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| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| A&S | Arts and Sciences |
| Accessibility Porter | The officer responsible for assisting people with disabilities. |
| Æthelmearc | Kingdom composed of Northeastern/central/western Pennsylvania, central/western New York, and West Virginia. |
| Anachronism | Something out of its place in time. |
| An Tir | Kingdom composed of Oregon, Washington, and the northern tips of Idaho, and part of the Canadian province of British Columbia |
| Anno Societatis (abbreviated “A.S.”) | The dating system we use in the SCA (translates to “In the Year of the Society”). May 1, 1966 was the first day of the year A.S. I, and May 1st is “New Year’s Day” for each Society year. The years are usually depicted in Roman numerals. |
| Ansteorra | Kingdom composed of Oklahoma and most of Texas. |
| AOA | Award of Arms |
| AOA Level | Those awards granted in the Kingdom of Ansteorra that grant the rank of an Award of Arms |
| Apprentice | Someone who has entered into a formal, frequently fealty based, student relationship with a Companion of the Order of the Laurel. Also used to refer to someone who has entered into a student relationship in a guild or with someone other than a Companion of the Order of the Laurel. |
| Archivist | The officer responsible for providing records storage for a group. |
| Armigerous | Of or relating to the three levels of rank-bearing awards (award, grant, and patent) |
| Armigerous | Of or relating to an Award of Arms, Grant of Arms, or Patent of Arms - the three levels of rank-bearing awards. To have one of these awards. |
| Arms | The heraldic insignia of a person who has received an Award of Arms or higher level armigerous award, or the heraldic insignia of a branch. See also Badge and Device. |
| Artemesia | Kingdom composed of Montana, southern Idaho, most of Utah, and southwestern Wyoming. |
| Arts and Sciences (A&S) | The collective group of fine arts, crafts, and sciences researched and practiced by artisans and scholars within the Society. |
| Atenveldt | Kingdom composed of Arizona |
| Atlantia | Kingdom composed of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, as well as Augusta Georgia and the District of Columbia. |
| Autocrat | The person responsible for organizing and running an event. |
| Authorization | the process that martial participants go through to be allowed to participate in their respective activities. |
| Award | A form of recognition given to individuals and/or groups of people by the Crown, Coronet, or the Baron and/or Baroness of a Barony. Awards are usually accompanied by a scroll, and may give the recipient the right to certain titles. |
| Award of Arms (AOA) | The first level of rank-bearing award given by the Crown, which gives the recipient the right to use the title of Lord/Lady, and also to refer to their heraldic insignia as their arms (rather than as a device). See also Armigerous. |
| Avacal | Kingdom composed of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Northwest Territories and part of British Columbia |
| Badge | A secondary heraldic insignia registered to a person, group, or branch. See also Arms and Device. |
| Banner | A decorative cloth panel often representing the owner's arms and used as a wallhanging or hung from a pole. |
| Bard | A musician or a vocal performer such as a singer or storyteller. See also Jongleur. |
| Bardic Circle | A gathering, often in the evening and around a fire, at which people play music, sing songs, and tell stories. |
| Barding | Decorative armor or livery for a horse. |
| Baron | A Territorial Baron is a lairde who has been chosen to serve as ceremonial head for their Barony, either by themself or with a Baroness. A Court Baron is a laird who has been given this title by the Crown. |
| Baroness | A Territorial Baroness is a lairde who has been chosen to serve as ceremonial head for their Barony, either by themself or with a Baron. A Court Baroness is a lairde who has been given this title by the Crown. |
| Barony | A larger branch that can contain sub-branches, and which has chosen a Baron and/or Baroness to act as figurehead(s) for the branch. |
| Bear Arms, right to | Someone who has earned an armigerous award. Any device entered with the college of heralds becomes their heraldic arms. |
| BG | Abberviation for Bryn Gwlad |
| BjB | Abbreviation for Bjornsborg |
| Bjornsborg | Regional group centered around San Antonio, TX |
| Blue Card | an SCA membership card printed on blue cardstock, indicating that the card holder has a signed waiver on file at the SCA offices. |
| Board of Directors (BOD) | The governing body of the corporate aspect of the Society. |
| Branch | A geographical division of the society. |
| Bryn Gwlad | Regional group centered around Austin, TX |
| Calligraphy | Decorative text as often seen in historical manuscripts or Society scrolls. See also Illumination. |
| Calontir | Kindom composed of Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and the part of Fayetteville, Arkansas. |
| Canton | A sub-branch of a Barony. |
| Castellan | A masculine variant of Chatelaine. |
| Centurion, Order of | The grant level award for chivalric combat. Is a polling order. |
| Chamberlain | The officer responsible for a branch's regalia. |
| Champion | An individual chosen through some form of contest to represent a person, group, or branch in a particular art. |
| Chatelaine | The officer responsible for welcoming and assisting newcomers to the Society. Also called a Hospitaler in Ansteorra. |
| Chatelaine | The officer responsible for welcoming and assisting newcomers to the Society. Note that Chatelaine is the feminine form of the word and Chatelain is the masculine. Also called Castellan (masculine) or Hospitaller (gender-neutral). |
| Chivalry | A code of behavior based on courtesy and honor. Also used to indicate a Companion of the Order of the Chivalry, which is the Society level polling order for skill in armored combat. |
| Chronicler | The officer responsible for a branch's newsletter. |
| Circlet | A thin metal band worn horizontally around the head. |
| Clear! | A warning cry. It means that someone is about to draw a sword or edged weapon from its scabbard. |
| College | A branch that exists at an educational institution. |
| Collegium | An event at which the principal focus is a variety of classes offered throughout the day. Also called University or Schola. |
| Combat Archery | An armored combat related activity in which armored archers fire specially padded arrows at combatants in a melee. |
| Combat Archery Commander | The marshal in charge of combat archery. |
| Companion | A recipient of a grant level award, not used as a title but to designate what order they are from (e.g. companion of the iris of merit) |
| Companion (of the Order of...) | Member. |
| Consort | The person being fought for in a tourney. |
| Coronation | The ceremony in which a King and Queen are formally declared rulers of their Kingdom. |
