| Green Knight Glossary Studying about the Middle Ages involves learning a great many new terms in addition to new skills. Here are a few of the terms that students at Green Knight Academy can expect to encounter and should learn, along with some familiar words that have meanings here at our school that are unfamiliar to some. (words in italics have their own entry in this Glossary) |
boffer: A replica sword or other weapon made of a PVC core surrounded by
closed-cell foam insulation. Used by combatants under the age of sixteen. Boffers are
not to be used practice with a pell!
boffer combat: Combat practiced by students younger than sixteen years of age at
GKA. Armor standards are less rigorous than those of heavy combat, and utilizes
boffer weapons.
chiv-sib: Short for "chivalry-sibling." A term sometimes used by GKA students to
indicate or describe other students.
Companion: The second rank in the GKA system, between Novice and Huscarl. To
achieve this rank, students must pass a three-part test of their knowledge of the rules
of school, their ability to be safe in combat, and memorization of the eight Knightly
Virtues. Companions have the right to wear a green tabard with a gold/yellow border,
and they may also paint a personal symbol (a single one-tincture object on a one-tincture
background; see Sir Bjorn for more information) in a seven-inch-by-seven-inch square
in the upper left corner of their shield.
cuisse: A piece of armor that protects the thigh. Typically a part of articulated leg
armor rather than a separate item.
demi-gauntlet: A piece of armor that protects the wrist, the back of the hand, and the
first knuckle of the thumb; made of rigid material such as steel or hardened leather.
See also gauntlet.
demi-greave: A piece of armor that protects the top half-to-three-quarters of the
lower leg and/or shin. Typically a part of articulated leg armor rather than a separate
item.
elbow cop: A piece of armor that surrounds and protects the elbow joint; made of
rigid material such as steel or hardened leather. Also sometimes used to refer to
"skater" style elbow pads that feature hard plastic coverings attached to them used for
boffer combat.
gorget: A piece of armor that surrounds and protects the neck area, almost always
including hanging pieces to cover the point of the throat and the cervical vertebrae.
(Pronounced "gor-zhay.")
greave: A piece of armor that protects the lower leg and/or shin, completely or nearly
completely to the top of the foot. Typically part of articulated leg armor rather than a
separate piece. Also used to describe soccer-style shin guards used in boffer combat. See
also demi-greave.
harness: The sum total of armor and/or protective equipment that a participant
wears during combat.
heavy combat: Combat practiced by students aged sixteen or over at GKA. Heavy
combat involves much more rigorous armor requirements than boffer combat, and uses
weapons made of rattan.
Huscarl: The third rank in our school's system, following Novice and Companion, from
the Anglo-Saxon word for "house-guard," meaning one who protects the clan and
great hall in times of danger. Rhymes with "moose-carl."
knee cop: A piece of armor that surrounds and protects the knee joint; made of rigid
material such as steel or hardened leather. Also sometimes used to refer to "skater"
style knee pads that feature hard plastic coverings attached to them used for boffer
combat.
knight: One who has achieved the equivalent of a "black belt" in the mastery of
European sword combat, as recognized by the Society for Creative Anachronism
(SCA). Knights wear white belts to symbolize their rank, and are addressed as "Sir."
(Female knights, and there are many, have the option to be addressed as "Dame.") Sir
Bjorn, GKA's Knight-Principal, was made a knight in January of 2004. Sir Gerstan,
our guest instructor from time to time, has been a knight since 1987. Knights have
the privilege of taking squires if they wish.
lists: A tournament, or alternately, the fighting field on which a tournament is held.
marshal: A safety observer of armored combat. They are distinguished on the field by
carrying black-and-yellow striped poles. They are not referees, and do not determine
the outcome of combat, only observe to make sure that the rules are being followed,
and that all armor is intact and in place.
melee: A form of combat in which a group of fighters compete against each other
individually all at the same time, until the last fighter is standing. Typically, fighters
are not permitted to engage the fighter immediately on their left or right as their first
opponent. Variations include the Shastan melee, in which weapons and shields are
arranged in a pile in the center of a circle of fighters, and then music is played. The
fighters are then required to skip, dance, or otherwise entertain spectators while
moving around the circle, until the music stops, when fighters then dash to the pile,
grab what they can, and battle it out. (Pronounced "may-lay.")
