A womans veil, in time a simple strip of

fabric that framed the face, covering the

ears.

Barbe
(Barbette)

The forerunner of trousers. They consisted

of two pant legs, which werent
necessarily joined.

A womans veil, in time a simple strip of

fabric that framed the face, covering the
ears.

Barbe
(Barbette)

The forerunner of trousers. They consisted

of two pant legs, which werent
necessarily joined.

Chausses Chausses

An overtunic, often richly decorated with

furs and/or heraldic designs. Styles varied
over the course of the Middle Ages and
Renaissance.

Surcote

Ornamental handwriting.

Calligrap
hy

An overtunic, often richly decorated with

furs and/or heraldic designs. Styles varied
over the course of the Middle Ages and
Renaissance.

Surcote

Ornamental handwriting.

Calligrap

hy

Makeup, based on medieval ideals of

beauty, could be poisonous, e.g., some
ladies used white lead to make their skin
look pale.

Makeup, based on medieval ideals of

beauty, could be poisonous, e.g., some
ladies used white lead to make their skin
look pale.

Maquillag Maquillag
e
e

Fortified central building of a castle.

Fortified central building of a castle.

Dungeon/Donj
on

Dungeon/Donjo
n

Anon-- instantly, right away, it came

t o m e a n e v e n t u a l l y .

Anon-- instantly, right away, it came

to mean eventually.

Awful-- full of awe, awe-inspiring, a

compliment.

Awful-- full of awe, awe-inspiring, a

compliment.

Knave-- male child, boy, servant or

man of low birth.

Knave-- male child, boy, servant or

man of low birth.

O y e z - - c a l l f o r a t t e n t i o n , e s s e n t i a l l y:
A l l o f Ye l i s t e n !

O y e z - - c a l l f o r a t t e n ti o n , e s s e n t i a l l y:
A l l o f Ye l i s t e n !

Va r l e t - - k n a v e , a t t e n d a n t , y o u t h
a c t i n g a s p a g e t o a k n i g h t . { L i ke
k n a v e , t h i s e v e n t u a l l y a c q u i re d
n e g a t i ve c o n n o t a t i o n s e q u i v a l e n t t o
c a l l i n g a m a n : b o y. }

Va r l e t - - k n a v e , a t t e n d a n t , y o u t h
a c t i n g a s p a g e t o a k n i g h t . { L i ke
k n a v e , t h i s e v e n t u a l l y a c q u i re d
negative connotations equivalent to
c a l l i n g a m a n : b o y. }

Z o u n d s - - a s e ri o u s o a t h ( s w e a r
w o rd ) , s h o r t f o r G o d s Wo u n d s .

Z o u n d s - - a s e r i o u s o a t h ( s w e a r w o rd ) ,
s h o r t f o r G o d s Wo u n d s .

Slang
Terms

Slang
Terms

Horizontal slice of bread used as a plate.

If you werent too hungry, your uneaten
trencher would be collected and given as
alms to the poor.

Trencher

Loose undergarment worn by men &

women as underwear, nightgown & (on
rare occasion) swimsuit.

Chemise

Horizontal slice of bread used as a plate. If

you werent too hungry, your uneaten
trencher would be collected and given as
alms to the poor.

Trencher

Loose undergarment worn by men &

women as underwear, nightgown & (on
rare occasion) swimsuit.

Chemise

Item that a lady presented a lord to show

her esteem and support. Lords wore them
to indicate that they fought for a
particular ladys honour.

Favor/Favo
ur

Bloodletting, by either leeching or

bleeding, thought to be a cure for many
ills.

Cupping

Item that a lady presented a lord to show

her esteem and support. Lords wore them
to indicate that they fought for a particular
ladys honour.

Favor/Favou
r

Bloodletting, by either leeching or

bleeding, thought to be a cure for many
ills.

Cupping

Science of creating, recording, and

reading Coats of Arms, which identified
members of the nobility.

Heraldry

A 'closet' where wastechutes were located

because the smell discouraged moths.

Science of creating, recording, and

reading Coats of Arms, which identified
members of the nobility.

Heraldry

A 'closet' where wastechutes were located

because the smell discouraged moths.

Garderob Garderob

Alcoholic drink made with fermented

honey.

Mead

Pit or cell under a donjon, where prisoners

might be thrown and forgotten.

Alcoholic drink made with fermented

honey.

Mead

Pit or cell under a donjon, where prisoners

might be thrown and forgotten.

Oubliette Oubliette

Rare dish, exotic in taste, preparation, or

appearance. Illusion foods were a type of
subtletie that looked like something they
were not.

Subtletie
(Subtlety)

Quilted jacket first worn as armor, later

worn as padding under other armor.

Rare dish, exotic in taste, preparation, or

appearance. Illusion foods were a type of
subtletie that looked like something they
were not.

Subtletie
(Subtlety)

Quilted jacket first worn as armor, later

worn as padding under other armor.

Gambeso
n

Generic term for belt, some were very

wide and tight, others were long & metal
or jewel encrusted.

Girdle

Gambeso
n

Generic term for belt, some were very

wide and tight, others were long & metal
or jewel encrusted.

Girdle

Four body fluids that were believed to

govern an individuals health and
personality: blood, phlegm, black bile and
yellow bile.

Humors/Humo
urs

Illustration and colorful ornamentation

appearing on manuscript pages.

Illuminatio
n

Four body fluids that were believed to

govern an individuals health and
personality: blood, phlegm, black bile and
yellow bile.

Humors/Humou
rs

Illustration and colorful ornamentation

appearing on manuscript pages.

Illuminatio