| Coronet | A headdress, often of metal and/or jewels, worn to indicate a certain rank. The Coronet can be used to refer to a Prince and Princess jointly, and Coronet is also sometimes used to refer to Coronet Tournament. |
| Coronet Tournament | The tournament in which the heirs to a Principality are determined. |
| Corpora | The governing documents of the Society. |
| Count | A lord who has been King once. |
| Countess | A lady who has been Queen once. |
| Court | The formal gathering in which the Crown (or titular heads of a branch such as a Baron and/or Baroness) give awards, make announcements or proclamations, etc. |
| Crash Space | Overnight accommodations at the home of a Society member who lives close to the event site, arranged in advance for those attending the event from far away. |
| Crown | Refers to the sovereign leaders of a kingdom. One member of the crown won crown tournament in order to become crown. "Crown" is also sometimes used to refer to Crown Tournament. |
| Crown | A headdress of metal and/or jewels worn by a King or Queen of a Kingdom as a sign of their rank. The Crown can be used to refer to the King and Queen jointly, and Crown is also sometimes used to refer to Crown Tournament. |
| Crown Prince | Traditionally, the male heir to the Crown of a Kingdom. See also Prince. |
| Crown Princess | Traditionally, the female heir to the Crown of a Kingdom. See also Princess. |
| Crown Tournament | The tournament in which the heirs to a Kingdom are determined. |
| Crown Tournament | The tournament in which the heirs to a Kingdom are determined. |
| Curia Regis (Curia) | A meeting between the Crown and their officers at which items of official business, such as changes to Kingdom law, are discussed. |
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Damp Site | A site at which beer and wine are permitted, but hard liquors are not. See also Dry Site and Wet Site. |
| Dayboard | Lunch or food during the day. Sometimes an event will provide a dayboard but usually people bring their own. See also: Sideboard |
| Demo | A demonstration of the activities in the SCA. SCA participants will usually perform martial activities as well as arts and sciences for the public. |
| Device | The heraldic insignia of a person who does not have an Award of Arms. See also Arms and Badge. |
| DEI officer | Officer committed to promoting the values of inclusion throughout the SCA. |
| Don/Dona | Honorific awarded to members of the Order of the White Scarf |
| Drachenwald | Kingdom composed of all of Europe (including islands), Africa, and the Middle East. |
| Dry Site | A site at which alcoholic beverages are not permitted. See also Damp Site and Wet Site. |
| Duchess | A lady who has been Queen two or more times. |
| Duke | A lord who has been King two or more times. |
| Earl Marshal | Kingdom or Society Marshal. |
| Ealdormere | Kingdom composed of most of the Canadian province of Ontario. |
| East Kingdom | Kingdom composed of eastern Pennsylvania, eastern New York, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. In Canada, it covers Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland. |
| Equestrian | Pertaining to horses |
| Eric | Informal name for a list field. |
| Event | An official Society gathering at which a variety of activities take place. |
| Excellency | When used as Your Excellency, a form of address for a Baron, Baroness, Count, Countess, Viscount, Viscountess, or an Heir to a Principality. |
| Exchequer | Financial Officer |
| Favor | A token given to someone to indicate friendship, romantic involvement, membership in a group, or some other relationship. |
| Fealty | A reciprocal oath pledged between two people in which each swears a form of loyalty and service to the other. |
| Feast | A large dinnertime meal served at an event composed of two or more courses, each containing multiple dishes, and usually with some form of entertainment provided between courses. |
| Feastgear | Place setting and table linens for use during feast. As events do not provide feastgear, everyone must bring their own. |
| Fence | The martial activity of fencing. |
| Fillet | A thin band of any material worn horizontally around the head. |
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Garb | Historic costume. |
| Gate | The table located at the entrance to an event at which people check in and pay site fees. Note that this word is an increasingly popular alternative to Trollbooth. |
| Gentle | Person. |
| Gleann Abhann | Kingdom composed of Mississippi, Louisiana, most of Arkansas, and the western edge of Tennessee including the Memphis area. |
| Gold Key | Loaner garb and gear for newcomers that is often made available through the local office of the Chatelaine. |
| GOofS | Greater Officer(s) of State |
| Grace | When used as Your Grace, a form of address for a Duke or Duchess. |
| Grant Level | Those awards granted in the Kingdom of Ansteorra that grant the rank of an Award of Arms if one hasn't been given |
| Grant of Arms | The second level of rank-bearing award given by the Crown. If not presented in conjunction with any other title-bearing award, it gives the recipient the right to use the title of The Honorable Lord/Lady and the form of address of Your Lordship/Ladyship. See also Armigerous. |
| Guild | A group of people who have chosen to study a particular skill or area of interest. Membership is usually open to anyone with interest. |
| Gulf War | A week long war between Ansteorra and Trimaris. Hosted by Gleann Abhann; It is held annually in the spring. |
| Heavy List (Heavy Weapons) | A term used to denote SCA-style armored combat, as opposed to fencing. |
| Herald | A herald (lowercase) is anyone who practices any of the arts of heraldry. A Herald (uppercase) is a Kingdom or Society level herald, or someone who has been granted this title for their great contribution to the heraldic arts. The title is often used with a descriptive appellation, indicating the specific office held. As an example, Brigantia Herald is the East Kingdom Herald. |
| Heraldic | Of or having to do with heraldry. |
| Heraldry | The collection of arts pertaining to coats of arms, names, and verbal proclamation. |
| HG | Abbreviation for Hellsgate |
| Highness | When used as Your Highness, a form of address for a Prince or Princess. |
| Historian | The officer responsible for collecting and creating histories of the group. |
| Hold! | A warning cry. When you hear it, stop whatever you are doing and hold still until you can determine why it was called and/or until the dangerous situation is corrected. |
| Honorable Lady, The | The title for a lady who has a Grant of Arms. |
| Honorable Laird, The | The title for a laird who has a Grant of Arms. |
| Honorable Lord, The | The title for a lord who has a Grant of Arms. |
| Hospitaller | A gender-neutral variant of Chatelaine. |
| Household | A group of people who have chosen to ally themselves together for any number of reasons. Households can be composed of people with similar personas, similar interests, or just groups of friends. Membership criteria and methods of joining vary from household to household. |