Novice: The first rank in the GKA system. New students are Novices until they take
their test to become a Companion of the school.
Ordman or Ordmaid: The fourth rank in the GKA system, between Huscarl and
Sergeant.
pell: A training tool for sword martial artists consisting of a vertical cylindrical post
covered in carpet so it can be struck repeatedly without being damaged or damaging
the waster being used against it. Pells are almost always set in concrete, and are
typically sunk into the ground, but can also be set into a five-gallon bucket in order to
be portable. Pells are not to be struck with boffers!
period: An adjective describing an object or condition that is historically accurate to
the medieval period of European history, broadly defined as meaning from the fall of
the Roman empire (about 350 C.E.) until the death of Elizabeth I of England (1603
C.E.). Example: "I wear a pouch on my belt with my medieval costume, because pants
with pockets are not period."
rattan: The largest member of the grass family of plants; similar in many respects to
bamboo, except having a solid core instead of a hollow one. Used in the construction
of weapons for heavy combat.
Sergeant: The fifth rank in the GKA system, immediately following Ordman / Ordmaid.
skirmish: A form of combat in which the fighters compete against each other in
teams until fighters from only one team are left standing.
squire: A term indicating a heavy combat participant who has entered into a formal
apprenticeship with a knight. Students are not to refer to themselves as Sir Bjorn's
"squires," as the term is considered very specific and official, and is not accurate to
describe participants in Green Knight Academy.
tabard: A sleeveless and sideless garment often worn by the knightly or noble class in
the Middle Ages. See Companion. [Middle English/Old French]
tinctures: The term for the seven colors used in heraldry. They are divided into two
categories: "metals," (yellow/gold and white/silver) and "colors" (red, blue, black,
purple, and green).
vambrace: A piece of armor that protects the forearm.
waster: A wooden replica of a sword, typically made of rattan, used for practicing,
usually against a pell.
closed-cell foam insulation. Used by combatants under the age of sixteen. Boffers are
not to be used practice with a pell!
boffer combat: Combat practiced by students younger than sixteen years of age at
GKA. Armor standards are less rigorous than those of heavy combat, and utilizes
boffer weapons.
chiv-sib: Short for "chivalry-sibling." A term sometimes used by GKA students to
indicate or describe other students.
Companion: The second rank in the GKA system, between Novice and Huscarl. To
achieve this rank, students must pass a three-part test of their knowledge of the rules
of school, their ability to be safe in combat, and memorization of the eight Knightly
Virtues. Companions have the right to wear a green tabard with a gold/yellow border,
and they may also paint a personal symbol (a single one-tincture object on a one-tincture
background; see Sir Bjorn for more information) in a seven-inch-by-seven-inch square
in the upper left corner of their shield.
cuisse: A piece of armor that protects the thigh. Typically a part of articulated leg
armor rather than a separate item.
demi-gauntlet: A piece of armor that protects the wrist, the back of the hand, and the
first knuckle of the thumb; made of rigid material such as steel or hardened leather.
See also gauntlet.
demi-greave: A piece of armor that protects the top half-to-three-quarters of the
lower leg and/or shin. Typically a part of articulated leg armor rather than a separate
item.
elbow cop: A piece of armor that surrounds and protects the elbow joint; made of
rigid material such as steel or hardened leather. Also sometimes used to refer to
"skater" style elbow pads that feature hard plastic coverings attached to them used for
boffer combat.
gorget: A piece of armor that surrounds and protects the neck area, almost always
including hanging pieces to cover the point of the throat and the cervical vertebrae.
(Pronounced "gor-zhay.")
greave: A piece of armor that protects the lower leg and/or shin, completely or nearly
completely to the top of the foot. Typically part of articulated leg armor rather than a
separate piece. Also used to describe soccer-style shin guards used in boffer combat. See
also demi-greave.
harness: The sum total of armor and/or protective equipment that a participant
wears during combat.
heavy combat: Combat practiced by students aged sixteen or over at GKA. Heavy
combat involves much more rigorous armor requirements than boffer combat, and uses
weapons made of rattan.
