Chapter 52: Glossary

(Terms are arranged by order of usage in the text.)

Caledonia: The Romans referred to Scotland as Caledonia, a name thought to have derived from the Pictish tribe Caledonii, but most historians credit Caledonia with a separate cultural identity.

Picts: Derived from the Roman name for most of the untamed tribes north of Hadrian’s Wall. The name Pictii means, literally, “painted ones” for the Pictish practice of body tattooing.

Cruithni: What most non-Roman histories call the Picts.

Scotia: A generalized term for much of Scotland prior to its dominion under Saxon England.

King’s Eyre: The king’s traveling court in early medieval times.

A hide of land: Anywhere from 120-240 acres of land for tax purposes.

A league of distance: Roughly equivalent to three U.S. miles.

Coif: A round or hood-shaped cap worn by medieval clergy.

Nave: The principle area of a church, from the main entrance to the chancel.

Thegn, thane, teignus: A companion of the king or a military administrator and land owner.

Furlong: A Roman measure of distance of about 220 yards, still used in horse racing today.

“Te Deum, non nobis Domine, nunc dimitis”: A Latin prayer of thanksgiving.

Sgian du: An ancient Scotian sock knife, kept always on a clansman’s leg for self-defense.

Prime: The call to breakfast and prayers in medieval monasteries.

Stoat: Any of several small furry animals, similar to an ermine, prized for their pelts.

Vole: Any of several mouse-like creatures prized for their pelts.

Dalriada: The ancestral homeland of the Pictish tribes, consisting of much of northern Scotland.

Shetland: A reference to the Shetland Islands, northeast of the British Isles.

Arbalest: A type of long range crossbow often carried by Saxon light cavalry.

Promethean: From mythology-the deity who stole fire from heaven and gave it to mankind.

Fortnight: The medieval equivalent of two weeks.

Stygian River: The river that supposedly flows through Hell.

Catafalque: A raised platform upon which a casket is held for mourners to view.

Motte and bailey: A wooden fortress built on a hill, and almost always surrounded by a ditch.

Euclid: A Greek geometrician who lived around 300 B.C.

Liege: A medieval lord and often a military commander.

Carnyx: A Pictish war horn, said to be the loudest wind instrument of the European Iron Age.

Levies: Typically, these are untrained mercenary troops used to fill the ranks of an army.

Hogshead: A large cask capable of holding well over 60 gallons of water, wine or other goods.

Exemplum: A lesson for the novitiate of a monastery, usually given by the prior.

Dagon: A medieval term for Satan or the devil.

Cerberus: Another name for Satan.

Vespers: A monastic service in the late afternoon or evening.

Gehenna: A medieval term for Hell.

Ratlines: Ladder-like ropes used by sailors to climb up the sides of a ship’s mast or rigging.

Snekke: A small, very fast medieval warship, usually of 20 oars and a single sail.

Dun’s keep: A Scottish or Irish fort, usually wooden with a surrounding ditch and stockade.

Coup-de-grace: The French equivalent of a “death blow”.

Cloistered: Monks who live within the confines of a monastery with no outside contact.

Vernacular: The common or ordinary speech of a country or region.

Mastiff: A large, powerful dog brought to Britain by the Romans to guard their encampments.

Tabour: A round drum carried around the neck and played one handed.

Heraldry: A family coat of arms or symbol worn on a tunic covering a knight’s chainmail.

Targ Shield: A round, leather covered wooden shield mounted with metal barb-like cones.

Firth: The Scottish term for a long narrow bay or harbor, usually open to the sea.

Pommel: A protruding knob on the front end of a saddle. Used mainly for a grip when mounting.

Reeve: The chief tax collector for manorial lands belonging to a local lord.

Pyrrhonist: Medieval term for a non-believer.

Pennon: A long narrow flag attached to a knight’s lance which bears the knight’s coat of arms.

Estuary: The mouth of a large river in which the river’s current meets the sea’s tide.

Wimple: A covering of the head, leaving the face exposed.

Drengs: Free peasants who held land or property in exchange for military service to another.

Cast: The effective range of a bow or crossbow.

Grimoire: A magic book written telling how to invoke spirits, make magic circles, etc.

Rota: An ancient form of the jury system. Similar to a trial by committee.

Palindrome: A word, name or phrase that is spelled the same, either forward or backward.

Vellum: Fine lambskin used by monks for preserving particularly important documents.

Merrels: A French game played with nine pieces on a side, using a cross shaped board.

Donjon: The original name for a keep or main tower where prisoners were often held for trial.

Mortrews: A pounded fish or meat paste made with bread and eggs, then sometimes fried.

Draco: A large warship capable of carrying thirty to fifty men and a crew.

Withers: The highest part of the back at the base of a horse’s neck.

Hauberk: A long coat of chainmail, often elaborately adorned and marked with heraldry.

Barbican: A gateway or outworks defending a drawbridge.

Cubit: A unit of measure the equivalent of a man’s forearm length, or about 17-24 inches.

Portcullis: A wooden or iron grating lowered to prevent entrance through a castle gate.

Boon: A favor or request asked of a landowner or other party in power by those being governed.

Mangonel: A slinging machine, similar to a ballista, used for throwing stone balls or rocks.

About the Author

Jon Baxley is a freelance writer, novelist and historian from San Antonio, Texas. His latest major work is a medieval fantasy epic that began as an award winning eBook entitled The Scythian Stone that has evolved into a three book epic trilogy including The Blackgloom Bounty, episode one, The Regents of Rhum, episode two and episode three, The Scions of Scotia. More books in this series are likely to follow.

A University of Texas at Arlington graduate, Jon served with the U.S. Army, worked as a golf professional and consulted for the United States Information Agency in the former Soviet Union. Having been a full time writer and author for many years, Jon eventually turned his attention to fiction writing and has never looked back.

When someone asks Jon about his writing experiences, he answers with, “Ask not what a publisher can do for you. Ask what you can do for your publisher.”

Jon’s email address is [email protected] Your comments are invited.