| Huzzah | used to express approval or delight; hurrah. |
| Illumination | Decorative miniature artwork that accompanies text, as in historical manuscripts or Society scrolls. See also Calligraphy. |
| Investiture | The ceremony in which a Baron and/or Baroness or a Prince and Princess of a Principality are formally declared as heads of their Barony or rulers of their Principality. |
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Jongleur | An instrumental musician. See also Bard. |
| King | Tradtionally, the male member of the pair that rules the Kingdom. However, there are no gender requirements for ruling a Kingdom. |
| Kingdom | Any of the twenty geographical areas that the world is divided into in the context of the SCA, each of which ruled by a King and Queen. |
| Knight | A Companion of the Order of the Chivalry who has chosen to swear fealty to the Crown. |
| Knight Marshal | The marshal for a local branch. |
| Knowne Worlde | A term used to refer to the areas of the world in which the Society has a presence. Also used to refer to the world in its entirety, but defined as according to Society boundaries. |
| Lady | Traditionally, a lady (lowercase) is any female person. A Lady (capital) is a lady who has received her Award of Arms, and it is also her title. Individuals do not need to be female to use the title Lady |
| Ladyship | When used as Your Ladyship, a form of address for a lady who has a Grant of Arms. |
| Laird/Laide | Gender-neutral version of Lord/Lady. Lowercase is any person. Lairde (uppercase) is lairde who has received his Award of Arms, and it is also their title. |
| Landed Nobility | ceremonial head of a region |
| Laurel | A Companion of the Order of the Laurel, which is the Society level polling order for skill in the arts and sciences. |
| Light! | A term used to describe a blow as insufficient |
| Light Weapons | Rapier combat |
| List Master | The officer responsible for maintaining records on fighters and overseeing the running of tournament lists. See also: List Mistress, Minister of the Lists |
| List Mistress | The officer responsible for maintaining records on fighters and overseeing the running of tournament lists. See also: List Master, Minister of the Lists |
| Listfield (List) | The area in which combat takes place, usually marked with ropes around the perimeter. List is also used to refer to the list of fighters competing in a tournament. |
| Livery | Garb or accessories, usually made for many people and made to match or coordinate, that indicate membership or servitude to a particular branch, group, or person. |
| Lochac | Kingdom composed of Australia and New Zealand, and parts of China. |
| Lord | Traditionally, a lord (lowercase) is any male person. A Lord (capital) is a lord who has received his Award of Arms, and it is also his title. Individuals do not need to be male to use to the title Lord. |
| Lordship | When used as Your Lordship, a form of address for a lord who has a Grant of Arms. |
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Majesty | When used as Your Majesty, a form of address for a King or Queen. |
| Man-at-Arms | A person who has entered into a student relationship with a fighter.See also: Woman-at-Arms |
| Marshal | The officer responsible for martial activities, particularly in overseeing them to ensure safety. |
| Master | The title for a someone who is a Companion of a Peerage Order. See also: Mistress |
| Master-at-Arms | A Companion of the Order of the Chivalry who has chosen not to swear fealty to the Crown. |
| Mead | An alcoholic beverage derived from fermented honey. |
| Melee | A fight in which teams of two or more compete against eachother. See also Single-Combat. |
| Meridies | Kingdom composed of Alabama; almost all of Georgia; all of Middle and East Tennessee, plus a substantial portion of West Tennessee; a bit of the panhandle of Florida; and a small portion of Kentucky. |
| Midrealm | Kingdom composed of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, lower Michigan, and parts of Kentucky, Iowa and Ontario. also known as The Middle Kingdom |
| Minister | A gender-neutral title used for an officer responsible for a particular activity. Often substituted with Master or Mistress, as appropriate for the specific individual currently holding the position. |
| Minister of Arts and Sciences (MOAS) | The officer responsible for encouraging work in the Arts and Sciences. |
| Minister of the Lists (MOL) | The officer responsible for maintaining records on fighters and overseeing the running of tournament lists. See also: List Mistress |
| Mistress | The title for a someone who is a Companion of a Peerage Order. See also: Master |
| Mundane | Any thing or person that is not of the Society. Note that this word can be perceived as an insult, and so its use is discouraged. In its place, use Modern. |
| NCA | Newcomer's Academy |
| Non-Armigerous | hose awards granted in the Kingdom of Ansteorra that do NOT grant any additional rank. |
| Noble | |
| Northshield | kingdom composed of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the upper peninsula of Michigan. It also extends into Canada, encompassing Manitoba and northwestern Ontario. |
| Order | A group composed of all recipients of a particular award. |
| Order of Precedence (OP) | A listing of those gentles who have received awards, arranged in order of rank. Also used to refer to any ordering based upon rank. |
| Out of Period (OOP) | Anything outside of or later than the Society time period. |
| Outlands | Kingdom composed of New Mexico and Colorado, parts of Wyoming, the Nebraska panhandle, El Paso County and the Hudspeth County in Texas. |
| Oyez! | A cry that is a request for attention. When you hear it, please cease any conversation or noise-making activity until the person has made their announcement. |
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Page | A child who serves as an attendant to a person or group, particularly by running errands, carrying messages, and performing like tasks. |
| Patent of Arms (Patent) | The third and highest level rank-bearing award given by the Crown, which makes the recipient a Peer. See also Armigerous. |
| Peer | A person who has received a Patent of Arms and who is considered to embody the ideals of chivalry and courtesy. |
| Peerage Level | The highest level of awards (not titles) attaionable in the SCA |
| Peerage Order | Any of the Orders which is accompanied by a Patent of Arms. Specifically, the orders of the Chivalry, the Laurel, the Pelican, and the Rose. |
| Pelican | A Companion of the Order of the Pelican, which is the Society level polling order for service. |
| Pennsic War | An annual war between the Kingdom of the East and The Middle Kingdom held in western Pennsylvania. It is the largest Society event, with attendance in recent years ranging near 10,000. |
| Pentathlon (Pent) | Often used to refer to an Arts & Sciences Pentathlon, which is a form of competition in which an entrant must enter five or more categories. |
