Gorean Dictionary

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CAGE, PLASTIC (noun): a means of exhibiting slave girls outside a slaver's establishment suspended from the roof of the portico or in a tier of cages with a comely wench inside.

CAGE WAGON (noun): used to transport both male and female slaves, this wagon has bars surrounding it that can be light or heavy in strength depending on the slaves transported; male slaves are commonly chained by neck, ankles and wrists to wooden stalls within.

CAMERIUS (noun): the third month of the Gorean calendar (in Ar and some other cities)

CAMISK (noun): simple, poncho-like slave garment, about 18" wide

CAMISK, TURIAN (noun): a style of camisk worn by slaves in the city-state of Turia; it consists of a piece of cloth shaped like an inverted 'T' with a beveled crossbar; it fastens behind the neck and falls before the wearer's body; the crossbar then passes between her legs and is then brought forward snugly at the hips; it is held in place by a single cord that binds it at the back of the neck, behind the back and in front at the waist

CANALS OF BILA HARUMA (noun): Man-made canal from Lake Ushindi to Lake Ngao.

CANJELLNE (verb): challenge

CANPHI (noun) : a long-handled, stone-bladed tomahawk used by the Red Savages.

CAPTURE CUBICLE (noun): a room designed or arranged for the capture of an unwary Free Woman, normally this captured Free Woman is then enslaved.

CAPTURE KNOT (noun): a knot recognized for it's unique turnings as rope or binding fiber tied by a Warrior; usually in the capture of a slave girl but also used on any likely foe.

CAPTURE OF THE SLAVE GIRL (game): a game played by male children to teach them to see females in terms of her most basic and radical nature.

CAPTURE POSITION (command): The girl lies on her back with her knees raised, heels on the floor in a standard, supine capture position.

CAPTURE SCENT (noun): chloroform

CARESES OF THE MASTER'S STEEL (noun): A Master places his steel blade between a slaves legs, moving it upward along her inner thigh or belly.

CARNARIUM (noun): refuse pit.

CARPET PLANT (noun): a plant of the rain forest area inland of Schendi, having tendrils that are sometimes used as a source of drinking water

CART (direction): a gorean compass point equivalent to south west; the river Cartius was so named because of it's direction from Ar southwest.

CART, LEATHER-SLUNG FREE (noun): a public or rented 'coach' for transportation of passengers with seats facing each other. Its carriage is suspended by strong leather which causes a swaying, many times bringing on motion-sickness for passengers. Large hides are often suspended underneath to store items, as is a grease bucket for greasing the axles.

CARTIUS RIVER (noun): broad, fast-flowing tributary that flows into the Vosk river far to the south and west of Ar. It is composed of three rivers, the Cartius Proper, Subequatorial Cartius, and Thassa Cartius. It's name is taken from the word cart, a compass point indicating southwest.

CASMU BAND (noun): a subgroup of the Yellow-Kaiila Riders

CASTE CODES (noun): ethical teachings of Gor whose origins are lost in antiquity.

CASTE, GOREAN (noun): rigid social structure which is conferred by birth on Goreans except for slaves, outlaws, and Initiates. There are 5 high castes (Initiates, Scribes, Builders, Physicians, Warriors), privileged by their status to be privy to Double Knowledge, unlike the many lower castes (tradesmen, craftsmen, artisans, artists, etc.) who may know only First Knowledge. Governments are elected and administered by High Caste members only. The Caste is a source of life long pride and brotherhood. The welfare of the Caste takes precedent over individual members. It is possible to change caste, but it is rarely done. To lose Caste is the ultimate in dishonor.

CASTE SANCTUARY (noun): similar to seeking Sanctuary in a church; in times of need, a caste member can ask for sanctuary under another caste member's roof.

CATAPULT (noun): this ancient military device is used extensively in the naval battles to control the Vosk River fought by the pirate armada of Ragnar Voskjard and Policrates against the alliance headed by Callimachus of Port Cos. Stones and clay bowls filled with burning pitch were hurled from ship to ship during their battles.

CATAPULT, CORDAGE OF (noun): example of how the female slave on Gor, 'earns her keep'. Even her hair, described as soft, glossy, silky and resilient, stronger than vegetable fibers and more weather resistant, is used, shaved from her head, as raw material for catapult cordage.

CATS-CRADLE GAME (noun): a string game popular in the Gorean North

CESTUS (noun): these are spiked leather gauntlets, used primarily in gladitorial combat. There are also knife gauntlets, which are a bit more deadly, such as the four-bladed dagger cestus of Anango.

