meetings were binding on vassals.
EXCHEQUER name after Norman Conquest for financial administrator of
monarchy's money
FEE/Feoh/Feudum/Fief movable property such as cattle, goods or money, or
an immovable fief
FEE SIMPLE feudal estate of land
FEE SIMPLE ABSOLUTE a freehold estate lasting indefinitely
FEE SIMPLE DEFEASIBLE an estate in land halted if a land transfer
occurs etc. causing it to revert to grantor
FEE SIMPLE LIMITATION 1536 created by statue of uses that rights
are retained by a third person not grantor, or future estate of land held in
freehold tenure.
FEE TAIL to keep land in tenure for a family eldest sons must inherit land
from each other by receiving equal life inheritance, so stated in a will by the
words of 'And Heirs of his or her body'
FITZ Anglo-Norman prefix meaning son
FRANKPLEDGE/Peach pledge/Frithborh early Norman, supervising
system dividing populace into groups of Ten men with each responsible
for action of others, providing way to control the country through the
Hundred Court.
GRIEF 12th c. Anglo-Norman 'gref', from OF grief 'grieved,' Latin 'gravare' or
gravis meaning grave.
SHIRE COURT county court held by sheriff for appeals for disputed
decisions by the hundred court.
William the Conqueror/William I 1035-1087 Normandy France, named
after the Viking Norsemen who settled it. Related to England’s royal family
he claimed he was promised the throne by Edward the Confessor as well as
by King Harold himself. He crossed the channel in 1066 to defeat Harold at
Battle of Hastings and claim the throne his. Declaring himself ’Rex
Anglorum et dux Normannorum’. His son was King Henry I.
HARRYING of the NORTH destructive period in the northern England
counties by William at the Battle of Hastings.
PURLOIN 14th century from Anglo-Norman 'purloigner' meaning to 'move far away'
of 'loing' meaning 'far', or from Latin 'longus' or long
NORMAN FRENCH was a combination of French used and spoken by William
the Conqueror and those who followed him from Normandy, while the population
only spoke English. Communication from the King to the populace became a
necessary diverging.
ANGLO-SAXON
Anglo-Saxon Germanic people of Angles, Jutes, and Saxons in Britain dominated from
5th c. until William's Norman Conquest in 1066.
BEDE 673–735 Anglo-Saxon monk born in the Newcastle spent his life at
the twin monastery of Monkwearmouth-Jarrow. He was a noted historian
and scholar authoring 30 works in Latin with his greatest known work
Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum, ‘Ecclesiastical History of the
English People’. It was first written in Latin, later translated into Old
English. This is the greatest source of knowledge of the early
Anglo-Saxon period.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicles 7 English manuscripts written by months between 9th-12th centuries.
After 1079 Peterborough Chronicles continued with last entry in 1154.
Anglo-Saxones/Angulseaxe
English Saxon
FEORME/FIRMA/Ferm/Food Rent/Farm annual sum or obligation paid to king
or lord for right to collect revenue from land
Norman Saxon words from each language merged to form new language.
COMMUNE CONCILIUM equivalent to Anglo Saxon witan where decisions are made
Old English Northumberland language spoken by Anglo-Saxons, grew into
modern language of today
AEBELING/Ealdor prince
AESCINGAS early Saxon sovereigns of Kent
AETHLING Prince of the Blood
BERNICIA kingdom of Northumbria England
BOOKLAND/Bocland public lands held privately by royal charter
BRETWALDA meaning ‘British Ruler’
BURH towns associated with the Kings household where his Peace reigned
BURH CHARTER King granted this allowing lords freedom and jurisdiction to rule
BURGESS leader of a Burgh may collect tolls
SPECIAL BURHS Trade and court were above regular town Burghs
SHIELD BOSS Thane in a ‘scyld-burh’
BURHGRITH the King’s peace
CYNING King
CWEN Queen
CURIA REGIS government of a royal court/household
CYNEBOT royal compensation
CYNEDOM kingdom or a royal law
CYNELIC regal or regally
EDWIN KING of NORTHUMBRIA converted to Christianity in 7th c.
