The Dictionary of SCA Slang
by Ioseph of Locksley

The Common Speech of any sub-culture uses technical terms and slang that indicates solidarity among the membership. The SCA is no exception.

This is by no means a complete list of slang terms used in the SCA, nor do I pretend that all of these terms are used everywhere in the Known Worlde, but these are the ones I have found so far.

[Editor's Note: Additional contributers; Awilda Halfdane (AH), Caroline ?? (C), Dagonell Collingwood (DC), Damin de Folo (DF), Ioseph of Locksley (IL), Johnathan ?? (J), Steffan ap Cennydd of Silverwing (SC), ]

I have avoided including specialized terms used in sub-systems of the SCA that the average member would not come in contact with, nor have I listed medieval/Renaissance terms that were used in period. Most of what we have here is slang of the Current Middle Ages. Enjoy!

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

AA: n., acronym: Award of Arms (regional slang, western kingdoms)
ALPHABET SOUP: n., The list of abbreviations you are entitled to list behind your name representing awards you have received. (Obvious use of your alphabet soup is considered somewhat gauche.) (For examples, see AA, AOA, GOA.) (AH)
ANNO SOCIETATIS: n., (Latin) "in the year of the Society" (C)
AOA: n., acronym: Award of Arms, written "AoA." (regional slang, eastern kingdoms and Atenveldt)
ARCH: v., to do archery (AH)
ARMADILLO SUIT: n., scale armour (regional slang, Greater Atenveldt)
A.S. or AS: n., acronym: ANNO SOCIETATIS (C)
ASCAC: n. (Fr.), Canadian French for SCA.
ATROCITY: n., a well known tune that has had its words rewritten to give a humorous version of SCA or Science Fiction fandom. (AH)
ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT: n., a process, either verbal or physical, wherein an individual's unacceptable behaviour is discussed and, hopefully, changed.
AUTOCRAT: n. or v., the person in charge of making an event of the SCA happen, usually harrassed.

B

BAMBOO BUNNY: n., one who fights shenai and tends towards Japanese-Fantasy personas (semi-derogatory).
BARN DOOR: n., see DOOR SHIELD
BASH: v., participate in armored combat (SC)
BELTS: n., the Chivalry; the "belted-fighters;" the Knights and Masters of Arms.
BLATANCY: n., A particularly un-subtle subtlety. For example, a four foot tall pastry castle, with sugar crystal windows bearing the arms of all of the local peerage.
BRASS HAT: n., anyone entilted to wear a coronet or crown, derived from US military slang, where the original brass hat refers to officers (who have gold braid on their caps) (AH)
BRASS MOUTH: n., a herald (AH)
BOD: n., acronym: the Board of Directors of the SCA, written "BoD."
BUNNY: n., a female whose costume seems to be made out of the skin of one rabbit. See RABBIT. (AH)

C

CAIDAN BLUE: see TRANYA
CAN OPENER: n., someone who can hit hard enough for TIN CANS to accept blows from him; a heavy rattan weapon. (AH)
C.E.: "Common Era," used to identify the year in preference to "A.D."
C.E.: "Common Era," the accepted religion-neutral form for A.D. ("In the year of Our Lord [i.e. Jesus Christ]). It is preferred by many Jews and other non-Christians. (SC) CHAINMAIL MAMA: n., a woman fighter (AH)
CHIURGEON: n., a medic. The pronunciation is controversial, "surgeon" or "ki-RUR-jun." [Ed. note: As AEthelmearc's first Scout Commander, I taught the Eastern scouts to deliberately mis-pronounce it as "KI-ur-jon" on the battlefield, because it's impossible to bellow the "sh" sound.] (IL) (SC) (DC)
CLEAR!: imperative v., Danger! LIVE STEEL in use!
CONAN-CLONE: n., a person attempting to be Arnie the Barbarian, or a female equivalent, usually in a MARVEL COSTUME.
CORONET, THE: n., The Prince and Princess
CROWN, THE: n., The King and Queen
CROWNIE, CROWN POLISHER: n., a female who pursues STICK-JOCKS that stand a chance of winning a HATTED LIST (derogatory).

