Difference between revisions of "River Twine Holt Glossary"
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''den-hide'' - a practiced, coordinated defensive action in which all members of the tribe hide and keep silent on command | ''den-hide'' - a practiced, coordinated defensive action in which all members of the tribe hide and keep silent on command | ||
| − | ''dreamberry'' - a berry that causes intoxication in elves when eaten fresh; fermented, it is hallucinogenic; can be poisonous to humans | + | ''dreamberry'' - a berry that causes intoxication in elves when eaten fresh; fermented, it is hallucinogenic; can be poisonous to humans. Note -- the word dreamberry is not commonly capitalized. |
''dreamberry talk'' - drunken babbling | ''dreamberry talk'' - drunken babbling | ||
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''"High Ones"'' - used as curse or blessing; refers collectively to the pureblooded elves who first arrived on the world, and to their pureblooded children. | ''"High Ones"'' - used as curse or blessing; refers collectively to the pureblooded elves who first arrived on the world, and to their pureblooded children. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ''Holt'' - both a generalized term for the entire territory claimed by the elves, and in context, the immediate area where the Dentree is located. Note: the term Holt is always capitalized. | ||
''Howl'' - Wolfrider ceremony in honor of deceased elf or wolf, to tell stories about him/her and keep memories alive | ''Howl'' - Wolfrider ceremony in honor of deceased elf or wolf, to tell stories about him/her and keep memories alive | ||
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''Little Moon'' – the name of the smaller of the world’s two moons | ''Little Moon'' – the name of the smaller of the world’s two moons | ||
| − | '' | + | ''lock-send'' - a sending directed to one individual only; a private sending. |
''lovemate'' - term for elves in a more serious relationship, but one that is not sparked by Recognition. | ''lovemate'' - term for elves in a more serious relationship, but one that is not sparked by Recognition. | ||
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''ravvit'' - important note: although this term is mentioned in a BoTC novel, we do not use "ravvit" at RTH. Instead, we use "rabbit." | ''ravvit'' - important note: although this term is mentioned in a BoTC novel, we do not use "ravvit" at RTH. Instead, we use "rabbit." | ||
| − | ''Recognition'' - entirely involuntary process - psychic link between two elves of the opposite sex whose progeny would improve the elven race; sometimes (but not always) results in lifemating. | + | ''Recognition'' - entirely involuntary process - psychic link between two elves of the opposite sex whose progeny would improve the elven race; sometimes (but not always) results in lifemating. Note - the term "Recogition" is commonly captialized. |
''season of death sleep'' - interchangeable with Autumn or Fall | ''season of death sleep'' - interchangeable with Autumn or Fall | ||
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''squirrel chatter'' - talking without making sense | ''squirrel chatter'' - talking without making sense | ||
| − | '' | + | ''soul-name'' - secret name devised by wolfriders to keep some part of themselves protected in a largely telepathic society. Note: the term is spelled soul-name, not soul name or soulname. |
''Sun Goes Down'' - west | ''Sun Goes Down'' - west | ||
Revision as of 07:06, 2 May 2009
(Return to the River Twine Holt website.)
Glossary of Elfin Terms
agemate" - friend about the same age
arrow-whip - missile weapon made with a flexible stick and leather strap; designed to give a dart more distance.
Ayoooah - Wolfrider word/sound incorporated in to many different meanings
beesweets - honey or honeycomb
bellyworms - parasites that enter the stomach and cause malnutrition
Big Moon: larger of the two moons
bloodworm - river leech
bond-pack" - wolves allied with and ridden by Wolfriders
branch-horn - very large deer-like animal with spreading antlers (elk)
"By the Two Moons" - general exclamation of astonishment
capnut - acorn; also capnut tree is the oak
carrion birds - vultures, crows, etc.
cave slugs - slimy worms found in caverns
Child Moon - alternate name for the smaller of the two moons
cub / cubling - elfin Wolfrider child; plural "cubs" or "cublings"
den-hide - a practiced, coordinated defensive action in which all members of the tribe hide and keep silent on command
dreamberry - a berry that causes intoxication in elves when eaten fresh; fermented, it is hallucinogenic; can be poisonous to humans. Note -- the word dreamberry is not commonly capitalized.
dreamberry talk - drunken babbling
dreamberry vision - a hallucination
elf-friend - a wolf's particular Wolfrider
Firstcomers - refers to the first elf arrivals in the world (their children were High Ones, but not Firstcomers)
fisher bird - water bird similar to kingfisher
flesh worms - parasites that infest the flesh of living creatures
furmate - a casual lover
"High Ones" - used as curse or blessing; refers collectively to the pureblooded elves who first arrived on the world, and to their pureblooded children.
