Pilgrims of Promise: A Novel (The Journey of Souls Series)
Page 52
St. Stephen’s Day, December 26: to honor the martyr.
St. John the Evangelist’s Day, December 27: to honor the disciple.
Miscellaneous Terms
abbess: the female superior of a nunnery.
abbey: an autonomous monastery ruled by an abbot.
abbot: the title given to the superior of an autonomous monks’ community.
alles klar: German for “all is well.”
almoner: an official appointed to distribute alms to the poor.
arpent: a unit of land roughly equivalent to an acre.
assart: the clearing of woodland.
avanti: Italian for “keep moving.”
Ave Maria: Latin referring to a prayer to Mary.
bailey: the inner courtyard of castle.
bailiff: the chief officer of a manor, typically supervising general administration and law enforcement.
balk: an unploughed strip of land serving as a boundary.
bambini: Italian for “children.”
benefice: a grant of land or other wealth.
bienvenues: French for “welcome.”
bitte: German for “please” and “you’re welcome.”
bloody flux: dysentery.
bon: French for “good.”
bowshot: a unit of measurement equivalent to approximately 150 yards.
Bube: German for “little boy.”
castellan: the governor of a castle.
cellarer: a monk charged with providing food stocks for the kitchener.
cerebritis: inflammation of the brain.
chain mail: body armor made of small, interlocking steel rings.
chalice: the cup holding the wine of the Eucharist.
chapter: the daily convening of a religious order for purposes of discipline and administration.
chapter house: the building attached to a monastery facilitating the chapter.
chin cough: whooping cough.
cives: Latin referring to the aristocracy.
cloister: a place of religious seclusion; also a protected courtyard within a monastery.
commotion: concussion.
confiteor: the formal expression of repentance.
congestive chill: accumulation of blood in the vessels.
corruption: infection.
cottager: a bound person of the poorest station.
creels: the gaps in the parapets atop a castle’s ramparts.
croft: a small yard adjacent to a peasant’s cottage, normally used to grow vegetables.
demesne: the land of a manor managed exclusively for the lord.
dowry: originally a gift of property granted by a man to his bride as security for her old age or widowhood.
ell: a unit of measurement equivalent to 4 feet.
flail: a hinged stick used for threshing wheat; also a weapon consisting of a long rod with a swinging appendage on a hinge.
forester: a manorial officer managing the lord’s woodland, usually under the supervision of the woodward.
frater: Latin for “brother.”
Frau: German for “wife,” “Mrs.,” or “woman.”
furlong: a unit of measurement equivalent to 220 yards.
glaive: a weapon with a blade attached to a shaft.
glebe: a parcel of land owned by the Church for the benefit of a parish.
Gloria Dei: Latin for “praise God.”
gratia: Latin for “grace.”
grippe: influenza.
halberd: a lance-like weapon.
hauberk: a heavy, sometimes quilted protective garment usually made of leather.
Hausfrau: German for “housewife.”
hayward: an official charged with supervising the management of the fields.
hectare: a unit of land measurement roughly equivalent to 2 1/2 acres.
herbarium: the building in a monastery where herbs were stored.
heriot: death tax.
Herr: German for “husband,” “Mr.,” or “man.”
hide: a unit of land equaling about 120 acres.
hogshead: a unit of volume equivalent to 2 barrels.
holding: typically, heritable land granted to a vassal.
Holy See: the seat of papal authority.
Ich bin: German for “I am.”
In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti: Latin for “in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
ja: German for “yes.”
Junge: German for “boy.”
Kind/Kinder: German for “child/children.”
king’s evil: swelling of neck glands.
kitchener: the monastery’s food overseer.
lago: Italian for “lake.”
league: a unit of measurement equivalent to 3 miles,
list: the area of castle grounds located beyond the walls.