FOLCLAND/Laenland on which food, rent, and duties were owed King, or by charter book
FOOD RENT early Anglo-Saxon obligation to provide provision to maintain their King and
household for one day, eventually becoming money payments.
FRYD army/militia to keep kings peace to, fro, or during Fryd service, also royal levy
FYRDWITE penalty for neglecting the fyrd
GENEAT OE Saxon England, meaning Kings companion or member of his war band
GESITH member of Kings war band at time of English conquest. This title became the
aristocracy of 9th c. England replacing it with Thegn.
THEGN/Kings Thegn OE one who serves, hereditary noble who held land in exchange
for service, title/position declined with formation of Housecarles.
HOUSECARLES/Thingamen 1016 King Cnuts fighting men who were loyal bodyguards.
They had status of Thegn disappearing after Norman conquest.
WARBAND fighting men who accompanied Kings and chiefs when invading England,
these were directed by the Comitatus or chiefs bodyguard.
HEPTARCHY 6-9th c. England’s seven kingdoms;
East Anglia Kent Mercia
Northumbria 7th-10th Anglo-Saxon kingdom later Earldom of Bernicia and Deira
Mercia Sussex Wessex
RICSIAN reign
RAEDAN rule
WITAN/Witenagemot royal council, council who chose successor to throne, or advisors of Kings of England
METHEL council or meeting
THEODEN chief, god, king
WRIT 11th c. English word for official document produced by the Chancery on behalf of
the Anglo Saxon monarchs.
GLOSSARY
AEWDA oath giver, or witness
ATH oath
BORH pledge or security
BORHBRYCE breach of surety
BRYCE breach or violation
FOREATH preliminary oath
RIMATH oath by accused and or compurgators combined
ALLOD land held without feudal obligation See Separate Land Glossary
HOLD faithful holder of an allod
LANDRICA favorite land owners acting as representatives over smaller freeholders
AMBIHTSMITH court smith or carpenter
AMERCEMENT Norman system of penalties for offending the Kings Peace until 13th c. replaced by statutory penalties.
ANGLYDE compensation payment dictated by law
AFTER-GELD after payment
CEAPGELD market or purchase price
DANEGELD/Danegelt/Geld money paid to Danish not to invade, or tax on anything
FRUMGYLD first payment
GAFOL tax or tribute
GELD/Gelt/Dane Geld 9th c. tax on land to pay Danes not to invade
HEREGELD army tax
LEODGELD wergeld for taking a mans life
MAEGBOT money paid to family
WERGELD legal value, or value of a mans life
HEALSFANG fine or share of weregeld
SIX-HYNDE type of Wergeld which was 600 shillings|
ANNULAR BROOCH decorated clasp for the cloak worn once a year
ANWEALDA/Ealdorman noble ruler, chief
EALDOR/Aldor elder or senior lord
EALDORMAN noble appointed by King to run shire, preside Moot, raise land
Fryd Sheriff 9th c. began to replace Ealdorman
10th c. King Cnut replaced Ealdorman with Earl, Eldormanies/Earldoms
EALDORMANIES area ruled by an Ealdorman
EORL noble born in Kent, rank equivalent in rest of country was Gesith
EORL-RIGHT earl's right
BALDR Norse god
BEARN//Cild/Lytling child
BEDRIFAN chase
BEREWYKE village or hamlet near or belonging to a manor or town
BOROUGH town designed as a military strong old
BUR chamber
BURH dwelling or village
BURH-BRYCE breach of a dwelling
BURGESS leader of a Burgh may collect tolls
SCYLD-BURH a Thane or shield boss of this type of Burh
BURH CHARTER King granted this allowing them freedom and jurisdiction to rule
EDOR farm house or home stead
FLET home or dwelling
HAM home, enclosure or farm