| Period | Within or accurate for the Society time period. |
| Persona | A person that someone pretends to be in the context of the SCA. While a persona cannot be anyone who actually did exist in period, they should be someone who could have. |
| Polling Order | An Order for which it is required that the Crown consult the Companions regarding potential members. |
| Port | A branch that exists at a military installation. |
| Porta-Castle | Common slang for portable or chemical toilets. |
| Post-Revel | A gathering or party held after an event, usually at a member's house, and often in modern clothing. |
| Prince | Traditionally, either the male heir to the Crown of a Kingdom, or the male member of the pair that rules a Principality, however princes are not required to be male. |
| Princess | Traditionally, either the female heir to the Crown of a Kingdom, or the female member of the pair that rules a Principality, however princesses do not need to be female. |
| Principality | A subdivision of a Kingdom containing multiple branches that has a Prince and Princess that reign over it. |
| Protégé | Someone who has entered into a formal, frequently fealty based, student relationship with a Companion of the Order of the Pelican. |
| Province | A larger branch that can contain sub-branches, but which has chosen to not have any ceremonial head. |
| Proof of membership | A photocopy of your membership card or letter from the Member Portal (members.sca.org) |
| Provost | Someone who has entered into a formal, frequently fealty based, student relationship with a Companion of the Order of of the Master of Defense |
| Pursuivant | The herald for a local branch, often used with a descriptive appellation, indicating the specific office held (eg. Halberd Pursuivant) |
| Queen | Tradtionally, the female member of the pair that rules the Kingdom. However, there are no gender requirements for ruling a Kingdom. |
| Rattan | A plant similar to bamboo but solid throughout, used for making heavy list weapons. |
| Regalia | Garb, accessories, or decorations signifying rank, membership in an order, or the presence of an individual or group. |
| Remove | A post-period but commonly used word for a course of a feast, the period term being course. |
| Rialto | A Society-wide newsgroup, rec.org.sca |
| Riding | A sub-branch of a Province. |
| Right of Arms | An indicator that a person has achieved a specified title, position, or prize by winning a tournament. As an example, a Queen by right of arms would be a lady who won a Crown Tournament, as opposed to one fought for by a lord who won. |
| Right to Bear Arms | Someone with the right to bear arms can register a device with the College of Heralds |
| Rose | A Companion of the Order of the Rose, which is a Society level order composed of former Royal Consorts. |
| Royal Peer | Someone who has received a Patent of Arms for their service as King, Queen, Prince, or Princess. |
| Royal Progress (RP) | An event at which the Crown will be present and hold Court. |
| Royalty | Anyone who is a King, Queen, Prince, Princess, or heir to a Principality. |
| Rules of the List | The rules for combat. |
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| SCA | An abbreviation for the Society for Creative Anachronism. See also Society. |
| SCA Name | The name someone uses in the Society. |
| SCAdian | Of or having to do with the Society. A member of the Society. |
| Schola | An event at which the principal focus is a variety of classes offered throughout the day. Also called Collegium or University. |
| Scribe | An artist who produces scrolls. |
| Scroll | A piece of artwork containing calligraphy and usually also illumination, given to an award recipient at the time that they are given an award, and that serves as an official record of the award. |
| Seneschal | The executive officer for a branch, responsible for overseeing other officers and serving as liaison between the Society and the modern world. |
| Shire | A smaller branch that cannot contain any sub-branches. |
| Sideboard | Lunch or food during the day. Sometimes an event will provide a dayboard but usually people bring their own. See also: Dayboard |
| Single-Combat | A fight in which two opponents compete one-on-one. See also Melee. |
| Sir | The title for a Knight. |
| Site | The location where an event is held. |
| Site Fee | The fee required in order to attend an event. |
| Society | An abbreviation for the Society for Creative Anachronism. See also SCA. |
| Squire | Someone who has entered into a fealty based student relationship with a Companion of the Order of the Chivalry. |
| Stronghold | A branch that exists at a military installation. |
| Sub-Branch | A branch that is subsidiary to another branch within a Kingdom or Principality (eg. Stronghold of Hellsgate is subsidiary to the Barony of Bryn Gwlad) |
| Tournament/Tourney | A competition in SCA fighting or fencing. Some styles of tournaments are: Pas d’Arms, Bearpit, Double-Elimination, Round-Robin, and Ransom tourneys. |
| Trencher | A shallow, lipped platter, often of wood or metal, or even bread, used for serving food or as a plate. |
| Token | A small bauble sometimes given to participants when they attend an event. There are typically two types: site and feast. |
| Trimaris | Kingdom composed of Majority of Florida; lays claim to Panama. |
| Troll | The table located at the entrance to an event at which people check in and pay site fees. Troll is also sometimes used to refer to the person working at this table. See also Gate. |
| University | An event at which the principal focus is a variety of classes offered throughout the day. Also called Collegium or Schola. |
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Vigil | A sequestered period of reflection in which a person contemplates becoming a Companion of a Peerage Order. |
| Vivat! | A cheer. Literally translating to "Live!", it is used to express appreciation for someone or something, and is often sounded three times. Note that vivat is the singular form and that vivant is the plural. |
| Viscount | A lord who has been Prince of a Principality once. |
| Viscountess | A lady who has been Princess of a Principality once. |
| War | An event centered around a battle or battles in which the opposing sides are "warring" branches |
| Waiver | a release of liability form signed when you purchase SCA membership. Non-members must sign waivers at events and martial practices. |
| Warlord | The person responsible for strategy and tactics for a war |
| Water Bearing | water and refreshments provided at an event to members of the populace |
| Webminister | Officer in charge of group website. |
| West Kingdom | Kingdom composed of Northern California, most of Nevada, and Alaska, as well as Japan, Korea, Thailand, and the Pacific Rim (excluding Australia and New Zealand). |
| Wet Site | A site at which any alcoholic beverage is permitted. See also Damp Site and Dry Site |
| Woman-at-Arms | A person who has entered into a student relationship with a fighter. See also: Man-at-arms |
