Glossary of terms for Bess

Glossary of terms:

Berfrois           A stand for spectators, originally for tourneys, a level above the ground

Bonded           those who have made a mental bond, may refer to a pair, one human one dragon, or to either of the pair.  Written with a capital to refer to those Bonded to dragons, but in lower case if bonded to a drakeling

By my troth    today we should say ‘upon my word!’ or ‘My goodness!’ if used in surprise, or the phrase may be used to express a serious promise eg ‘by my troth, mistress, I shall protect you with my life.’

Certes              Certainly

Common

Wyrms            Topaz dragons, a mistaken name

Coney             the name used at the time for a full-grown rabbit; rabbit was used only for the young, as pig was used for what today we call piglet, hog being the full grown animal.

Coruscation    a flock of drakelings; coined recently.

Dominie          schoolmaster

Dortoir            we’d call it a dormitory nowadays

Drakelings       tiny dragon-like creatures possibly made as pets by dragons in the past.

Draxery           the study and art of dragon care

Draxier            one who has Bonded with a dragon, an honorific even as ‘Doctor’ is

Farthingale      a wide, hooped skirt .

Fie!                  An expression of disapproval, may indicate surprise but in a negative way

Galligaskins    loose breeches caught under the knee, suitable for working in.

Good lack!      An expression of surprise

Gramercy!       An expression of surprised gratitude

Grow a rose    euphemism for relieving the bladder

Humanism       a belief that the actions of human beings are important individually and collectively, emphasising critical and rational thinking above acceptance of superstition or dogma. Humanists follow this belief.

Jakes               the toilet. Commonly outside, with a seat over a cess pit, dug out by a ‘gong farmer’ twice a year.  Often communal. 

Lackaday!       Also well-a-day, an expression of sorrow or misfortune.

Legr                a lair, or cave for a dragon to live.  When capitalised, it is a collection of legrs in a cliff

Leman             lover

Lorewyrms      Amethyst dragons, known for their knowledge.  The only dragons which would re-Bond

Marry!             An expression of surprise.

Nurture-

Wyrms            Topaz wyrms, mostly female, one of the two colours known to breed

Speedwyrms   Beryl dragons, notable for their speed

Spellwyrms     Diamond dragons, black in colour as diamonds of the time were not cut with the brilliant cut later discovered

Warwyrms      Ruby dragons, known for their aggression. Mostly male, one of the two colours known to breed.