HAW/Ham-haw small parcel of land
HEAHBURG capital
SPECIAL BURHS Trade and court were above regular town Burghs
TUN dwelling, farm, manor
WIC town or village
GEREFA/Reeve sheriff
MANUNG district over reeve has jurisdiction
WIC-Reeve reeve or baliff of a village or town
BEOWULF epic tale of a warrior of the Germanic people
BOAR sacred animal to the Anglo-Saxons
BOCLAND/Bookland public lands held privately by royal charter epic tale of a warrior of the Germanic peoplesacred animal to the Anglo-Saxonspublic lands held privately by royal charter
BOLD-GAETAL lords estate
LORD/Hlaford lord or loaf giver or protector
LADY meaning bread-loaf maker
LORDSHIP mutual loyalty and support joining a lord to his vassal
DEMESNE/Inland lords land
DRINCLEAN payment due lord for ale
DRIHTINBEAH payment due lord for killing his freeman
SAC lords right to own jurisdiction
THEOWS slaves of feudal Lords through debt or taken as prisoner of war
BOROUGH town designed as a military strong old
BRYGC bridge
CAMERARIUS chamberlain
CANNE cup
BIRELE cup bearer or steward
CEAPGELD purchase or market price
CEORL/Churl a freeman who had enough land to become thegn
KOTSETLA free Ceorl/peasant obligated to work one day a week for his Lord and
extra days during harvest in exchange to farm a small part of the common land.
CHURCHEADLDOR church elder
CHURCHSCOTS/Food rent support parish priests by donating grain according to holding
SOUL SCOT giving goods of a deceased to parish priest, later became religious bequests
CHURCH COIFI priest of Northumbria's King Edwin who converted to Christianity
CHURCHEALH temple
CHURCH-GRITH sanctuary
CHURCH-HLAFORD lord of a church
CNIHT servant later becoming English word for knight, or a retained noble to a House to perform administrative duties.
HORDERE/Hoarder steward, treasurer
KOTSETLA/Ceorl freemen obligated to work one day a week for Lord, and extra
days during harvest in exchange to farm small part of common land.
THEGN nobleman, knight
FREEMAN/Lesser Thegn one who was free but still owed rent or service to a lord
THEOW-MEN servants, slaves
COMITATUS originally a Thane and war mates
COMMUNE CONCILIUM Norman equivalent of Anglo-Saxon Witan with judicial and military decisions at such meetings were binding on vassals.
CYNEWULF/Cynwulf Anglo-Saxon 9th c. poet
DAMUT term for Viking, derived from Danish/Dane and Danute
DANEGELD/Danegelt/Geld money paid to Danish not to invade
DATE STONE one carved with date for decoration above door or wall, also used to record water levels
DERE STREET Roman road running from Yorkshire England to Scotland.
DOOM judgment given by a court or Moot
DRENG tenant in Northumbria
ERMSPETH/ Droveway/Drove Road road Anglo Saxons used to herd cattle between England and Scotland
ESNE servant, retainer, slave
ESNE-WORKMEN day workers, hirelines, mercenaries
EXCHEQUER Norman Conquest gave this name to the financial administrator for
the monarchy
FAEHTH feud
FAHMAN foeman, object of a blood feud
FEORMFULTUNG tax on land to support royal House
FOLKMOTE Early Saxon meant the gathering of the tribes in arms
FOLKRIGHT term applied to Customary Law
FORLONGEN long ago or ancient
FRYD militia/army to keep king's peace to, from and during a service
FRYTH peace
FRITH-BRICE breach of peace
GAFOL tax or tribute
GAVELKIND OE Saxon/Norman system of land tenure to inherit land equally among all sons
GEBUR OE Saxon, division of Ceorl class/free peasants working land, eventually given name of ‘boor’ for a peasant.