CHAINED ON BOARDS (noun): a ancient modality of execution that involves the person being chained, by collar and shackles, on parallel upright boards. Like the punishment of hanging from an iron collar, the victim may take two to three days to die; these structures are most common in harbor cities near the wharves.

CHAINS, DANCING (noun): a chain arrangement that is used with certain dancing styles; she is fastened within bracelets to which very light gleaming chain is attached, the chain is looped up through a loop in her collar. The chain passes freely within the loop, a wrist ring is fastened on her right wrist, the long chain is fastened to this and loops down and up, ascending gracefully to a wide chain ring on her collar, through which it freely passed, then decending, looping down, and ascending, looping up, gracefully,to the left wrist ring. If she stands quietly, the palms of her hands on her thighs, the lower portions of the chain, those two dangling loops, are about at the level of her knees, just a little higher.

CHAIN LUCK (noun): the attempt to capture a slave girl without having a particular target in mind

CHALWAR (noun): baggy pants of diaphanous silk, worn by slave girls of the Tahari; similar to the harem trousers of Earth

CHAMBER SLAVE (noun): slave of the Priest Kings restricted to use within a particular chamber; these slaves cannot leave the chamber and are to serve the Freeperson living there fully.

CHAR (noun): a minor tribe of the Tahari; they are a vassal tribe of the Kavars

CHATKA (noun): the strip of black leather, some 6 inches by 5 feet long, worn like a breech cloth over the curla by the slave girls of the Wagon Peoples

CHEESE, BOSK (noun): described as melted over suls.

CHERRIES (noun): grown in Tyros.

CHOCOLATE (noun): chocolate on Gor is probably from beans grown from cacao tree's brought from Earth.

CHRONOMETER (noun): variety of rare and valuable devices used for various calibrations such as time keeping, including candles, sun dials, sand glasses, clepsydras (water clocks), and oil clocks.

CHRONOMETRIC SLEEPING MAT (noun): mat with power switch and chronometric temperature device which may be set to have the mat turn cold before the first light as one has little inclination to remain in a freezing bed. The mat is rolled up or folded back after each use.

CINBIAK(acronym): a gentle warning often employed throughout the books. It's letters stand for 'Curiosity Is Not Becoming In A Kajira.' It should be noted that this is a curiosity for unnecessary knowledge and not to be considered a quest to learn. 

CITIES OF DUST (noun): the Gorean land of the dead, or underworld

CITIZENSHIP AND FREE LABOR (concept): In the cities, the rights of citizenship are clearest and free labor has held its own. In rural areas which fall outside the sphere of influence of nearby cities, it is difficult to be a citizen of a city if one cannot reach it within a days march. Retention of citizenship may be contingent on such things as attending public ceremonies, such as an official semi-annual taking of auspices, and participating in numerous public assemblies, some of which are called on short notice. The inability of the rural inhabitants to effectively exercise citizenship leads to disenfranchisement, or most often a fierce independence, repudiating allegiance to anything save one's own village. The farmers, or peasants, are more likely to suffer from the results of cheap competition than their urban brethren.

CIVITATIS (noun): Gorean word meaning 'of the city of'; "Civitatis Trevis" = of the city of Treve

CLAD KAJIR (phrase): among the Wagon Peoples, this phrase refers to slaves who wear four articles; the curla, chatka, kalmak and koora.

CLEARCHUS ROAD (noun): also called West Road it leads from the southwest to the Sardar, once a common route to the Fairs. It is north of the new Cyprianus Road. The Clearchus Road passes for several pasangs through the Clearchus woods, a haunt of brigands. A graveled and rutted road, sometimed paved with logs and plated stone. It can be impassable in rainy weather and dusty in dry, warm weather. The edge of the woods of Clearchus are about two hundred pasangs from the fairgrounds of the Sardar.

CLEARCHUS WOODS (noun): 200 pasangs west of the Sardar Mts.; a place where many brigands hide out.

CLEARUS (noun): a village in the realm of Tor.

CLEPSYDRA (noun): a water clock, mentioned, but not described.

CLOCK, KAISSA SAND (noun): a device used for timing kaiisa moves, it has a spigot arrangement to enable the flow of sand. When it is open for one player, it is off for the other. Each player enables it, as his play is completed.

CLOCK, OIL (noun): mentioned as an example of the chronometer technology available on Gor.

CLOCK, SAND (noun): large, cylindrical and re-set at midnight, the twentieth ahn, and perhaps at noon, as well.