Huscarl: The third rank in our school's system, following Novice and Companion, from
the Anglo-Saxon word for "house-guard," meaning one who protects the clan and
great hall in times of danger. Rhymes with "moose-carl."
knee cop: A piece of armor that surrounds and protects the knee joint; made of rigid
material such as steel or hardened leather. Also sometimes used to refer to "skater"
style knee pads that feature hard plastic coverings attached to them used for boffer
combat.
knight: One who has achieved the equivalent of a "black belt" in the mastery of
European sword combat, as recognized by the Society for Creative Anachronism
(SCA). Knights wear white belts to symbolize their rank, and are addressed as "Sir."
(Female knights, and there are many, have the option to be addressed as "Dame.") Sir
Bjorn, GKA's Knight-Principal, was made a knight in January of 2004. Sir Gerstan,
our guest instructor from time to time, has been a knight since 1987. Knights have
the privilege of taking squires if they wish.
lists: A tournament, or alternately, the fighting field on which a tournament is held.
marshal: A safety observer of armored combat. They are distinguished on the field by
carrying black-and-yellow striped poles. They are not referees, and do not determine
the outcome of combat, only observe to make sure that the rules are being followed,
and that all armor is intact and in place.
melee: A form of combat in which a group of fighters compete against each other
individually all at the same time, until the last fighter is standing. Typically, fighters
are not permitted to engage the fighter immediately on their left or right as their first
opponent. Variations include the Shastan melee, in which weapons and shields are
arranged in a pile in the center of a circle of fighters, and then music is played. The
fighters are then required to skip, dance, or otherwise entertain spectators while
moving around the circle, until the music stops, when fighters then dash to the pile,
grab what they can, and battle it out. (Pronounced "may-lay.")
Novice: The first rank in the GKA system. New students are Novices until they take
their test to become a Companion of the school.
Ordman or Ordmaid: The fourth rank in the GKA system, between Huscarl and
Sergeant.
pell: A training tool for sword martial artists consisting of a vertical cylindrical post
covered in carpet so it can be struck repeatedly without being damaged or damaging
the waster being used against it. Pells are almost always set in concrete, and are
typically sunk into the ground, but can also be set into a five-gallon bucket in order to
be portable. Pells are not to be struck with boffers!
period: An adjective describing an object or condition that is historically accurate to
the medieval period of European history, broadly defined as meaning from the fall of
the Roman empire (about 350 C.E.) until the death of Elizabeth I of England (1603
C.E.). Example: "I wear a pouch on my belt with my medieval costume, because pants
with pockets are not period."
rattan: The largest member of the grass family of plants; similar in many respects to
bamboo, except having a solid core instead of a hollow one. Used in the construction
of weapons for heavy combat.
Sergeant: The fifth rank in the GKA system, immediately following Ordman / Ordmaid.
skirmish: A form of combat in which the fighters compete against each other in
teams until fighters from only one team are left standing.
squire: A term indicating a heavy combat participant who has entered into a formal
apprenticeship with a knight. Students are not to refer to themselves as Sir Bjorn's
"squires," as the term is considered very specific and official, and is not accurate to
describe participants in Green Knight Academy.
tabard: A sleeveless and sideless garment often worn by the knightly or noble class in
the Middle Ages. See Companion. [Middle English/Old French]
tinctures: The term for the seven colors used in heraldry. They are divided into two
categories: "metals," (yellow/gold and white/silver) and "colors" (red, blue, black,
purple, and green).
vambrace: A piece of armor that protects the forearm.
waster: A wooden replica of a sword, typically made of rattan, used for practicing,
usually against a pell.
| Ethan and Barb wielding boffers while engaged in boffer combat. |
| Heavy combat leg armor. Note the inte- grated cuisse, knee cop, and demi-greave. |
| Alex and Kristoff engaged in heavy combat. |
| Our beloved first pell at GKA, under its protective blue sleeve. |
| Alex adjusts his vambrace. |
| Sir Bjorn fighting in the final round of the Laurel Prize Tournament in Arizona in 2006 (which he won). Sir Bjorn's white belt indicates that he is a knight. |
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