GEMOT court or meeting
LAHSLIT fine for breach of law
LAWMAN one with special knowledge of the law
DOOM judgment given by a court o Moot
HLOTH band, or troop of thieves or robbers
FLYMA fugitive, outlaw
HANDHAEBBENDE thief caught in act
HLOTHBOT penalty for belonging to a gang or band
OUTLAWRY a criminal was placed outside the law, losing all rights and property
HOUSEL/Husl holy
ILK means ‘of the same’
FILK dirty, unclean
INFANGENTHEOF lords right to try a thief for stealing goods from his land.
UTFANGENTHEOF allows a Lord to try a thief wherever he is found.
HAM meaning enclosure or farm.
HUE AND CRY outcry/shout for hunting, battle cries, or pursuing a criminal with horn and voice
HUNDRED a shires hundred families who could provide a ‘hundred‘ soldiers, also a ‘hundred‘ hides used as a military basis having its own court
KENNING poems that describe something but never name it, possibly later riddles
LAET half free, or a class between captured slaves and freeman
LAMMAS bread loaf consecrate the loaves from the first grain on Lammas day August 1st
LAND FRYD free men had to serve their shires military
LASTAGE tax on exports based on the ‘last‘ sack/bundle
LATHER fury of the ireful, and lye washing soap
LAWMAN one with special knowledge of the law
LEET East Anglia unit of government with ‘Hundred’ divided into leets/villages
LIBERTIES areas free of royal jurisdiction given by royal grant/Palatinate
LITERATURE 1066 works written in Norman French in England after Conquest
MAWMENNY recipe of ground pork, beef boiled in wine served with a sauce
MAGNUM CONCILIUM Anglo-Saxon council replacing the ‘Witan’
MEASUREMENTS See separate Glossary
MONTHS
JANUARY Aefterra Geola, after Yule
FEBRUARY Solmonath, sun month
MARCH Hrethmonath, goddess Hretha
APRIL Eostre, spring goddess, christianized to Easter
MAY Thrimilci
JUNE Aerra Litha
JULY Aefterra Litha
AUGUST Weodmonath
SEPTEMBER Halegmonath, holy month
OCTOBER Winterfyllityh, winter moon
NOVEMBER Blotmonath, blood month
DECEMBER Aerra Geola before Yule
MOOT/Germot OE a gathering or assembly who decided legal or administrative punishments
NITHING Anglo-Saxon England, a man without honor was publicly/formally proclaimed putting him outside the society. First done by King Cnut 1017.
NORTHUMBRIAN RENAISSANCE 7th c. Anglo-Saxon cultures of art etc.
ORDEAL Norse in origin, a trial of innocence or guilty
OLD ENGLISH language from 450-1150 centuries
PILLOW STONE Anglo-Saxon carved stone put on chest or beneath head
RAPE Sussex Saxon kingdom a unit of government Under Norman rule every rape became a Castlery
RIDINGMEN free tenants rendering escort or messenger service to their lord
SANCTUARY Church’s right to protect criminals and others seeking refuge for 40 days
SAGA 6th c. earliest Norse chronicle recounting the exploits of Viking chiefs
SCALD Old Nose for Bard
SCEAT/Sceatta 7th-9th c. coin used in south England
SHIELD BOSS portion of a shield or shape of one in Anglo-Saxon period
SKEGGOX single handled axe
SOUL SCOT custom of giving or gifting something/good of the deceased to parish priest, later known as any bequest for religious purposes.
STYCA 7-9th c. metal coin
SUNDIAL used to tell time on a measured scale, found on church walls and gardens
TORTURER experienced soldiers for hire
TREASURY main financial department of late and early Anglo-Saxon government at Winchester
TRINODAS NECESSITAS freeman obligation to serve in war/upkeep fortifications
TUN enclosure, later a large village or farm
WALREAF taking spoils from the dead
WAPENTAKE area administrations of northern shires, Hundreds in the south
WED pledge or dowry
MUND bride price or protection
WEREGILD money paid by family of a murder or himself to the relatives of a victim
WORD-HOARD a poet’s treasure of words that would include epithets for leaders/warriors, phrases for seasons, marriages, war etc.