| White Scaf, order of | A non-Armigerous award given in the Kingdom of Ansteorra for exceptional skill and abilities in rapier combat. Companions of the Order wear a white scarf about the left shoulder or above the left elbow. |
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| A&S | Arts and Sciences |
| Accessibility Porter | The officer responsible for assisting people with disabilities. |
| Æthelmearc | Kingdom composed of Northeastern/central/western Pennsylvania, central/western New York, and West Virginia. |
| Anachronism | Something out of its place in time. |
| An Tir | Kingdom composed of Oregon, Washington, and the northern tips of Idaho, and part of the Canadian province of British Columbia |
| Anno Societatis (abbreviated “A.S.”) | The dating system we use in the SCA (translates to “In the Year of the Society”). May 1, 1966 was the first day of the year A.S. I, and May 1st is “New Year’s Day” for each Society year. The years are usually depicted in Roman numerals. |
| Ansteorra | Kingdom composed of Oklahoma and most of Texas. |
| AOA | Award of Arms |
| AOA Level | Those awards granted in the Kingdom of Ansteorra that grant the rank of an Award of Arms |
| Apprentice | Someone who has entered into a formal, frequently fealty based, student relationship with a Companion of the Order of the Laurel. Also used to refer to someone who has entered into a student relationship in a guild or with someone other than a Companion of the Order of the Laurel. |
| Archivist | The officer responsible for providing records storage for a group. |
| Armigerous | Of or relating to the three levels of rank-bearing awards (award, grant, and patent) |
| Armigerous | Of or relating to an Award of Arms, Grant of Arms, or Patent of Arms - the three levels of rank-bearing awards. To have one of these awards. |
| Arms | The heraldic insignia of a person who has received an Award of Arms or higher level armigerous award, or the heraldic insignia of a branch. See also Badge and Device. |
| Artemesia | Kingdom composed of Montana, southern Idaho, most of Utah, and southwestern Wyoming. |
| Arts and Sciences (A&S) | The collective group of fine arts, crafts, and sciences researched and practiced by artisans and scholars within the Society. |
| Atenveldt | Kingdom composed of Arizona |
| Atlantia | Kingdom composed of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, as well as Augusta Georgia and the District of Columbia. |
| Autocrat | The person responsible for organizing and running an event. |
| Authorization | the process that martial participants go through to be allowed to participate in their respective activities. |
| Award | A form of recognition given to individuals and/or groups of people by the Crown, Coronet, or the Baron and/or Baroness of a Barony. Awards are usually accompanied by a scroll, and may give the recipient the right to certain titles. |
| Award of Arms (AOA) | The first level of rank-bearing award given by the Crown, which gives the recipient the right to use the title of Lord/Lady, and also to refer to their heraldic insignia as their arms (rather than as a device). See also Armigerous. |
| Avacal | Kingdom composed of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Northwest Territories and part of British Columbia |
| Badge | A secondary heraldic insignia registered to a person, group, or branch. See also Arms and Device. |
| Banner | A decorative cloth panel often representing the owner's arms and used as a wallhanging or hung from a pole. |
| Bard | A musician or a vocal performer such as a singer or storyteller. See also Jongleur. |
| Bardic Circle | A gathering, often in the evening and around a fire, at which people play music, sing songs, and tell stories. |
| Barding | Decorative armor or livery for a horse. |
| Baron | A Territorial Baron is a lairde who has been chosen to serve as ceremonial head for their Barony, either by themself or with a Baroness. A Court Baron is a laird who has been given this title by the Crown. |
| Baroness | A Territorial Baroness is a lairde who has been chosen to serve as ceremonial head for their Barony, either by themself or with a Baron. A Court Baroness is a lairde who has been given this title by the Crown. |
| Barony | A larger branch that can contain sub-branches, and which has chosen a Baron and/or Baroness to act as figurehead(s) for the branch. |
| Bear Arms, right to | Someone who has earned an armigerous award. Any device entered with the college of heralds becomes their heraldic arms. |
| BG | Abberviation for Bryn Gwlad |
| BjB | Abbreviation for Bjornsborg |
| Bjornsborg | Regional group centered around San Antonio, TX |
| Blue Card | an SCA membership card printed on blue cardstock, indicating that the card holder has a signed waiver on file at the SCA offices. |
| Board of Directors (BOD) | The governing body of the corporate aspect of the Society. |
| Branch | A geographical division of the society. |
| Bryn Gwlad | Regional group centered around Austin, TX |
| Calligraphy | Decorative text as often seen in historical manuscripts or Society scrolls. See also Illumination. |
| Calontir | Kindom composed of Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and the part of Fayetteville, Arkansas. |
| Canton | A sub-branch of a Barony. |
| Castellan | A masculine variant of Chatelaine. |
| Centurion, Order of | The grant level award for chivalric combat. Is a polling order. |
| Chamberlain | The officer responsible for a branch's regalia. |
| Champion | An individual chosen through some form of contest to represent a person, group, or branch in a particular art. |
| Chatelaine | The officer responsible for welcoming and assisting newcomers to the Society. Also called a Hospitaler in Ansteorra. |
| Chatelaine | The officer responsible for welcoming and assisting newcomers to the Society. Note that Chatelaine is the feminine form of the word and Chatelain is the masculine. Also called Castellan (masculine) or Hospitaller (gender-neutral). |
| Chivalry | A code of behavior based on courtesy and honor. Also used to indicate a Companion of the Order of the Chivalry, which is the Society level polling order for skill in armored combat. |
| Chronicler | The officer responsible for a branch's newsletter. |
| Circlet | A thin metal band worn horizontally around the head. |
| Clear! | A warning cry. It means that someone is about to draw a sword or edged weapon from its scabbard. |
| College | A branch that exists at an educational institution. |
| Collegium | An event at which the principal focus is a variety of classes offered throughout the day. Also called University or Schola. |
| Combat Archery | An armored combat related activity in which armored archers fire specially padded arrows at combatants in a melee. |
| Combat Archery Commander | The marshal in charge of combat archery. |
| Companion | A recipient of a grant level award, not used as a title but to designate what order they are from (e.g. companion of the iris of merit) |
| Companion (of the Order of...) | Member. |
| Consort | The person being fought for in a tourney. |
