A flavor of medieval terminology will give your manuscript the tone it needs to establish the setting and time period of your book. Below are a few words you can layer into your narrative and dialogue.
1) Anon - At once.
2) Aye - Yes.
3) Benefice - A grant of land made by a lord.
4) Castle Guard - A guard in a lord's castle.
5) Craft - A skilled laboror.
6) Hither - hered.
7) Knave - A man who exhibits inappropriate behavior.
8) Manor - Land held by a Lord and worked by a tenant.
9) Nay - No.
10) Peddler - A traveling salesperson.
11) Randy - Promiscuous.
12) Relief - Tax paid by the inheritor of an estate.
13) Score - Twenty years.
14) Shandy - Stupid.
15) Thee - You. Used for familiar people.
16) Thine - Yours.
17) Thither - There.
18)Thou - You. Used formerly.
19) Thy - Your.
20) 'Tis - It is.
21) 'Twas - It was.
22) 'Twill - It will.
23) 'Twould - It would.
24) Tourney - A tournament.
25) Vassal - A servant who has sworn allegiance to an overlord.
26) Wench - A disrespectful term for a woman.
27) Yon - That.
28) Mead - Fermented drink.
29) Beaker - A tall, wide-mouthed goblet.
30) Flagon - A bottle with a lid.
31) Globlet - A bowl-shaped cup with a stem base and no handles.
32) Tankard - A tub-like vessel used to carry water.
33) Vial - A small vessel that held liquids.
34) Joust - A fight between two knights using lances.
35) Banner - A cloth displaying a mark representing knights and noblemen.
36) Bailey - A courtyard inside the castle walls.
37) Ashlar - Smooth stone blocks used for building.
38) Battlement - The wall around the catwalk to protect soldiers.
39) Drum Tower - A round tower built into the wall.
40) Drawbridge - The movable bridge lowered over a moat leading into a castle.
41) Gallery - A passageway or balcony overlooking the great hall.
42) Keep - The main tower.
43) Solar - The private chambers.
44) Bailiff - Oversaw the manor.
45) Minstrel - Sang songs and recited poetry.
46) Clerk - Kept records and accounts.
47) Dairy Maid - Milked cows and made milk.
48) Foot-Soldier - A low-born soldier.
49) Knight - A horse shoulder.
50) Groom - Took care of horses and stables.
51) Nursery Maid - Worked in the nursery.
52) Provost - Royal magistrate.
53) Squire - Oversaw his master's horse and arms.
54) Steward - Oversaw the castle.
55) Wet Nurse - Fed and took care of the babies.
56) Dagger - Double-edged knife.
57) Destrier - A warhorse.
58) Lance - A 14-foot charging spear.
59) Javelin - A throwing spear.
Monday, May 25, 2009
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5 comments:
This is great! I'm printing this ot for future reference!
I've been wondering...is a solar different than a bed chamber? Or the same thing?
Another great resource, Jennifer, which I'm sharing with my friends who write medieval romance.
Sherrinda,
A solar is actually the upper chamber of the house. It can be a bed chamber, but it can also be a storage room, a work room, etc.
Thanks, Keli. I'm glad you're passing the info on to help others.
Thanks, Jennifer!
I love medievl stories but have shied away from writing from that perspective because of the terminology. This is a great starter reference.
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