Ancient Anglo-Saxon Kings
BERNICIA Eanfrith
DIERA: Aelfwine Aella Aethelric Aethelric
EAST ANGLIA: Aethelhere Anna Egdric Raedwald Tytila
ENGLAND: Alfred the Great Athelstand Canute the Great Edgar Aetheling Edgar
Edmund I Edmund II Edmund the Martyr Edred Edward the Confessor
Edward the Elder Edwy Ethelred II Guthrum the Old Harold Godwinson
Harold Harefoot Harthacanute
ESSEX: Saebert
MERCIA: Coenwulf
NORTHUMBRIA: Aelle II of Northumbria Aethefrith of Northumbria Aldfrith Eanred
Ecgfrith Edwin Oswald Oswiu
SUSSEX: Aelle of Sussex ARCHERY APPEARANCE
1000 ad Crossbows
1290 Longbow
1300 Armor piercing steel arrows for crossbow CONTESTS
BUTT FIELDS 15TH c. English public archery practice grounds
CLOUT white cloth placed on the ground as a marker for long distance shooting
CLOUT SHOOT archery contest to hit a target laid out horizontally on the ground
FLIGHT SHOOT archery distance shooting competition
SPEED/Shower shooting contest to fire arrows as quickly possible
WAND SHOT archery contest where targets were a piece of peeled willow, 6 foot high placed upright in the ground. TARGETS
BORSUN/ BURIAT plaited straw archery butt shaped like a skittle pin used for archery
contests, object is to dislodge the stake with arrow and drive it the furthest from its
original position.
DANGER ZONE area in archery range between firing line and farthest place behind targets
an arrow can hit
FLU FLU ARROW large feathers used for targets thrown in the air or shooting birds
GROUP number of arrows close together on a target
PAPEGAY/Popinjay figure of a bird suspended from a pole and used as a target by
archers and crossbowmen
SHOOTING AREA around range including firing line and the field of fire
THE ORIGINAL TARGET had just two colored rings with each encircled by a ring of
black, centered with a peg driven its middle of a hay bale to hold it. The peg was
the bulls eye.
Or (gold) 8 points
Vert (green) 4
Argent (silver) 2
GLOSSARY
ARCHER/Bowman one who a bow or crossbow to shoot arrows
ARCHERS GUARD/BRACER band worn over the wrist of bow hand to protect it from the snap of the bowstring.
ARCHERS PARADOX when arrow is properly shot goes in line of aim although the string propelling the arrow moves directly to the center of the bow. The arrow in fact bends around the bow after release but after passing the bow returns to its proper line of flight.
ARCHERS RING/Thumb ring Eastern method of drawing string while wearing a thumb ring
ARCHERS STAKE sharpened wood stake driven in ground pointing away from an archer to protect against cavalry.
ARCHERY HERSE defense work consisting of sharpened wooden stakes driven into the ground pointing towards the oncoming enemy, used to protect archers from cavalry charge.
HERSE of ARCHERS wedge formation of archers supported on the flanks by men-at-arms,
used by the English during the Hundred Years War.
BOWMAN archer, also one who rowed or used oars of a boat
ARROW missile shot by an archer from a bow
CLOTH YARD ARROW English 36”, half the height of a bow, usually 6 feet tall
CREST painted rings on an arrow to identify the owner
HEAD striking end of an arrow, usually made of a different type of material from the
shaft such as iron, flint or bronze.