Mädel/Mädchen: German for “maiden/young girl.”
manor: the land of a lord consisting of his demesne and tenant’s holdings.
manumission: the fee required to buy freedom from the lord; also the act by which freedom is granted.
mark: a unit of weight or money equaling roughly 8 ounces of silver.
matrona: Italian for “mother” or “woman.”
mead: a fermented beverage made from honey and water.
mein Gott/mein Gott in Himmel: German for “my God/my God in heaven.”
merchet: a tax paid for the privilege of marriage.
merlon: the solid segments in the gapped parapets atop a castle’s ramparts
milites: Latin referring to the military class.
milk leg: inflammation of the leg.
monastery: a religious house organized under the authority of the Holy See.
morbus: disease.
mormal: gangrene.
mortal sin: according to the Roman Church, a sin so heinous as to rupture the state of grace between a Christian and God.
Mus: German for “mush,” a dish of boiled grains.
Mutti: German for “mommy” or “mama.”
novice: a new member of a religious community undergoing an apprenticeship of sorts and not yet fully committed by vows.
nunnery: a religious house for nuns; a convent.
oath-helper: a person who pledges his or her word in support of an accused.
oblate: a child given to a monastery for upbringing.
ordeal: a method of trial by which the accused was given a physical test to determine guilt.
Ordnung: German for “order.”
paten: the dish on which the bread of the Eucharist is placed.
pater: Latin for “father.”
Pater Noster: Latin referring to the Lord’s Prayer.
Pfennig: German for “penny.”
plenary indulgence: according to the Roman Church, the remitting of temporal punishment due for sins already forgiven by God.
portcullis: the iron grate dropped along vertical grooves to defend a gate,
postulant: a candidate for membership in a religious order.
pottage: a brothy soup, usually of vegetables and grains.
poultice: an herb-soaked compress.
pound: an accounting measurement of money equaling 20 shillings, or 240 pennies; a pound of silver.
prior: the official ranked just below an abbot; sometimes the superior of a community under the jurisdiction of a distant abbey.
putrid fever: diphtheria.
pyx: the box in which the Eucharist is kept.
quinsey: tonsillitis.
reeve: a village chief, usually elected by village elders.
refectory: the dining hall of a monastery.
rod: a measurement equivalent to 6 feet.
routier: mercenary.
scapular: a long smock worn over the front and back of a monk’s habit.
scriptorium: the building in a monastery where books were maintained and copied.
scrofulous: skin disease.
scutage: a tax paid by a freeman in lieu of military service obligations to his lord.
see: the seat of ecclesiastical authority, i.e., bishop.
serf: a bound person of little means.
shilling: an accounting measurement of money valued at 12 pennies.
signora: Italian for “lady” or “Mrs.”
signore: Italian for “gentleman” or “Mr.”
Spiritus Sanctus: Latin for “Holy Spirit.”
St. Anthony’s Fire: skin infection.
St. Vitus’ Dance: nervous twitches.
steward: a chief overseer of a manor, typically including legal and financial matters.
Stube: German for “parlor.”
tithing: a unit of 10 persons.
tonsure: the shaving of the crown of the head to signify Christ’s crown of thorns; received as part of religious vows.
trebuchet: a catapult.
trencher: a flat board used as a plate.
tunic: a garment worn as an overshirt, typically hooded, sleeved, and belted outside the leggings.
vassal: a freeman who held land from a lord in exchange for his oath of fealty, usually obligated to perform military service.
Vati/Vater: German for “daddy/father.” vattene: Italian for “hurry along” or “leave.”
vellein: a bound person of some means owing labor to his lord and subject to certain taxes.
veniali sin: according to the Roman Church, a sin that interferes with a Christian’s fellowship with God, though not serious enough to violate the state of grace.
vielen dank: German for “many thanks.”
virgate: 1/4 of a hide; considered the minimum amount of land necessary to support one peasant family for one year.
Volk: German for “people.”
wattle-and-daub: construction material consisting of woven sticks and clay.
whitlow: boils.
winter fever: pneumonia.
woodward: a manorial overseer of the lord’s woodland.
wunderbar: German for “wonderful.”
yeoman: a free farmer of modest means.