by Robin Furth
LADY ORIZA: See LADY OF THE PLATE, above, and ORIZA, below
LAKE-BOAT MART: The lake-boat marts are wide flatboats that are paddle-wheel-driven and gaily painted. They are covered with shops and float down the River Whye, selling wares. According to Gran-pere Jaffords, some of the women who work on these boats are as dark-skinned as Susannah Dean. V:211
LAST TIME PAYS FER ALL: Gran-pere Jaffords uses this term to express his desire for vengeance against the WOLVES. When the Wolves descend this last time, he says, the people of the CALLA will pay them back for all their previous attacks. V:369
LEG-BREAKERS (LEG-SMASHERS): These are the holes found in LOOSE GROUND. Leg-breakers are often nestled in innocent-looking weeds and high grass, so they can easily trap unwary or hurried people. Animals fall foul of them as well. There are many leg-breakers in Son of a Bitch, Tian Jaffords’s worthless field. V:2, V:347
LEGBROKE: If you are lying on the ground legbroke, you have broken your leg. V:1
LEG-SMASHER: See LEG-BREAKERS , above
LIGHT-STICKS: These are the fire-hurling weapons used by the WOLVES. They look like the light sabers used in the Star Wars films. V:26, V:151
LOAD (THE LOAD): This term describes the stance taken by a woman (or boy) about to throw two ORIZAS at once. The stance was invented by Susannah Dean, but it was named by Margaret Eisenhart. VII:83
LONG DAYS AND PLEASANT NIGHTS: See entry in MID-WORLD ARGOT
LOOK HERE AT US, DO YA, AND SAY THANKEE: “Look at this” or “Look at what we’ve done.” V:156
LOOSE GROUND: This term is used by the old folks of Calla Bryn Sturgis to describe ground riddled with holes and underground caves. The holes are called LEG-BREAKERS. Some of the Calla FOLKEN believe that bogarts live in the caves under loose ground. V:2
LOW COACHES: Like BUCKA WAGGONS, a low coach is a type of horsedrawn vehicle used in the CALLAS. (For BUCKA WAGGON, see entry in MID-WORLD ARGOT.) V:21
LOW COMMALA: See KI’BOX and COMMALA, both above
MADRIGAL: Tian Jaffords wants to grow this valuable crop in his field known as Son of a Bitch. But like PORIN, which his mother dreamed would grow in this rock-strewn waste-ground, it will probably die. The only thing that Tian is likely to grow in Son of a Bitch is a good crop of blisters. V:1
MAN JESUS: This is the CALLAS’ term for Jesus. It can also be used as a curse. V:6
MANY AND MANY-A: See entry in MID-WORLD ARGOT
MAY I SPELL YE A BIT?: Shall I take a turn? V:129
MAY IT DO YA FINE: This can be used in place of “you’re welcome.” V:133, V:219, V:320, V:373
MAY THE SUN NEVER FALL IN YOUR EYES: See entry in MID-WORLD ARGOT
MAYHAP: See entry in MID-WORLD ARGOT
MIDS, THE: Another term for Mid-World, which lies to the west of the BORDERLANDS. V:25
MID-SUMMER: See entry in MID-WORLD ARGOT
MILK-SICK: This disease affects milk cows. It can kill them. V:8
MOIT: See entry in MID-WORLD ARGOT
MORTATA: Literally speaking, the mortata is the death dance. It is the opposite of the RICE DANCE (or COME-COME-COMMALA), which celebrates the fecundity of the rice. Some of the Calla FOLKEN suspect that Roland dances the mortata even better than he dances the commala. They have a point. V:607
MUMBLETY-PEG: See entry in MID-WORLD ARGOT
MUSICA: See entry in MID-WORLD ARGOT
NAR: No. V:332
NAY (NAYYUP): No. V:225, V:402
NEW EARTH: See entry in MID-WORLD ARGOT
NOBBUT (HE WON’T HAVE NOBBUT TO DO WITH ME): Nothing (he won’t have anything to do with me). V:346
NUMMORE: No more, or no longer. V:322
NUP: No. V:209
OGGAN: This is the smooth-packed dirt used to make roads. V:654, VI:25, VI:272
OPOPANAX: Whenever a male resident of Calla Bryn Sturgis has something important to share with the FOLKEN, he sends around the opopanax feather. If enough men touch the feather, then a meeting is held at the Town Gathering Hall. The feather is a rust-red, ancient plume. In our world, the opopanax is not a kind of bird but a gum resin used in perfumery. In the novel Black House, the word opopanax becomes a sinister mantra for the main character, Jack Sawyer. As he states near the beginning of the book, “I’m falling apart. Right here and now. Forget I said that. The savage opopanax has gripped me in its claws, shaken me with the fearful opopanax of its opopanax arms, and intends to throw me into the turbulent Opopanax River, where I shall meet my opopanax.” V:20–21