| Coronation | The ceremony in which a King and Queen are formally declared rulers of their Kingdom. |
| Coronet | A headdress, often of metal and/or jewels, worn to indicate a certain rank. The Coronet can be used to refer to a Prince and Princess jointly, and Coronet is also sometimes used to refer to Coronet Tournament. |
| Coronet Tournament | The tournament in which the heirs to a Principality are determined. |
| Corpora | The governing documents of the Society. |
| Count | A lord who has been King once. |
| Countess | A lady who has been Queen once. |
| Court | The formal gathering in which the Crown (or titular heads of a branch such as a Baron and/or Baroness) give awards, make announcements or proclamations, etc. |
| Crash Space | Overnight accommodations at the home of a Society member who lives close to the event site, arranged in advance for those attending the event from far away. |
| Crown | Refers to the sovereign leaders of a kingdom. One member of the crown won crown tournament in order to become crown. "Crown" is also sometimes used to refer to Crown Tournament. |
| Crown | A headdress of metal and/or jewels worn by a King or Queen of a Kingdom as a sign of their rank. The Crown can be used to refer to the King and Queen jointly, and Crown is also sometimes used to refer to Crown Tournament. |
| Crown Prince | Traditionally, the male heir to the Crown of a Kingdom. See also Prince. |
| Crown Princess | Traditionally, the female heir to the Crown of a Kingdom. See also Princess. |
| Crown Tournament | The tournament in which the heirs to a Kingdom are determined. |
| Crown Tournament | The tournament in which the heirs to a Kingdom are determined. |
| Curia Regis (Curia) | A meeting between the Crown and their officers at which items of official business, such as changes to Kingdom law, are discussed. |
| Damp Site | A site at which beer and wine are permitted, but hard liquors are not. See also Dry Site and Wet Site. |
| Dayboard | Lunch or food during the day. Sometimes an event will provide a dayboard but usually people bring their own. See also: Sideboard |
| Demo | A demonstration of the activities in the SCA. SCA participants will usually perform martial activities as well as arts and sciences for the public. |
| Device | The heraldic insignia of a person who does not have an Award of Arms. See also Arms and Badge. |
| DEI officer | Officer committed to promoting the values of inclusion throughout the SCA. |
| Don/Dona | Honorific awarded to members of the Order of the White Scarf |
| Drachenwald | Kingdom composed of all of Europe (including islands), Africa, and the Middle East. |
| Dry Site | A site at which alcoholic beverages are not permitted. See also Damp Site and Wet Site. |
| Duchess | A lady who has been Queen two or more times. |
| Duke | A lord who has been King two or more times. |
| Earl Marshal | Kingdom or Society Marshal. |
| Ealdormere | Kingdom composed of most of the Canadian province of Ontario. |
| East Kingdom | Kingdom composed of eastern Pennsylvania, eastern New York, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. In Canada, it covers Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland. |
| Equestrian | Pertaining to horses |
| Eric | Informal name for a list field. |
| Event | An official Society gathering at which a variety of activities take place. |
| Excellency | When used as Your Excellency, a form of address for a Baron, Baroness, Count, Countess, Viscount, Viscountess, or an Heir to a Principality. |
| Exchequer | Financial Officer |
| Favor | A token given to someone to indicate friendship, romantic involvement, membership in a group, or some other relationship. |
| Fealty | A reciprocal oath pledged between two people in which each swears a form of loyalty and service to the other. |
| Feast | A large dinnertime meal served at an event composed of two or more courses, each containing multiple dishes, and usually with some form of entertainment provided between courses. |
| Feastgear | Place setting and table linens for use during feast. As events do not provide feastgear, everyone must bring their own. |
| Fence | The martial activity of fencing. |
| Fillet | A thin band of any material worn horizontally around the head. |
| Garb | Historic costume. |
| Gate | The table located at the entrance to an event at which people check in and pay site fees. Note that this word is an increasingly popular alternative to Trollbooth. |
| Gentle | Person. |
| Gleann Abhann | Kingdom composed of Mississippi, Louisiana, most of Arkansas, and the western edge of Tennessee including the Memphis area. |
| Gold Key | Loaner garb and gear for newcomers that is often made available through the local office of the Chatelaine. |
| GOofS | Greater Officer(s) of State |
| Grace | When used as Your Grace, a form of address for a Duke or Duchess. |
| Grant Level | Those awards granted in the Kingdom of Ansteorra that grant the rank of an Award of Arms if one hasn't been given |
| Grant of Arms | The second level of rank-bearing award given by the Crown. If not presented in conjunction with any other title-bearing award, it gives the recipient the right to use the title of The Honorable Lord/Lady and the form of address of Your Lordship/Ladyship. See also Armigerous. |
| Guild | A group of people who have chosen to study a particular skill or area of interest. Membership is usually open to anyone with interest. |
| Gulf War | A week long war between Ansteorra and Trimaris. Hosted by Gleann Abhann; It is held annually in the spring. |
| Heavy List (Heavy Weapons) | A term used to denote SCA-style armored combat, as opposed to fencing. |
| Herald | A herald (lowercase) is anyone who practices any of the arts of heraldry. A Herald (uppercase) is a Kingdom or Society level herald, or someone who has been granted this title for their great contribution to the heraldic arts. The title is often used with a descriptive appellation, indicating the specific office held. As an example, Brigantia Herald is the East Kingdom Herald. |
| Heraldic | Of or having to do with heraldry. |
| Heraldry | The collection of arts pertaining to coats of arms, names, and verbal proclamation. |
| HG | Abbreviation for Hellsgate |
| Highness | When used as Your Highness, a form of address for a Prince or Princess. |
| Historian | The officer responsible for collecting and creating histories of the group. |
| Hold! | A warning cry. When you hear it, stop whatever you are doing and hold still until you can determine why it was called and/or until the dangerous situation is corrected. |
| Honorable Lady, The | The title for a lady who has a Grant of Arms. |
| Honorable Laird, The | The title for a laird who has a Grant of Arms. |
| Honorable Lord, The | The title for a lord who has a Grant of Arms. |
| Hospitaller | A gender-neutral variant of Chatelaine. |
| Household | A group of people who have chosen to ally themselves together for any number of reasons. Households can be composed of people with similar personas, similar interests, or just groups of friends. Membership criteria and methods of joining vary from household to household. |