D

DAMMBOD: n., the Board of Directors of the SCA (derogatory)
DAMP: adj., Wine/beer allowed
DANGLIES: n., tokens worn as necklaces representing awards you have recieved. (Usually minor or kingdom-level awards. Does not include the peer's tokens.)
DOOR SHIELD: n., a rectangular shield the height of the fighter, shaped much like a door.
DRAGON: n., 1) airplane (regional slang) 2) car/truck/van (regional slang) 3) submarine 4) a Canadian dollar bill (regional slang, northern AEthelmearc) [The East/Middle border is also the the U.S./Canada border, hence, 1 dragon = 1 Canadian dollar, 1 tyger = 1 American dollar] (DC)
DRAGON'S TOOTH: n., a cigarette lighter
DRY: adj., No alcohol allowed.
DUCK: n., a Duke (weighs the same as a piece of wood, or a Very Small Rock, or a Witch: see "Monty Python and the Holy Grail")
DUCKESS: n., a Duchess
DUKE FEVER: n., the wanting to be a Duke, usually by a Count.

E

ELVEN BOX: n., see MAGIC BOX
ELVEN MAIL: n., chain-mail made from titanium
ELVEN TIMEPIECE: n., wrist watch (regional, eastern kingdoms) (J)
ELVEN TORCH: n., flashlight or coleman lantern (regional, eastern kingdoms) (J)
ELVEN WEAPON: n., a mundane weapon
ERIC: n., the marked-off fighting area. derived from it's original red colour, therefore, "Eric the Red." (regional slang)
EVENT: n., an official function of the SCA.

F

FAIRYTALE COSTUME: n., PERIOD-looking, but not authentic or accurate (not always derogatory)
FARBEL: n., an inauthentic member. From "FARB-be it from me to question the authenticity of your costume....", etc. (SC)
FAR-SPEAKER: n., Telephone
FAVOUR: n., a token given to a fighter to show that fighter fights for a particular individual; a token given from friendship.
FEASTOCRAT: n., the AUTOCRAT in charge of the feast at an EVENT. (IL) This term (and other "X-o-Crat" terms) is an abomination. Call them by their proper title: the Chief Cook. (SC)
FIELD: n., the fighting area within the ERIC; a term in Heraldry
FIGHT RATTAN: v., participate in armored combat (SC)
FIGHTER PRACTICE: n., casual SCA meeting, garb usually not required, usually held weekly.
FILK: v., To sing well-known tunes with rewritten words. Equivalent to the western ATROCITY.
FILK-SONG: n., A song with rewritten words.
FINE IRISH FOOD: n., the local McDonald's. [Ed. note: see SCOTTISH PLACE, THAT.
FIRE CHARIOT: n., automobile
FOP: n., Someone wearing fancy garb, usually post-1600.
FORCE, THE: n., Duct tape (IL) Also "the Holy Ribbon of St. Tenacious" and myriad variations. (SC)
FUBBA-WUBBA: Part of me is offended and part of me loves this one.... FORSOOTHLY, TO SPEAK: v., to modify modern speech patterns in such a way as to replicate or approximate period speech.
FREAK: v., to interact with the MUNDANE world while in GARB and PERSONA, usually done in groups; to "FREAK the MUNDANES."
FUBBA-WUBBA: n., acronym: "Fat Ugly Broad With A Bad Attitude" (derogatory)

G

GARB: n., medieval/Renaissance clothing worn in the SCA
GLITTERFAG: n., a fop (affectionately derogatory) (DF)
GOA: n., Grant of Arms, written "GoA."
GOLEM: n., Personal Computer
GOON: v., to harrass in a friendly manner
GORK AN SPEW: v., the usual result after too much TRANYA.
GUNCH: v., to hit HARD in SCA combat

H

HALFLING: n., see SMALL
HARD SUIT: n., Armour for rattan combat; rattan combat itself.
HAT: n., the King, Queen, Duke, Prince, Baron; any crowned or coronetted person. (Mild implication of stuffiness)
HATTED LIST: n., A competition between rattan fighters for the office of King/Queen, or Prince/ss, or Baron/ess (in a Palantine Barony).
HEAVY WEAPONS or HEAVY LIST: n., Rattan combat, or someone who participates in such.
HIGH TABLE: n., The head table at a feast, where the VIPs sit.
HIT-MAN: n., a person in a HATTED LIST who is "clearing the way" for another to win.
HOLD!: imperative v., Stop! Danger!
HORDIE: n., a member of the Dark Horde (derogatory)

I J K

IMPERIUM: n., the KNOWN WORLDE (obsolete); the BOD (semi-derogatory)
IRON HORSE: n., a motorcycle
JAP-SLAP: n., Light weapons (shinai) combat (derogatory)
KENTUCKY FRIED DRAGON: n., Col. Saunder's Kentucky Fried Chicken.
KING THING: n., any royalty that is overly impressed by the fact that it is royalty (AH)
KNAVE: v., to go carousing for males, See WENCH (2) (regional) (DC)
KNOWN WORLDE: n., the totality of the groups of the SCA

L

LAUREL KINGDOMS: see KNOWN WORLDE.
LIGHT WEAPONS: n., non-rattan SCA combat weapons.
LIST: n., Area in which fighting (usually tourneys) takes place. (eastern, see also ERIC).
LIVE STEEL: n., a real edged weapon
LOBSTER SHELL: n., hard back or breast armor (AH)
LOOKER: n., a blow in combat that "looked good" to the crowd, but may not have actually been hard enough, square-on, etc.