ORIZA: An Oriza is a plate made from a light metal alloy, probably titanium. Unlike most plates, Orizas aren’t made for dining but for flinging. In fact, the deadly Orizas—which are manufactured by the ladies of Calla Sen Chre and thrown by the SISTERS OF ORIZA—are the deadliest weapons found in any of the CALLAS.
The Sisters of Oriza practice plate-throwing in memory of Lady Oriza, Goddess of the Rice, who invited her father’s murderer over to dinner and then sliced off his head by flinging her specially made plate at him. Orizas are decorated with a delicate blue webbing which depicts the seedling rice plant. Two of the rice stalks on the edge of the plate cross, forming the Great Letter ZN, which means both “here” and “now.” Luckily, the letter Zn also marks the one edge which is safe to hold. (Otherwise, an unwary person might absentmindedly pick up a plate and slice off a finger.) Beneath the plate is a small whistle, so the plate sings as it flies through the air. Interestingly enough, the Orizas bear a strong resemblance to a plate once owned by Susannah Dean’s maternal aunt, Sister Blue. Detta Walker broke this forspecial plate in a fit of temper. For page references, see ORIZA, SISTERS OF, in CHARACTERS
OTTEN ELSE (I NEVER CONSIDERED OTTEN ELSE): Anything else (I never considered anything else). V:615
OUT-WORLD: To the people of Calla Bryn Sturgis, Out-World refers to the area west of the BORDERLANDS, close to Mid-World-that-was. V:8
PARD: Pardner, partner, or comrade. V:655
PEAK SEAT: See entry in MID-WORLD ARGOT
PLEASANT DAYS AND MAY THEY BE LONG UPON THE EARTH: This greeting is a variant of MAY YOUR DAYS BE LONG UPON THE EARTH, a phrase heard all over Mid-World. If someone greets you in this manner, your response should be “And may you have twice the number.” V:3
PLOW-BREAKER (PLOW-BUSTER): A large fieldstone. V:2, V:349
POISON FLURRY: Poison flurry is a lot like poison ivy—the bane of Boy Scouts. If you find yourself needing to squat in Mid-Forest, make sure you don’t wipe with this particular plant. Otherwise, you will develop a rash in a very uncomfortable place. V:137, V:644
PORIN: This is a spice of great worth. Tian Jaffords’s mother thought it would grow in the family field known as Son of a Bitch. Unfortunately, the only things able to grow in that field are rocks, blisters, and busted hopes. V:1
PULLS: Corn-shuck wraps used for rolling tobacco. V:320
REAP: See entry in MID-WORLD ARGOT
RICE SONG/RICE DANCE: The Rice Song and the Rice Dance (jointly known as the COMMALA) are sung, danced, and loved throughout Mid-World. They celebrate the planting of rice and are (in essence) a fertility rite. For page references, See COMMALA, above
RIM: See GRAND CRESCENT, above
’RIZA (BY ’RIZA): Lady ORIZA is the rice goddess, who is worshipped all over Mid-World. By ’Riza is equivalent to by God. It can also be used in a stronger fashion. If you cry out because your “by ’Riza” eyes have been hurt, you mean your “goddamned eyes” have been hurt. Also, when the SISTERS OF ORIZA throw their sharpened plates (known as ORIZAS), they often cry “’Riza!” as they fling. V:360, V:572
ROCK CAT: Rock cat is the CALLA term for the wild cats that live in the desert east of the River Whye. Roland thinks they are probably pumas or cougars. Rock cat bile is the secret ingredient in Rosa Munoz’s arthritis rub. V:340
ROONT: In Calla Bryn Sturgis, as in the other CALLAS of the CRESCENT, twins are the norm and singletons are rarities. Once a generation, the green-cloaked WOLVES sweep out of Thunderclap to kidnap one of every
pair of prepubescent twins. Most of the children are returned, but they are returned roont, or ruined.