| Huzzah | used to express approval or delight; hurrah. |
| Illumination | Decorative miniature artwork that accompanies text, as in historical manuscripts or Society scrolls. See also Calligraphy. |
| Investiture | The ceremony in which a Baron and/or Baroness or a Prince and Princess of a Principality are formally declared as heads of their Barony or rulers of their Principality. |
| Jongleur | An instrumental musician. See also Bard. |
| King | Tradtionally, the male member of the pair that rules the Kingdom. However, there are no gender requirements for ruling a Kingdom. |
| Kingdom | Any of the twenty geographical areas that the world is divided into in the context of the SCA, each of which ruled by a King and Queen. |
| Knight | A Companion of the Order of the Chivalry who has chosen to swear fealty to the Crown. |
| Knight Marshal | The marshal for a local branch. |
| Knowne Worlde | A term used to refer to the areas of the world in which the Society has a presence. Also used to refer to the world in its entirety, but defined as according to Society boundaries. |
| Lady | Traditionally, a lady (lowercase) is any female person. A Lady (capital) is a lady who has received her Award of Arms, and it is also her title. Individuals do not need to be female to use the title Lady |
| Ladyship | When used as Your Ladyship, a form of address for a lady who has a Grant of Arms. |
| Laird/Laide | Gender-neutral version of Lord/Lady. Lowercase is any person. Lairde (uppercase) is lairde who has received his Award of Arms, and it is also their title. |
| Landed Nobility | ceremonial head of a region |
| Laurel | A Companion of the Order of the Laurel, which is the Society level polling order for skill in the arts and sciences. |
| Light! | A term used to describe a blow as insufficient |
| Light Weapons | Rapier combat |
| List Master | The officer responsible for maintaining records on fighters and overseeing the running of tournament lists. See also: List Mistress, Minister of the Lists |
| List Mistress | The officer responsible for maintaining records on fighters and overseeing the running of tournament lists. See also: List Master, Minister of the Lists |
| Listfield (List) | The area in which combat takes place, usually marked with ropes around the perimeter. List is also used to refer to the list of fighters competing in a tournament. |
| Livery | Garb or accessories, usually made for many people and made to match or coordinate, that indicate membership or servitude to a particular branch, group, or person. |
| Lochac | Kingdom composed of Australia and New Zealand, and parts of China. |
| Lord | Traditionally, a lord (lowercase) is any male person. A Lord (capital) is a lord who has received his Award of Arms, and it is also his title. Individuals do not need to be male to use to the title Lord. |
| Lordship | When used as Your Lordship, a form of address for a lord who has a Grant of Arms. |
| Majesty | When used as Your Majesty, a form of address for a King or Queen. |
| Man-at-Arms | A person who has entered into a student relationship with a fighter.See also: Woman-at-Arms |
| Marshal | The officer responsible for martial activities, particularly in overseeing them to ensure safety. |
| Master | The title for a someone who is a Companion of a Peerage Order. See also: Mistress |
| Master-at-Arms | A Companion of the Order of the Chivalry who has chosen not to swear fealty to the Crown. |
| Mead | An alcoholic beverage derived from fermented honey. |
| Melee | A fight in which teams of two or more compete against eachother. See also Single-Combat. |
| Meridies | Kingdom composed of Alabama; almost all of Georgia; all of Middle and East Tennessee, plus a substantial portion of West Tennessee; a bit of the panhandle of Florida; and a small portion of Kentucky. |
| Midrealm | Kingdom composed of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, lower Michigan, and parts of Kentucky, Iowa and Ontario. also known as The Middle Kingdom |
| Minister | A gender-neutral title used for an officer responsible for a particular activity. Often substituted with Master or Mistress, as appropriate for the specific individual currently holding the position. |
| Minister of Arts and Sciences (MOAS) | The officer responsible for encouraging work in the Arts and Sciences. |
| Minister of the Lists (MOL) | The officer responsible for maintaining records on fighters and overseeing the running of tournament lists. See also: List Mistress |
| Mistress | The title for a someone who is a Companion of a Peerage Order. See also: Master |
| Mundane | Any thing or person that is not of the Society. Note that this word can be perceived as an insult, and so its use is discouraged. In its place, use Modern. |
| NCA | Newcomer's Academy |
| Non-Armigerous | hose awards granted in the Kingdom of Ansteorra that do NOT grant any additional rank. |
| Noble | |
| Northshield | kingdom composed of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the upper peninsula of Michigan. It also extends into Canada, encompassing Manitoba and northwestern Ontario. |
| Order | A group composed of all recipients of a particular award. |
| Order of Precedence (OP) | A listing of those gentles who have received awards, arranged in order of rank. Also used to refer to any ordering based upon rank. |
| Out of Period (OOP) | Anything outside of or later than the Society time period. |
| Outlands | Kingdom composed of New Mexico and Colorado, parts of Wyoming, the Nebraska panhandle, El Paso County and the Hudspeth County in Texas. |
| Oyez! | A cry that is a request for attention. When you hear it, please cease any conversation or noise-making activity until the person has made their announcement. |
| Page | A child who serves as an attendant to a person or group, particularly by running errands, carrying messages, and performing like tasks. |
| Patent of Arms (Patent) | The third and highest level rank-bearing award given by the Crown, which makes the recipient a Peer. See also Armigerous. |
| Peer | A person who has received a Patent of Arms and who is considered to embody the ideals of chivalry and courtesy. |
| Peerage Level | The highest level of awards (not titles) attaionable in the SCA |
| Peerage Order | Any of the Orders which is accompanied by a Patent of Arms. Specifically, the orders of the Chivalry, the Laurel, the Pelican, and the Rose. |
| Pelican | A Companion of the Order of the Pelican, which is the Society level polling order for service. |
| Pennsic War | An annual war between the Kingdom of the East and The Middle Kingdom held in western Pennsylvania. It is the largest Society event, with attendance in recent years ranging near 10,000. |
| Pentathlon (Pent) | Often used to refer to an Arts & Sciences Pentathlon, which is a form of competition in which an entrant must enter five or more categories. |
| Period | Within or accurate for the Society time period. |