CLOCK, WATER (noun): mentioned, but not described. May also be called a clepsydra.

CLOSE CHAINS (noun): ankle chains with a mere four inches of chain between them; used for captured free woman so they may maintain their modesty.

CODE OF THE WARRIOR (noun): a creed characterized by a rudimentary chivalry emphasizing loyalty to the Pride Chiefs and the Home Stone; warrior's are expected to know and live by it's dictates.

COFFLE (noun): a method of chaining a line of slaves together for trekking; common methods are to link the slaves by the left ankle, left wrist, or throat; also, the line of slaves itself

COIN GIRL (noun): a slave girl who, with a coin box and triangular flat bell chained around her neck, is sent out in the streets of a city to earn money from Masters in return for her sexual use

COIN MERCHANT (noun): terminology for all gorean bankers, ranging from the the fellow sitting on a rug in his booth on the street to the financial institutions on the 'Street of Coins'.

COLLAR (noun): any of several iron or steel devices that fit around the neck of a slave; in Torvaldsland, they are of iron, hinged, and fastened with a rivet

COLLAR, COFFLE (noun): various types of steel collars with rings front and/or back to hook 3 to 4 ft lengths of chain between them; some hinged in the back.

COLLAR, CORD (noun): collar made of cord fashioned from the rence plant it is worn by rencer slaves and carries a small disk to identify the owner.

COLLAR, DANCE (noun): a collar to which light- weight (but effective)chain has been attached in order to set off the dancer; a common type consists of a large oval of chain roughly 3 yds. in circumference, to which wrist cuffs and ankle cuffs are attached; once the two sides of the oval have been attached to a ring on the collar, the chain gives about 36" of play for each hand, and 18" play for each foot; much used in the Tahari

COLLAR, LEATHER LEASH (noun): a leather slave collar with attached which may be used when the slave is to be led, usually for reasons of security.

COLLAR, LOCK (noun): a hinged collar easily removed by the use of a key; usually of flat stock, c. 1-1/2" to 2" high; usually worn by trained slaves; the lock has one pin for each of the letters in the word 'kajira'

COLLAR, MESSAGE (noun): worn by slaves who convey messages, it is a thick, high, leather collar, fashioned by Turians, literally sewn around her throat. Sewn inside, within the leather itself is a message, written on a small piece of rolled rence paper. The slave girl often does not know that her collar carries a message and of course would never know it's contents.

COLLAR, NRTHERN (noun): a utilitarian sounding collar made of black iron with an iron ring to be used if a chain is attached. It is rivited around the neck of the bond-maid.

COLLAR, PLANK (noun): a two-piece board hinged at one end and capable of being locked at the other. It has two or more semi-circular holes cut in each side so that it may fit around the necks of more than one slave girl or captive free woman at one time.

COLLAR, PLATE (noun): collar of flat stock which is hammered about a slave's neck; usually worn by untrained slaves

COLLAR, SHIPPING (noun): a temporary collar showing that the slave girl is part of a cargo.

COLALR, TRANSPORT (noun): a collar with a metal tag attached listing destination or other vital information, to be used during transport of a slave.

COLLAR, TURIAN (noun): a slave collar of cylindrical stock, rather than the normal flat stock of northern lock collars; fits more loosely that a lock collar, enabling it to turn around the wearer's neck

COLLARING FEAST (noun): a private feast for a young tarnsman and his family and friends; held to celebrate the capture of his first slave girl; during it, the girl formally submits to him as his slave, then proceeds to serve him at the Feast and afterwards in his quarters

COMBING CIRCLE (noun): a whimsical method of grooming. A group of kneeling slaves form a circle, each combing the hair of the one in front of her.

COMPANIONSHIP PRICE (noun): the gift, in money or goods, given by a man to the father of the woman he wishes to take in Free Companionship

COMMON SLAVE WAGON (noun): used to transport female slaves, it is covered in yellow and blue canvas with a single central bar running the length of the floor where the girl's ankles are attached; this bar is hinged on one end, near the wagon box, and locked near the wagon's gate.

CONTASTA (adv.; lit. 'from the founding of'): means of determining chronology; equivalent to the Earth term AD (Anno Domini) CONTESTS OF ARMS (noun): gladiatorial contests where men fought to the death were banned in Ar when Kazrak of Port Kar became administrator of that city.

CORCYRUS (noun): a city southwest of Ar, and to the east and somewhat north of Argentum. The ocean is more than one thousand pasangs to the west. It was once ruled by Sheila, a Tatrix and was allied with Cos.