M

MAGIC BOX: n., a cassette tape-player
MAJESTOPHOBIA: n., a fear of HATS, and of being thought a THRONE-TOADY. Manifests by refusing to speak to one's close friends while they're on the thrones...
MARVEL COSTUME: n., the GARB is obviously researched in comic books (derogatory)
MASHIE-POW: n., Rattan (heavy weapons) combat
MECHANICAL SCRIBE: n., a typewriter; a printer
MECHANICAL SQUIRE: n., a telephone answering machine
MINATURE FLEMISH PAINTERS: n., camera (eastern, perhaps Anglespurian only)
MIRACLE WRAP: n., Duct tape
MODERNS: n., see MUNDANE
MONDAINES: n.(Fr.), Canadian French for MUNDANE(S).
MUNDANE: n., the "real" world, the twentieth century; a non-SCADIAN.
MUSHROOM: n., dome-shaped nylon tent (AH)

N O

NEO: n., neophyte, a NEWBIE, a new member (AH)
NET, THE: n., 1) see RIALTO 2) the FidoNet SCA message area (tagname: "Medieval")
NEWBIE: n., see NEO
NINJERK: n., a person in a ninja costume, usually not trained in combat.
NUCLEAR SHINAI: v., Hitting blows much too hard in Light Weapons
NUKE: v., 1) to hit, in SCA combat, extremely hard. 2) to fail or return. Used almost exclusively to refer to the action the College of Heralds takes when a device or name submission fails to meet their standards. As in "Laurel's nuked my device *again*."
ORNAMENTAL: n., a person in Oriental GARB

P

PADDLE BLADE: n., a rattan sword made of three laminated pieces of rattan. Illegal in SCA combat.
PATENT: n., a Patent of Arms; a Peer
PELL: n., 1) A target for practice, usually a wooden pole. 2) A fighter with an inadequate defense who just can't seem to get the hang of what he's supposed to be doing. (AH)
PERIOD: adj., within the range of the SCA's interest; pre-1650 CE.
PERSONA: n., one's SCA "character"
PHILOSOPHER'S ENGINE: n., Personal Computer
PHONE GOLEM: n., Answering Machine (regional? Northwest USA)
PILLOW DANCE: n., Medieval version of spin the bottle.
POINTY HAT: see HAT
PORTABLE HOLE: n., The stand for an indoor list-rope pole. (DC)
PORTA-CASTLE: n., a portable toilet. (C)
POST-REVEL: n., Party after an EVENT, usually at local's house, sometimes out of garb.
P(AR)T. 2 (or 3,4 &c.): adj., the means of identifying the second or third &c. reign of a HAT, as in "King Deaton I, Pt. 2" (IL) Not done in the East. Morguhn's 3rd reign, e.g., was formally the reign of Morguhn III, not Morguhn I, part 3. But then we have never had two actual different kings with the same name. (SC)

Q R

RABBIT: n., a male whose costume seems to be made out of the skin of one rabbit. See BUNNY. (AH)
REALITY CHECK: n., see ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT
RHINO-HIDE: n. or v., A fighter who fails to accept legal blows, a cheater. (very derogatory)
RIALTO, THE: n., the computer network message base for the SCA on InterNet and UseNet (tagname: rec.org.sca)