A roont child is a mentally handicapped child. Few of them can speak. Some cannot be toilet-trained. No matter how bright children were before being taken to Thunderclap, they return mentally challenged and with a central part of themselves missing. The roonts grow to prodigious size, but they die young. For roonts, both growing and dying is excruciatingly painful. For page references, see CALLA BRYN STURGIS CHARACTERS: ROONTS, in CHARACTERS
RUSTIES: See entry in MID-WORLD ARGOT
SALIDE: Although we’re not told exactly what a salide is, it seems likely that it’s either a blanket or cloak. V:234
SAUCY SUSAN: Saucy Susan is a flower with a lemony, faintly astringent smell. Rosa Munoz keeps a few sprigs of Saucy Susan in her privy. V:475
SAY SORRY: Sorry. VI:209
SAY THANKYA (SAY THANKEE, SAY THANKYA BIG-BIG): “Thank you,” “Thanks,” or “Thanks a lot!” V:124, V:130, V:143, V:265
SAY TRUE?: Do you mean it? Really? V:583, VII:129
SEEN THE BOAT SHE CAME IN: Although Roland thinks about this phrase in New York, it originates in Calla Bryn Sturgis. It comments on striking family resemblances. VII:493
SEMINON: This is the name given to the CALLA’s late-autumn windstorms, the ones that come just before true winter. In the Calla they say, “Seminon comin’, warm days go runnin’.” Lord Seminon is also the name of a God whom Lady ORIZA wanted to marry. However, Lord Seminon preferred Oriza’s sister, and Oriza never forgave him. See SEMINON, LORD, and ORIZA, LADY, both under ORIZA, LADY, in CHARACTERS
’SENERS: See entry in MID-WORLD ARGOT
SET US ON WITH A WORD: Say grace for us. See also WILL YOU NOT SET ME ON WITH A WORD, in MID-WORLD ARGOT. V:354
SHARPROOT: See entry in MID-WORLD ARGOT
SHOOTING-IRON: See entry in MID-WORLD ARGOT
SHOR’BOOTS: The heavy clodhoppers, or short boots, worn in the CALLA. V:14, V:18, V:21, V:136
SHORT BEER: In Calla Bryn Sturgis, a short beer is a beer served in a small water glass. V:656
SINCE TIME WAS TOOTHLESS: A great phrase that basically means “since before anyone can remember” or “forever.” V:360
SINGLETON: A child born without a twin. In Calla Bryn Sturgis, singletons, and not twins, are the rarities. V:21, V:113, V:344
SINGLETS: See entry in MID-WORLD ARGOT
SISTERS OF ORIZA: The Sisters of Oriza are a female society, or network, found throughout the CALLAS of the BORDERLANDS. Although they function like a ladies’ auxiliary—catering for town events, gossiping, etc.—their true purpose is to practice throwing sharpened, plate-like ORIZAS in honor of Lady Oriza, goddess of the rice. The deadly skills of the Sisters help Roland and his KA-TET defeat the WOLVES in the final showdown on East Road. For page references, see ORIZA, SISTERS OF, in CHARACTERS
SLAGGIT!: A curse. It must be a bad one, since Gran-pere Jaffords’s use of it at the dinner table makes the children giggle. V:355
SMALLHOLDS: The small family-run farms of the CALLA. Most of them are located on the fertile banks of the River Whye. V:208
SMALL-SMALL (SAY ANY SMALL-SMALL, AN’ SNAY DOWN SMALL-SMALL): Very small. V:347, V:353, V:361
SMOKEWEED: Tobacco. V:403
