Post by Silversoul on May 7, 2010 20:55:16 GMT -7
Terminology
General Terms
Crowfood or crow-food – A dead prey animal that has begun to rot. Can also be used as an insult (see below).
Fresh-kill – A recently killed prey animal caught for the purpose of consumption. Fresh-kill is hunted by Hunters and Tenderpaws, and given first to the Elders, then the Den Mothers, and finally Hunters and Tenderpaws.
Gathering – The monthly meeting of the Clan held at places assigned as zones of truce every two full moons.
Hunting Patrol – A group of cats hunting for fresh-kill to bring back for their Clan to eat.
Border Patrol - A group of cats designated to patrol the borders of their Clan's Territory to keep it safe.
Loner – A cat that lives by itself and doesn't usually defend its territory; not hostile to Clan cats.
Making Dirt - Going to the bathroom.
Celestius Caverns/Soulstream – The place where the river flows from the mountains. Khans and Healers come here to share dreams with Soulclan.
Rogue – A usually hostile cat who does not have a permanent home, and roams around, not caring about crossing Clan boundaries.
Sharing Tongues – Cats grooming each other, while sharing the latest gossip. A cat lies on the ground, talking, while the other grooms their fur, listening.
Silversky – The large swath of stars in the sky. These stars are a direct representation of Soulclan.
Time Terms
New-leaf - The season of spring.
Green-leaf - The season of summer.
Leaf-fall - The season of autumn or fall.
Leaf-bare - The season of winter.
Moon - The time between one full moon and the next, spanning 28 days.
Moonhigh - Midnight.
Half-Moon - About two weeks, half a month.
Quarter-Moon - About a week.
Sunhigh - The point during the day when the sun is highest in the sky; noon.
Sunrise - One day in cat time (i.e.: One sunrise ago).
Season - One-fourth of a year in cat time. Four seasons equal a year.
Distance Terms
Fox-length - About the length of a fox; approximately a yard
Tail-length - About the length of a cat's tail; approximately a foot
Rabbit hop - About a foot and a half away
Mouse-tail - About an inch
Mouse-length - About two or three inches
Pawprint - About the length of a cat's paw; approximately three and a half inches
Pawstep - About the length of a cat's step, roughly six inches
Tree-length - About the length of a tree; around 40 to 50 feet.
Insults and Exclamations
Crowfood - A (harsh) insult comparing the recipient to rotting prey animals (as in I'll turn you into crowfood!), or suggesting that they eat them (as in crowfood-eater).
Feli-fish - An insult used against Nightclan, suggesting that they are more akin to fish than cats.
Fox-dung - A (harsh) insult comparing the recipient to fox feces. Also used as an exclamation (as in That's fox-dung!).
Hedgehogs will fly - An exclamation style statement that shows disbelief that a certain event will likely occur (as in That will happen when hedgehogs fly), used in many variations. Somewhat like the human phrase When pigs fly!
You fight like a kit! - a expression used to make fun of someone who fights or hunts poorly.
Mouse-brain - A (friendly-harsh) insult. Severity of the insult is almost always decided by tone..
Mouse-dung - A (somewhat harsh) insult comparing the recipient to mouse feces. Also used as an exclamation (as in Mousedung! That can't be right!). Somewhat like "Darn it!"
Mouse-hearted - An insult that describes one who is cowardly.
Fox-hearted - An insult meaning cruel, cold-hearted, or evil.
Sorry catches no prey or Sorry fills no bellies - Means cats can be sorry, but that will not undo what happened.
Bees in your brain - An exclamation meaning a confused or a cat not making sense (i.e. Have bees swarmed in your brain?)
I don't give a mousetail - An exclamation meaning that the cat does not care. Another variation is I would ____ for a couple of mousetails meaning that they are willing to do the inserted action for no real reward
Great Soulclan! - An exclamation used to signify extreme surprise or anger. Similar to Oh My God! in usage and to the fact that they both have mention of a higher force.
Soulclan's kits! – An exclamation of surprise or disbelief. Sometimes used as an exclamation if a cat is hurt.
What in Soulclan's name?- A exclamation similar to "What on earth?" or "What in the world?".
Furball - A friendly or harsh insult for a cat (as in stupid furball, bossy furball or lazy furball).
Doesn't matter a whisker - An exclamation meaning the cat does not care, (i.e. it didn't matter a whisker that she didn't share their beliefs) similar to I don't give a mousetail.
Living Spaces
Camp - The place where a Clan makes their permanent home.
Khan's Den - The den in camp that belongs to the Clan Khan.
Healer Den - The den in camp that belongs to the Healer and his or her Tenderpaw.
Hunter Den - The den in camp that is shared between the warriors and Tenderpaws of that Clan
Elder's Den - The den in camp that is shared between the elders of that Clan
Kitting Den - The den in camp that is shared by the queens and kits of that Clan
Dirtplace – The place near, but not in the camp, where the cats go to the bathroom
Fresh-kill pile – The place, usually in the center of the camp, where the Hunters drop the prey they caught while hunting, so it is easily accessible to all the cats in the Clan
Base Terminology © Erin Hunter