| Persona | A person that someone pretends to be in the context of the SCA. While a persona cannot be anyone who actually did exist in period, they should be someone who could have. |
| Polling Order | An Order for which it is required that the Crown consult the Companions regarding potential members. |
| Port | A branch that exists at a military installation. |
| Porta-Castle | Common slang for portable or chemical toilets. |
| Post-Revel | A gathering or party held after an event, usually at a member's house, and often in modern clothing. |
| Prince | Traditionally, either the male heir to the Crown of a Kingdom, or the male member of the pair that rules a Principality, however princes are not required to be male. |
| Princess | Traditionally, either the female heir to the Crown of a Kingdom, or the female member of the pair that rules a Principality, however princesses do not need to be female. |
| Principality | A subdivision of a Kingdom containing multiple branches that has a Prince and Princess that reign over it. |
| Protégé | Someone who has entered into a formal, frequently fealty based, student relationship with a Companion of the Order of the Pelican. |
| Province | A larger branch that can contain sub-branches, but which has chosen to not have any ceremonial head. |
| Proof of membership | A photocopy of your membership card or letter from the Member Portal (members.sca.org) |
| Provost | Someone who has entered into a formal, frequently fealty based, student relationship with a Companion of the Order of of the Master of Defense |
| Pursuivant | The herald for a local branch, often used with a descriptive appellation, indicating the specific office held (eg. Halberd Pursuivant) |
| Queen | Tradtionally, the female member of the pair that rules the Kingdom. However, there are no gender requirements for ruling a Kingdom. |
| Rattan | A plant similar to bamboo but solid throughout, used for making heavy list weapons. |
| Regalia | Garb, accessories, or decorations signifying rank, membership in an order, or the presence of an individual or group. |
| Remove | A post-period but commonly used word for a course of a feast, the period term being course. |
| Rialto | A Society-wide newsgroup, rec.org.sca |
| Riding | A sub-branch of a Province. |
| Right of Arms | An indicator that a person has achieved a specified title, position, or prize by winning a tournament. As an example, a Queen by right of arms would be a lady who won a Crown Tournament, as opposed to one fought for by a lord who won. |
| Right to Bear Arms | Someone with the right to bear arms can register a device with the College of Heralds |
| Rose | A Companion of the Order of the Rose, which is a Society level order composed of former Royal Consorts. |
| Royal Peer | Someone who has received a Patent of Arms for their service as King, Queen, Prince, or Princess. |
| Royal Progress (RP) | An event at which the Crown will be present and hold Court. |
| Royalty | Anyone who is a King, Queen, Prince, Princess, or heir to a Principality. |
| Rules of the List | The rules for combat. |
| SCA | An abbreviation for the Society for Creative Anachronism. See also Society. |
| SCA Name | The name someone uses in the Society. |
| SCAdian | Of or having to do with the Society. A member of the Society. |
| Schola | An event at which the principal focus is a variety of classes offered throughout the day. Also called Collegium or University. |
| Scribe | An artist who produces scrolls. |
| Scroll | A piece of artwork containing calligraphy and usually also illumination, given to an award recipient at the time that they are given an award, and that serves as an official record of the award. |
| Seneschal | The executive officer for a branch, responsible for overseeing other officers and serving as liaison between the Society and the modern world. |
| Shire | A smaller branch that cannot contain any sub-branches. |
| Sideboard | Lunch or food during the day. Sometimes an event will provide a dayboard but usually people bring their own. See also: Dayboard |
| Single-Combat | A fight in which two opponents compete one-on-one. See also Melee. |
| Sir | The title for a Knight. |
| Site | The location where an event is held. |
| Site Fee | The fee required in order to attend an event. |
| Society | An abbreviation for the Society for Creative Anachronism. See also SCA. |
| Squire | Someone who has entered into a fealty based student relationship with a Companion of the Order of the Chivalry. |
| Stronghold | A branch that exists at a military installation. |
| Sub-Branch | A branch that is subsidiary to another branch within a Kingdom or Principality (eg. Stronghold of Hellsgate is subsidiary to the Barony of Bryn Gwlad) |
| Tournament/Tourney | A competition in SCA fighting or fencing. Some styles of tournaments are: Pas d’Arms, Bearpit, Double-Elimination, Round-Robin, and Ransom tourneys. |
| Trencher | A shallow, lipped platter, often of wood or metal, or even bread, used for serving food or as a plate. |
| Token | A small bauble sometimes given to participants when they attend an event. There are typically two types: site and feast. |
| Trimaris | Kingdom composed of Majority of Florida; lays claim to Panama. |
| Troll | The table located at the entrance to an event at which people check in and pay site fees. Troll is also sometimes used to refer to the person working at this table. See also Gate. |
| University | An event at which the principal focus is a variety of classes offered throughout the day. Also called Collegium or Schola. |
| Vigil | A sequestered period of reflection in which a person contemplates becoming a Companion of a Peerage Order. |
| Vivat! | A cheer. Literally translating to "Live!", it is used to express appreciation for someone or something, and is often sounded three times. Note that vivat is the singular form and that vivant is the plural. |
| Viscount | A lord who has been Prince of a Principality once. |
| Viscountess | A lady who has been Princess of a Principality once. |
| War | An event centered around a battle or battles in which the opposing sides are "warring" branches |
| Waiver | a release of liability form signed when you purchase SCA membership. Non-members must sign waivers at events and martial practices. |
| Warlord | The person responsible for strategy and tactics for a war |
| Water Bearing | water and refreshments provided at an event to members of the populace |
| Webminister | Officer in charge of group website. |
| West Kingdom | Kingdom composed of Northern California, most of Nevada, and Alaska, as well as Japan, Korea, Thailand, and the Pacific Rim (excluding Australia and New Zealand). |
| Wet Site | A site at which any alcoholic beverage is permitted. See also Damp Site and Dry Site |
| Woman-at-Arms | A person who has entered into a student relationship with a fighter. See also: Man-at-arms |
| White Scaf, order of | A non-Armigerous award given in the Kingdom of Ansteorra for exceptional skill and abilities in rapier combat. Companions of the Order wear a white scarf about the left shoulder or above the left elbow. |