LOOP narrow vertical slit in a wall through which arrows could be fire
REST small device attached to bow to hold arrow up and away from the bow
SHAFT e body of an arrow
SHEATH of ARROWS bundle of twenty four arrows
SPACER circular leather piece of 24 holes to keep arrow shafts apart during transport
ARROW MAKER
FLETCHER arrow maker, or person who attaches fletches to arrows
FLETCHES fins or vanes on an arrow
FLETCHING add flights to an arrow
ARROWSMITH maker of metal arrowheads
ARTILLATOR maker of bows, arrows, and other archery goods
ANCHOR POINT position of your body when arrow is drawn back
Common anchor points;
1. Index finger of hand drawing back touches corner of the mouth
2. Center of the chin
3. Lower lip
4. Ear lobe
§ Draw Length varies from 4 inches or more depending on ones anchor point.
BALISTER/Archer crossbowman
BARB rearward turned point on an arrow head
BARBED and TANGED tangs are projections on arrowhead to prevent it from being removed
BARRELLED arrow which is thickest in the middle and tapers to the ends
BILTA arrow with a point of hard wood, Travancore
BODKIN long, sharp arrowhead designed to puncture plate armor
BOLT/ Carreau/ Quarrel arrow/missile projected from a crossbow
BOLTS, CROSSBOW short arrows used in arbalests for incredible penetration
BOSON arrow with blunt tip
BOULON BOUGON type of arrow
BROADHEAD wide arrowhead with sharp edge for harassing horses at a distance
CRESTING identifying colored rings on shaft forward of the fletchings to mark ownership
FALARIQUE arrowhead made of flammable material
FEATHERS f lights on an arrow to aid in stability in flight
FLIGHTED feathers of an arrow, such as different colors
FOOTED ARROW one reinforced with a spliced hardwood fore shaft
FORE SHAFT supplementary hard wood shaft added to the front end of a shaft
HAMUS Latin for hook or spur projecting at right angles at the base of an arrow
HAZU nock of an arrow
HIDE-TACE target arrow with blunt conical head used by boys learning how to shoot
KIXODWAIN arrow with a blunt, wedge shaped head used for hunting small birds
KNAPPING/Flint breaking/striking of stone to make arrow heads
KUKIKSADLIN type of bear arrow
KUTSUMAKI wrappings of an arrow next to the head to prevent the shaft splitting from the pressure exerted by the tang of the arrow head
MALLEOLUS fire arrow made of cane or reed
MIGERAT arrow
NUTKODLIN deer arrow
PEACOCK ARROWS 14th c. arrows fletched with peacock feathers
PILE type of arrow head used for target shooting
RAILION type of arrow
RANKLING ARROW detachable head remains in wound when the arrow is removed
RAUCHKOCHER arrow quiver of the 'Landsknechte', covered with fur and containing arrows up to 100 cm long with their heads pointing upwards
SAVIDLIN type of bear arrow
SELF NOCK arrow using a period nocking style, cut into shaft or reinforced with hardwood or horn
SHEAF ARROW heavy armor piercing arrow by long bowmen at close
SPIGHT show arrow
STELE wooden shaft of an arrow
TIPPER one who put metal tips on arrows
TIPS front end of arrow or arrow head, also the ends of the bow limbs
TUGALIN arrow used for shooting large birds, Point Barrow
WHISTLING ARROW with a large hollow head with openings in front and sides. When shot the air rushing through the openings make a whistling noise.
USH arrow BOW
ALBLASTERE crossbow man
ALBORIUM 11TH c. bow made from hazel
ARABALEST a TOUR crossbow drawn by a windlass
ARABALETE a JALTE/Pellet crossbow/Prodd crossbow set up to shoot stones instead of bolts
ARBAEST/Arbalete/Alblast/Arblast European crossbow of the Middle Ages
ARBALES crossbow, longbow
ARBALEST/Arbolest crossbow with a steel bow spanned by mechanical means
ARBALEST/Manuballista Latin for crossbow
ARBALETE A CRIC heavy crossbow drawn by a rack and pinion
ARBRIER stock of a crossbow
ARCUBALISTA UNIS PEDIA crossbow needing one foot to draw the string
BACKED BOW primarily wood with a thin strip of a attached to the back of the bow
BACK OF THE BOW surface of bow furthest from archer when holding the bow in firing position
BELLY of the BOW surface of the bow closest to the archer when holding bow in firing position
BEND UTER/ Slur Bow crossbow where the bolts are shot through a tube.
