Aces over Kings: An expression meaning excellence or expertise.

Aye: Yes.

All coins and cordwainers: Referring to an trivial, or just unknowable matter. Example: He wanted to know how many grains of sand were on the beach, but that’s all coins and cordwainers to me.

As if in Danu’s Arms: An expression meaning safety or care.

Belly ballast: Food, especially substantial food and drink.

Bide a moment: Wait a second.

Blow the gaff: To tell everything, equivalent to the phrase ‘to spill the beans’.

Blue-bonnie: A bruise, specifically a ‘shiner’.

Bonnie: Any wound or injury of note. Example: Jaime drank too much and fell down the tavern steps, so he’s got a right bonnie on his head now.

Bunch of my fives: To hit someone with a clenched fist. Example: That clod-hopper insulted my mate, so I gave ‘im a bunch of my fives in the face.

By Lir’s beard: Oath of reassurance or emphasis. Example: By Lir’s beard, we’ll make port before the storm hits!

Churl: Low class or lowborn individual.

Clod-hopper: An oafish individual, derogatory name for a farmer.

Country matters: Sexual matters, or sexual relations. Also: churning butter, signaling the stork, shaking the sheets, conquering the pink fortress.

Daughter of Danu: Holy Woman of Danu and Lir.

Danu: The Goddess of oceans and rivers, roughly equivalent to Amphitrite in Greek Mythology. While not mentioned as often as Lir, or simply in conjunction with him, she is not considered the ‘junior’ partner but equally powerful. She is worshipped by most Avalonians outside Myr’s sphere of influence.

‘Er: Abbreviated, informal version of ‘her’.

Fit to throw the jinx: To bring back luck upon an endeavor or person.

Gaffer: Casual term for an old man.

Gammer: Casual term for an old woman.

Givin’ us the whitecap at the bow: A phrase meaning that a ship is moving at speed.

Hands of the Myrkur: another name for the Sea Vipers.

Hedge Warden: Slang for person in charge of boundary making and land surveying in a town or village.

‘Im: Abbreviated, informal version of ‘him’.

Jingle in your pipeweed: Getting high or stoned out of one’s mind.

Kirren: The unicorn war god, the one that unicorns of the Morning Land swear oaths to or curse with. Examples: Kirren take you! and May Kirren watch over the knaves and fools!

Keeper of the Books: The village archivist, a respected personage.

Kerfuzzled: Confused, puzzled.

Kip-and-a-half: An expression of size or difficulty. Example: We’ve been trying to solve that problem for years, it’s a real kip-and-a-half.

Kissing cousins: An expression meaning that one knows another party well – i.e., a relative known well enough to be greeted with a kiss.

Komtur: Rank among the Myrkur and Sea Vipers, like a sergeant-major or lieutenant.

Larboard: The left side of a sailing vessel. Known as ‘Port’ on Earth.

Lir: The God of water, roughly equivalent to Poseidon in Greek Mythology. Worshipped by most Avalonians outside Myr’s sphere of influence.

Lir (or Lir and Danu) as my witness: Colloquial expression of veracity.

Lir (or Lir and Danu) protect us: A quick prayer of sorts for safety.

Lir (or Lir and Danu) be praised: Equivalent to our world’s ‘Thank the Lord’.

Lir’s Blue Cellar: The bottom of the ocean, equivalent to our world’s Davy Jones’ Locker.

Ludder: Thickwitted person.

Lutin: A mischievous gremlin-like creature that likes to steal coins.

Maulding: Treacherous, not to be trusted. For example: I wouldn’t trust that maulding bunch of cart sellers not to cheat me.

Myr: The God of Chaos or Change. Many Avalonians might refer to Myr as the ‘evil god’, but others would call him the God of Last Resort, as Myr is known to respond to acts of both desperation and ruthlessness. In the Seas of Avalon, Myr and his followers are set in opposition to the major characters.

Myr take all: Expression among the Myrkur meaning surprise, ranging from Oh my goodness! to Damn it all!

Myrkur: Term for a follower of the God Myr.

Na’ae: (Pronounced Nah-AY) No, never, with the implication ‘of course not, are you daft?’

Off the furrow: Broken or off track.

Passin’ by the lane: Knowing someone only slightly, perhaps after seeing them only once or twice on the street.

Pipeweed: Strong drug or opiate smoked along with tobacco or in lieu of it.

Praise be to Lir, or Praise be to Lir and Danu: Equivalent to ‘Thank the Lord’.

Prayer’s up: Affirmation equivalent to Yes, but more likely to mean Of course, there’s no question about it. Example: Prayer’s up, sea water is salty.

Ripe cabbage: Idiot, usually in a dumbstruck sense. Example: Stop starin’ at that pretty girl like you’re a ripe cabbage!

Salt up: Statement before figuratively or literally throwing salt over one’s shoulder to prevent bad luck.

Scrugg-all: Beggar, slovenly person.

Sea Viper: Naval personnel serving the forces of the Myrkur.

Siphon the python: To urinate.

Steerboard: The right side of a sailing vessel. Known as ‘starboard’ on Earth.

Sums Tables: General term for accounting or closing the books.

Tenterhooks: Expression of nervousness.

Throw the jinx on us: Said when someone makes a statement that might bring bad luck.

Undurn: The two hours before or after twilight.

‘Ware!: Beware, watch out!

Venture a spot of gold: To take a bet on, or to express confidence in something.

Verrah: Colloquial form of very.

Whitecap: Any wave of reasonable size.

Wind our necks in: To keep things quiet or confidential.

Worked a treat: To work perfectly or very smoothly, especially the first time.

Yezzir: Informal version of Yes sir, a mark of respect in general not just in a military organization. This expression is not gender specific. Example: Yezzir, Miss Morningstar, we’ll cast off immediately.