Holt - both a generalized term for the entire territory claimed by the elves, and in context, the immediate area where the Dentree is located. Note: the term Holt is always capitalized.
Howl - Wolfrider ceremony in honor of deceased elf or wolf, to tell stories about him/her and keep memories alive
itchleaf - poison ivy
joining - mating
kill-hunger - akin to a pack or "shark" feeding frenzy
kit / kitling - Wolfrider term for a female elf child
lifemate - term for elves who have formed a permanent relationship, usually (but not always) as a result of Recognition
Little Moon – the name of the smaller of the world’s two moons
lock-send - a sending directed to one individual only; a private sending.
lovemate - term for elves in a more serious relationship, but one that is not sparked by Recognition.
magic - power usable by elves to circumvent natural laws
Moon Madness - a state of dementia supposedly induced by both moons being full at the same time.
Mother Moon - an alternate name for the larger of the two moons.
"My Eyes See with Joy / My Hand Touches with Joy" – General elfin greeting, usually after an extended separation
mud rat - a small animal that hibernates
nut mush' / nutmash" - a) porridge; b) metaphorically, weakened to the point of uselessness
owl pellets - expletive for expressing disbelief
puckernuts - expression of distaste
ravvit - important note: although this term is mentioned in a BoTC novel, we do not use "ravvit" at RTH. Instead, we use "rabbit."
Recognition - entirely involuntary process - psychic link between two elves of the opposite sex whose progeny would improve the elven race; sometimes (but not always) results in lifemating. Note - the term "Recogition" is commonly captialized.
season of death sleep - interchangeable with Autumn or Fall
season of new green - interchangeable with Spring
season of white cold - interchangeable with Winter
"shards" – generally a curse, not certain from whence it derived. It does not, however, refer to the shards of the Palace -- the RTH elves do not know that the Palace is in shards, buried beneath their feet in the domain of the trolls. Most likely, it was derived from the process of knapping, which is what the tribe uses to make most of its stone weapons (arrow and spearheads, knives, etc.) Knapping would create lots of shards of flint and obsidian, which the elves would have to be careful to contain and clean up, or risk stepping on them or getting painful stone splinters. Thus, "shards" refers to something that is an everyday nuisance, potentially annoying or painful.
skyfire - lightning
skyfire storm - lightning storm
squirrel chatter - talking without making sense
soul-name - secret name devised by wolfriders to keep some part of themselves protected in a largely telepathic society. Note: the term is spelled soul-name, not soul name or soulname.
Sun Goes Down - west
Sun Comes Up - east
swamp rot - expression meaning that one's words are totally unbelievable
taal - elfin child's game similar to hide and seek
taal-stick - wand used by children playing taal to touch each other; each touch counting a point
The Way - the wolfrider’s way of life, which in general is respectful of all life.
touch-me-touch-you - child's game similar to tag
tree walker - one who is at home in the tops of trees and can move easily and silently from branch to branch
treewee - tarsier-like creature known for timidity and silliness
turn of the seasons or turn - one year
wolf-friend - term for an elf's bond wolf
wolf-nap - brief nap of a few minute’s duration, alternating with period of watchful wakefulness.
wolf-send - elfin method of communicating telepathically with his/her wolf
wolfsong - the "always now" state of mind of being perpetually in the present
woodworms - wood-boring insects
Preserver-Speak
Bigthing - preserver term for people bigger than they are; later, used of humans
Birdbasket - preserver term for bird’s nest
Dark - preserver’s way of measuring time.
Dig-Digs - Preservers names for trolls
Hangy-Down - a suspended cocoon
Highthing - preserver term for elves
Juiceberries - preserver term for favorite type of berry.
Noisybad - preserver’s term for describing behavior they dislike.
Stillquiet - preserver term for being asleep, preferably wrapped in wrapstuff.
Wrapstuff - preserver’s term for their preserving webbing. Any living thing fully wrapped in it is perfectly preserved until unwrapped.
(Return to the River Twine Holt website.)