CORDAGE OF CATAPULT (noun): an example of how the female slave on Gor, 'earns her keep'. Even her hair, described as soft, glossy, silky and resilient, stronger than vegetable fibers and more weather resistant, is used, shaved from her head, as raw material for catapult cordage.

COS (noun): an island 400 pasangs west of Port Kar and hundred pasangs north of Tyros; notable for growing ta-grapes on it's terraced hills. The perpetual enemy of Ar. It's capitol city is Telnus. Other cities are Selnar, Temos and Jad. As the western border of known Gor, the waters beyond it are referred to as 'the World's End' by those who have first knowledge. To those Goreans with second knowledge, who are taught that Gor is spheroid, the expression is merely a figure of speech.

COSIANS (noun): derogatory name given to gangs of youth and young ruffians in Ar, affecting Cosian garments and haircuts.

COSIAN WINGFISH (noun): also known as songfish due to its whistling mating song; a tiny blue salt-water fish with 4 poisonous spines on its dorsal fin; found in the waters off Port Kar; its liver is considered a delicacy in Turia.

COTHORNOI (noun): a form of high platform boots worn by an actor as part of his costume.

COUCHING LAW (noun): any Free woman who voluntarily 'couches' with the slave of another may be taken as slave herself by the Master of the slave she 'couched' with.

COUNCIL OF CAPTAINS (noun): the governing body of the city of Port Kar

COUP (noun): the complicated ranking of battle exploits by the Red Savage tribes. The coup earned by an individual are reflected in the feathers and adornment to which he is entitled. Interestingly, killing the enemy ranks far beneath the besting of an enemy. A first warrior who strikes an armed enemy with an open hand is rewarded with the first coup; the 2nd and 3rd man to accomplish this would receive 2nd and 3rd coup. Killing an enemy with a bow and arrow from ambush might be counted as only a fifth or seventh coup. The counting or tallying of coup within the tribe determines his entitlement to certain advantages.

COURAGE SCAR (noun): A facial marking of the warrior of the Wagon Peoples. This scar is the first one applied and without it no other scars can be applied. Each scar is placed by members of the Clan of Scar Makers. The can be read by each tribe of the Wagon Peoples as easily as one reads a newspaper. Each scar represents a act of courage and honor in the wearer's life. The Courage Scar is the highest and most important.

CRAWL POSITION (command): This is very similar to belly but there are differences. She gets down on all fours, her head down and crawls to the Master's feet placing a kiss upon them.

CROSSBOW (noun): called the weapon of the Assassin, it is considered more accurate at short distances. Described as having heavy cable and leaves of steel it can be loaded and kept loaded like a firearm.

CURLA (noun): the red waist cord worn slave girls of the Wagon Peoples; supports the chatka

CUR-LON FIBER (noun): fiber spun by the Swamp Spiders (Spider People) and used in the textile mills of Ar

CURULEAN (noun): the most prestigious slave auction house in the city of Ar

CYLINDER (noun): the primary architectural form of buildings in major Gorean cities; they are of varying heights and colors, flat-topped and cylindrical, connected by narrow, colorful bridges that arch between them.

CYMBALS (noun): There are various sorts similar to the ones found on Earth.

CYPRIANUS ROAD (noun): also called the New West Road it was named for the engineer in charge of building it. It lead to the Sardar fairs from the southwest. It reduced traffic on the Clearchus road, which had always been a dangerous road. The Cyprianus also passes through less rough terrain.

CZEHAR (noun): musical instrument consisting of a flat, oblong box, having 8 strings which are played with a horn pick; similar to a Japanese koto

DA (conj.): here

DANCE, PLACATORY (noun): a dance intended to assuage the anger of a Master. It is usually free-form, depending on the situation. The 'Contrition Dance' of Turia is an example of a formal placatory dance.

DANCING CHAINS (noun): There are many varieties of this chain. Commonly it is a long, light chain with two wrist rings. The chain goes to each wrist ring and also to the collar. The chain will then hang down to about the knees. The purpose of this chain is not to confine the girl but to allow her to incorporate it in her dance. Another type is the oval and collar, a traditional one in the Tahari region. A girl kneels, head down, in a large oval of light gleaming chain, extending her wrists before her. Fastened at the sides of the top of the oval are two wrist rings. At the sides of the lower loop of the oval are two ankle rings. The oval is then pulled inward and the wrist and ankle rings fastened on her. Her throat is then fastened in the dancing collar which has under the chin an open snap ring. With the left hand, the oval is then gathered together so the two strands of chain lie in the palm of the left hand. They are then placed inside the snap ring which is then snapped shut and locked. The two strands of chain flow freely. The wrists are about a yard apart and the ankles eighteen inches.

