Pilgrims of Promise: A Novel (The Journey of Souls Series)

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Pilgrims of Promise: A Novel (The Journey of Souls Series) Page 52

by C. D. Baker

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.

 

 

 


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