SNEETCHES (BUZZ-BALLS, STEALTHIES): These flying metal balls are some of the most fearsome weapons used by the invading WOLVES against the people of the CALLAS. The sneetches seek their targets, and once they lock on, they put forth whirling blades that are as sharp as razors and can strip a man of flesh in five seconds. As Jake Chambers and Eddie Dean find out when they take a close look at one of these weapons, they are based upon the snitches found in the Harry Potter novels. Although neither Eddie nor Jake know who Harry Potter is (they left our world too early), both would have been interested to find out that the original snitches are little gold balls used in the game of Quidditch and aren’t dangerous at all. (That is, unless you fall out of the sky while chasing one.) V:26, V:151, VI:25
SNUG: A snug is a small cottage. VI:13
SO I DO: This is yet another of the rhetorical phrases used in the CALLA. People tack it on the end of sentences. For example, someone might look at a dying fire and maintain, “I see a few sparks yet, so I do.” V:127
SO IT IS: This is another phrase which the Calla FOLKEN tack on the end of sentences. It emphasizes what a person has just uttered. This phrase can also mean “you’re right.” V:226
SOF’ CALIBERS: Sof’ calibers are guns which are too old or too rusty to shoot. Given that sof’ commala refers to a man who can no longer make iron at the proverbial feminine forge, you’d better be pretty damn sure that a man’s calibers are sof’ before you tell him they are. Otherwise, he might be so insulted that he shoots you. V:20
SPEAK A WORD O’BEGGARY: If you speak a word o’ beggary to someone, you’re crossing them, defying them, or arguing with them. V:359
SPEAK YOU WELL: This can either mean “you speak well” or be a request that you “speak well.” V:216
SPEAKIES: A breed of demon found in the caves beneath LOOSE GROUND. V:2
SPELL YE (MAY I SPELL YE ON THAT CHAIR A BIT?): See MAY I SPELL YE, above
SPRIGGUM: Rosalita Munoz puts spriggum from the swamp into her CAT-OIL (her arthritis rub). We’re not told what spriggum is, but we know it must be potent. V:243
SQUABBOT: This is part of a phrase uttered by an angry Neil Faraday during one of the Town Gathering Hall meetings held in Calla Bryn Sturgis. When Roland and his tet try to convince the townsfolk to stand up to the WOLVES, a cynical Faraday responds, “‘Ay’ll take ’een babbies anyroa’ and burn ’een squabbot town flat.” Roland and his friends find Faraday’s accent almost incomprehensible, but it’s obvious that he thinks that the Wolves, and not our tet, will triumph. Luckily, he’s wrong. V:611
STEALTHIES: See SNEETCHES, above
STUBBORN AS A STICK: Incredibly stubborn. V:329
STUFF YOUR PRATTLE: Shut up. V:572
STUFFY-GUYS: See entry in MID-WORLD ARGOT
SURELY YOU’VE GOT A MOIT MORE GUTS THAN THAT: See entry in MID-WORLD ARGOT
SWARD (GREENSWARD): A sward is an expanse of short grass. Hence, a greensward is an expanse of short green grass. V:614
TA’EN: Taken. V:149
TELL GODS THANKEE (TELL THE GODS THANKEE): “Thank God” or “praise be to God” or “thankfully.” V:149, V:206
TELL IT ANY OLD WAY IT DOES YA FINE: This is a soothing and reassuring phrase which is meant to set a person at ease so that he or she can tell the tale that needs telling. V:265
TELL ME, I BEG: Tell me. V:225