DAR (adj.): holy; priest

DAR-KOSIS (noun; lit. 'holy disease'): an incurable, wasting disease akin to the Earth disease of leprosy

DAR-KOSIS PIT (noun): a place where those afflicted with Dar-Kosis may voluntarily incarcerate themselves while they die. These huge pits have rudimentary shelter and a well. Once within, the sufferer may never leave. Food and necessities are thrown down from tarnback to help the diseased.

DATE (noun): a staple of the diet of the Tahari Tribesmen; they are sold in a tef (a handful with the 5 fingers closed; a tefa is 6 tefs (a small basket); Five such baskets constitute a huda. In large compressed bricks they are used in trade.

DECK CAGE (noun): small cages fastened to the deck of a ship to transport slaves not kept in hold.

DECK STONES (noun): white smooth soft stones used for sanding boards and decks on ships.

DEGRADATION STRIPE (noun): a 2"-wide band shaved into the hair of men captured by talunas, or panther girls; it runs from the forehead to the nape of the neck

DELKA (noun): 1)fourth letter of the gorean alphabet it corresponds to the Earth letter D and is formed as the Earth 'delta'. 2) Gorean word for delta.

DELTA BRIGADE (noun): a rebel group which quietly fought Cosians with 'resistance' tactics during their occupation of Ar. Their trademark was a bloody 'delka' mark often slashed into the skin of their victims. The existence of this unorganized group began from a comment made in a tavern by Tarl Cabot. The rumor led others, independent of each other, to use similar tactics, which convinced the Cosians of a more concerted effort against them.

DESERT KAIILA (noun): also known as sand kaiila; this omnivorous animal is related to the southern kaiila and similar in most aspects barring pelt color and rearing of young; pelt color is tawny or black and young are suckled for a length of time. The men of the Tahari Desert use this mount.

DICE(noun): many forms of dice games exist on Gor, ranging from those played with a single die to five dice. Various symbols are usually painted on their surfaces. Some are sold in sealed boxes bearing their cities imprint.

DINA (noun): a small, short-stemmed flower indigenous to hillsides; sometimes called the 'slave flower', it is often used as a design for slave brands; sometimes used as a slave name

DISK, GOLDEN TARN (noun): the gold tarn disk of Ar is considered to be the standard by which other cities, such as Ko-Ro-Ba and Port Kar. set the value of their own coinage. It is worth, generally, 10 silver tarsks, but standardization is slight due to the shaving or splitting of the coin as well as faulty scales that contribute to the debasing of the coinage.

DISPLAY CHAIN (noun): slave girls who are sold in groups are put into a chain which may be fastened taut at either end; the girls are spaced on the chain so that they don't crowd together and be more easily displayed; unclothed always.

DISPLAY SLAVE (noun): a slave girl whose primary purpose is for the display of her beauty to reflect the affluence of her Master; often chained in coffle with other display slaves behind the palanquin or other transport of her master

DISPLAY WAGON (noun): flat-bedded and used to transport female slaves, this wagon has a metal framework that allows girls to be chained in alluring positions and viewed easily by those passing; sometimes one end of the wagon is used as an auction block and girls are sold directly off the wagon.

DOCK EEL (noun): a black freshwater fish, 4' long and weighing 8-10 lbs.; carnivorous; they inhabit the shallow waters around the dock and wharves of river ports

OOUBLE FLUTE (noun): a wind instrument.

DOUBLE KNOWLEDGE (noun): the two forms of knowledge provided on Gor; the simpler knowledge is taught to the lower castes, the more esoteric knowledge is taught to the higher castes

DOUBLE LEASHING (noun): a method of slave control. Either two collars with leashes are affixed to her neck, or a collar with a leash on opposite sides is used.

DRUM, RED HUNTER'S (noun): large, heavy, handled and disklike. The frame, made of wood with a cover of Tabuk hide, is struck on the frame with a stick, giving the drum an odd resonance sound.

DUNG SACK (noun): used to contain bosk (or any) dung after it has been raked up or collected; also employed as a punishment when slave girls are forced to 'spend a night in the dung sack'.

DUST LEGS (noun): a tribe of Red Savages which inhabits the Barrens; so called because they were the last tribe to domesticate kaiila

DUTY OF THE TWELVE JOYS (noun): Muls (slaves to the Priest-Kings) wash completely 12 times a day.

 

 

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