BILLET two half pieces of wood glued together with a fish tail splice to form a bow stave, or the single piece of wood from which a self bow is made.
BOW projectile weapon with a shaft and two ends joined by a string used to shoot arrows
COMPOUND CROSSBOW 15TH c. crossbow fitted with pulleys
CORYTUS/CORYTO bow case
COURSEL windlass on crossbow
CRANEQUIN CRIC rack and pinion turned by crank to draw medium sized crossbow.
CROSSBOW STOCK rifle shaped body of crossbow holding bow and housing the trigger
CAST ability of a bow to project an arrow
CHRYSAL crack in belly of a wooden bow caused by the crushing of the vibes
DEFLEX characteristic of bow tips of the limbs bending forward from a straight line
DRAW act of bending bow to full arrow length by drawing string back. Standard draw length is 28” Shorter people 24”, taller people 32”.
DRAW WEIGHT force required to draw a bow to full arrow length, usually measure in pounds at a certain draw length measured in inches.
GRAFFLE hook fastened to belt by which some of the early crossbows were spanned
GAFFE/Goats Foot/Pied de biche system of levers used to span a crossbow
KISSER disk placed on a bow string to determine bow has been fully drawn, so named because when the bow is fully drawn it touches the corner of the mouth.
LIMB one of the bow arms from grip to tip
MATRAS hunting crossbow bolt with round disc on head, so as not to damage the pelt
MISHETTAE 14th c. type of crossbow bolt fletched with cardboard
MOULINET apparatus consisting of tackles and windlass to span a large crossbow
NOCK grooves in bow limbs for bowstring, or act of fitting an arrow to the string
NOCKING POINT place on the bowstring where the arrow is placed for firing
NUKIGOMEDO/ Nunigomedo part of the release mechanism of a crossbow where the string sits when the crossbow is drawn
NUT round piece holding string of crossbow
PRODD crossbow
QUARREL/Bolt short square headed bolt or arrow used in a crossbow
RISER middle third of a bow, or handle area of a bow
SHELF lower cut-out portion of riser on bow, often arrow rest, referred to ‘shooting off the shelf’
SLING cord loop around the wrist to keep the bow in the hand while shooting
STABILIZERS steel rods weights on bows to reduce recoil and twist of bow when fired. (Most realms do not allow these due to the fact there were none in the Middle Ages).
STAVE single piece wood making self bow
TILLER stock of a crossbow
TILLERING adjusting the shape, strength or size of a bow
TRIGGER release on crossbow
VIRATON/Vireton crossbow bolt with spiral fletching
VIRES/Viroax crossbow bolt used for hunting
VIRETON bolt that spins when crossbow is shot
WEIGHT amount of force to draw the bow back to its specified draw length, which is usually 28 inches. The bow weight is measured in pounds of force.
WINDLASS tackles used to draw the largest crossbow BOWCASES
PIZIKSE bow
PIZIKSIZAX bow case
QUIVE/Querquer bag/case to carry arrows TROUSSE quiver
BOW MAKER
ARTILLATOR maker of bows, arrows, and other archery goods
BOWER/Bowyer one who makes bow
BOWMAN
CROSSBOWMAN defender of a manor or castle
CLAW/Graffle hook on belt of crossbowmen to draw string
BOW STRING
ANCHOR location of the hand drawing bow string positioned when at full draw
BASTARD STRING used to draw bow of a crossbow so regular string can be strung
HEMP for ropes and bow strings
SERVING over-wrap string to protect nock area and bow string end loops from wear
STRING bowstring, to fit a bow with a string
STRINGER an aid to stringing a bow, maker or seller of bowstrings
STRIONG RELEASE mechanical device clipped onto bow string for smoother release
BOW TYPES
CROSSBOW horizontal 90 degrees when string is drawn held by a nut. Bolt loaded nut is
released by lever turning the nut to fire bolt.