S

SCA: n., (pronounced "Skah") the Society for Creative Anachronism (regional slang, Middle USA)
SCA: n., (pronounced "Ess See Ay") the Society for Creative Anachronism (regional slang, Eastern & Western USA)
SCABUM: n., somebody who is thoroughly immersed in the SCA, to the detriment of his ability to function in the mundane world. (AH)
SCADIAN: n., One who participates in SCA events (regional slang), written as "SCAdian."
SCALING: n., see SCADIAN, written as "SCAling."
SCOTTISH PLACE, THAT: n., the local McDonald's. The reference is from the movie, "Time After Time". H.G. Wells has perfected his time machine and arrived in the present. "Have you had breakfast yet?" "Yes, at that Scottish place." "Scottish place?" "McDougals." (DC)
SEEING-EYE CHILD: n., a SMALL on a harness-leash.
SCHTICK: n., team-GOONING; funny street-theater at EVENTS.
SICK DRAGON: n., automobile with blown tire, dead battery etc. (J)
SILVER TAPE: n., see THE FORCE (AH)
SHINIDIOT: n., a shinai fighter (derogatory)
SMALL: n., any pre-adolescent child
SOCIETY: n., the SCA
SPANISH QUISINE: n., the local Taco Bell (J)
SPELLING MACHINE: n., see MECHANICAL SCRIBE
SPODE: n., a jerk with no intelligence, and little social skills, somewhat below an amoeba on the social ladder (derogatory)
SPOOGED: v., the act of ignoring a blow in SCA combat (regional slang)
SPREZZATURA: n., correct period term for "cavalier attitude."
STICK: n., a rattan sword
STICK-FIGHTER: n., one who fights with rattan, a heavy weapons fighter.
STICK-JOCK: n., one who thinks rattan fighting is the only reason for the existence of the SCA. Sometimes wears a costume other than their fighting gear, but not often. (very derogatory)
SWASHBUCKLE: n. or v., rapier combat
SWISHY-POKE: n. or v., rapier combat
SUPERDUKE: n., someone who's been king three times or more. (AH)
SUPERDUKES OF THE WEST: n., the quasi-legendary great fighters, the only one whom anyone can think of by name being Paul of Bellatrix, but conveying the idea that the West is choked to the gills with mega-fighters. (AH)
SWAMP FROG: n., see TRANYA

T

TANIST: n., the designated male successor to a HAT, usually the Coronet. (IL) This is an actual word from mundane Celtic tradition. It signifies a designated heir chosen from a pool of eligible candidates (not necessarily the eldest son). (SC)
TANISTA: n., the designated female successor to a HAT, usually the Coronet. (IL) This is to all appearances an SCA-abomination. (SC)
THEATRICAL: n., something, usually GARB, that looks good, but isn't real. (mildly derogatory)
THRONE: n., the King and Queen
THRONE-TOADY: n., a person who brown-noses overmuch to the persons wearing the HATS (derogatory)
TI: n., Publication of the SCA sent to all(?) members.
TIN CAN: n., someone who has armor so good he can't feel blows. (AH)
TIN HAT: n., see HAT
TOURNEY CHEST: n., 1) A wooden box used to carry personal posessions to, from and during an event. 2) That flaming-red area of the body that comes as a result of attending a tourney on a warm summer day in a low-cut gown.
TRANYA: n., A drink whose main ingredients are grain alcohol and lime koolaid mix (sweetened.) Served, ideally, in a translucent plastic jug with handles, garnished with a green lightstick floating inside. (Also known as CAIDAN BLUE, and SWAMP FROG)
TROLL-GATE: n., The check-in table at an event.
TROLL: n. or v., Someone manning a TROLL-GATE; the act of manning it.
TYGER : n., an American dollar bill (regional slang, northern AEthelmearc) [The East/Middle border is also the the U.S./Canada border, hence, 1 dragon = 1 Canadian dollar, 1 tyger = 1 American dollar] (DC)

U V W X Y Z

UNGENTLEMAN: n., a gentleman who isn't. (AH)
URBAN MYTH: n., stories, usually funny, of the interaction between SCADIANS and the MUNDANE world. Not necessarily factual, but believed to be.
VORPAL RABBIT (SQUIRREL, ETC.): n., Mythological beast, reputedly able to kill and eat anything. Has Great Pointy Teeth and is very Vicious. See "Monty Python And The Holy Grail."
WAGON: n., automobile. (AH)
WALL-HANGER: n., a sword, axe, or other weapon or piece of armour that looks nice, but is not usable. It is only good for hanging on a wall as decoration.
WEEBLE: n., a person who does not count blows, non-"macho" term, from the phrase "Weebles wobble, but they don't fall down.." (derogatory)
WEEKEND WARRIOR: n., SCA fighter who isn't as dedicated to SCA combat as the guys with the white belts. Derived from US military slang for members of the National Guard. (AH)
WENCH: 1) n., any male or female that serves feasts. (regional, western kingdoms) (AH) 2) v., to go carousing for females, (regional) See KNAVE (DC)
WET: adj., Liqueur allowed.
WIRE WEENIE: n., a Rapier fighter, one who fences in the SCA.
WIZARD SCRIBE: n., an electrostatic copy machine
WOLFGAR: n., anyone who is so dedicated to the possession of cutlery that he clanks when he moves. (AH)
WOLFGARISH: adj., paranoid (AH)
WRISTGOD: n., a wrist-watch

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