THANKEE-SAI: See entry in MID-WORLD ARGOT
THANKYA BIG-BIG: “Thank you very much!” V:312
THAT BEATS THE DRUM! DON’T IT JUST: This saying is equivalent to a rather strange phrase found in our world—“that just takes the cake.” V:353
THE JIMMY JUICE I DRANK LAST NIGHT: A song sung in the CALLA. Andy the Messenger Robot likes to sing it. V:141
THOSE WHO HOLD CONVERSATION WITH THEMSELVES KEEP SORRY COMPANY: In other words, you shouldn’t talk to yourself. V:207
THROAT-TAPPING: See entry in MID-WORLD ARGOT
THROG: See IT SPLIT THROG, above
TIME HAS SOFTENED: See entry in MID-WORLD ARGOT
TO LEAD US ALL TO BLUNDER WI’ NO WAY BACK: To lead us into imminent danger with no way out. V:133
TODASH: See entry in HIGH SPEECH
TONGUE-WHIPPING: A tongue-lashing. V:572
TRIG: Clever. Trig implies an ability to read and understand other people’s thoughts and motivations. It can also imply slyness. V:656
TRUE AS EVER WAS: Absolutely true. V:367
TRUM: See entry in MID-WORLD ARGOT
’TWERE: “It was.” For example, “’Twere his eyes that frightened me.” V:131
TWIN-TELEPATHY: Twin-telepathy describes the telepathy—or thought-sharing—which twins often experience. In the later books of the Dark Tower series, we find out t
hat the WOLVES steal twins so that the servants of the Crimson King can harvest the brain chemical which causes twin-telepathy. They then feed this chemical (in pill form) to the BREAKERS working in the DEVAR-TOI. V:580
UNFOUND DOOR: An Unfound Door has the symbol for “unfound” written upon it. The magical portal in the CAVE OF VOICES bears this mark. For page references, see DOORWAY CAVE and DOORWAYS BETWEEN WORLDS: THE ARTIST’S DOOR, both in PORTALS
WEIRDLING WEATHER: Strange or ominous weather. V:601
WELL-MET: See entry in MID-WORLD ARGOT
WHAT IS IT FASHES AND DIDDLES THEE S’SLOW, OAFING: What is it that upsets you and makes you so slow? V:603
WILL IT DRAW WATER?: Will it work? V:491
WITTLES AND RATIONS: Food. V:358
WOLF’S EVE: The night before the WOLVES attack. V:608
WOLVES: The green-cloaked predators who come sweeping out of Thunderclap every generation to steal one of each pair of prepubescent twins born into the CALLAS of the GRAND CRESCENT. The Wolves ride gray horses and wear masks which look like the faces of snarling wolves, yet their bodies resemble those of giant men. At the end of Wolves of the Calla, we find out that the Wolves are actually robots, and beneath their clothing they look a lot like Andy, Calla Bryn Sturgis’s treacherous Messenger Robot. For page references, see WOLVES, in CHARACTERS
YAR: Yes. V:131
YE: You. V:411
YE DARE NOT: You wouldn’t dare. V:411
YEAR END GATHERING: See entry in MID-WORLD ARGOT
YER BUGGER: The equivalent of “You bet your ass.” V:149, V:151, V:222–23
YON: “Over yonder.” V:207
YOU SAY TRUE AND I SAY THANKYA (YOU SPEAK TRUE AND I SAY THANKEE): “You speak truth and I say thank you.” Also, “I agree with you.” V:310
ZN: See entry in HIGH SPEECH
END-WORLD TERMS
ALGUL SIENTO: See DEVAR-TOI, below
ASIMOV ROBOTS: Intelligent robots, such as Nigel and Andy, built by North Central Positronics. Logic faults are quite common in these models. VII:156
BASCOMB: A type of wicker basket that has a lid and handles. It is a TAHEEN word. VII:347