ENGLISH LONGBOW 12th-16th c. large bow drawn by hand
LONGBOW made of single bough of yew/maple/ash by Welsh with English making them
famous at Agincourt, Cresy and Pointers.
LATCH 16TH c. English name for the crossbow
RECURVE one which the limbs have both reflex and deflex curves which move the spring
of the bow closer to bow tips than for a straight or long bow design. Recurve bows can
have 90% efficiency while a long bow has around 70%.
SHORT BOW usually half the height of the archer using the bow
SLUR BOW 16th c. crossbow with a barrel slot on both sides for the string
STONE BOW one used to shoot stones, pellets or balls
SPRINGBOW bow or crossbow set as a trap for animals
STEELBOW bow made of steel or flattened pipe
STIRRUP CROSSBOW large crossbow with a stirrup for the foot, used to hold the crossbow
steady when drawing the string, especially when two hands were necessary for winding the
winch.
WAR BOW primarily used for great lengths in war
BOW WOODS
HARDWOOD one of deciduous hard woods, such as oak, maple, walnut, or hickory to
make bows
SOFT WOOD usually from an evergreen, which is softer than the hard woods, Yew is
considered to be the hardest of the soft woods.
ARABALESTINA cruciform aperture in wall of a fortification to shot crossbows from
ASCHAM tall narrow cupboard for storage of bows and arrows
BARE BOW shooting style without marks on the bow for sighting
BRACER small arm protector for archers
CANNON 13th c. metal tube used for firing heavy arrows and stones
CAPELINE small iron skullcap worn by military archers
COCKER a quiver
CREEP allows arrow to edge forward at full draw just before the release of the arrow
CURARE poison used on arrows and blow pipe darts in South America
UMLA vegetable poison used on arrows in New Guinea
DOMINANT EYE most people have a dominant eye which positions a distant target
DRAW LONG BOW exaggerate when telling something
FIELD of FIRE/Danger Zone area in front of the archers who are shooting
FIRING LINE designated line archers shoot from towards their target, normally they will straddle the line when shooting.
FISTMELE/Fist Measure/Brace Height distance from grip to string of a bow, measured by placing a fist on grip with thumb extended towards the bowstring.
FLEMISH LOOSE using two fingers only
FLEMISH STRING made so loops are plaited from material without the addition of serving
FLO swift arrow
INSTINCTIVE SHOOTING without aid of sights, such as field hunting.
KING of the POPINJAY 15TH c. crossbowmen who first hit the popinjay in a contest
LOOSE release string to propel arrow towards target, action of firing an arrow
MEDITERRANEAN LOOSE three fingered loose used by Western archer
MONGOLIAN LOOSE used by Asiatic archers where thumb is hooked around string
PARALLAX angle between archers line of sight and direction arrow is pointing caused by the rear of arrow not lining with your dominant eye. Because of parallax, arrow is actually being aimed at a different point your eye is looking at. It is important in instinctive archery to minimize parallax.
PAVISE/Pavoise/Pavas/Pavais/Pavacke/Tallevas/Talvas/Taloche large free-standing shield used by crossbowmen to protect Archers/crossbowmen during battles.
PAVISER person who carries or supports a Pavise
PENKNIFE small knife used to cut and trim quills
REFLEX is the characteristic of bow limbs which bend forward and then backward from the riser, creating a spring action of the bow movement of its limbs.
SPINE/Spline measurement of elasticity of an arrow shaft, or stiffness of an arrow
SPOTTER one who watches where another’s arrow hits
TACKLE archery equipment
TOXOPHILITE/Toxophily a devotee or lover of archery
TSURUMAKI leather guard to cover armor to reduce friction for the traveling string
|
|
|
