Glossary

Arrow loop: A narrow opening or slit in a castle’s wall or battlement, used to fire arrows from within.

Bailey: The inner yard of a castle, between a defensive wall and the inner tower.

Bairn (pronounced BERN): Scots for “child.”

Battlement: The top of a castle wall or tower, usually featuring spaced openings through which its warriors fight.

Crenulated: Used to describe a piece of stonework, such as a battlement, with thick square pieces (merlons) with wide gaps (crenels) between them.

Crossguard (part of a sword): A horizontal piece of metal on the hilt just above the blade that protects the hand on the grip.

Curtain wall: The defensive outer wall of a castle. There can be more than one.

Demesne (pronounced de-MAIN): The lord’s share of crops, designated as specific sections of a field. In feudal societies, lords own many individual towns and villages, and the people of those places pay to live there with those crops.

Grip (part of a sword): The middle part of the hilt between the pommel and the crossguard; it’s what you hold.

Hauberk (pronounced HALL-berk): A shirt of chain mail that covers the neck, shoulders, arms, and chest, and reaches past the hips.

Helm: A helmet, part of a knight’s armor that protects the head.

Hilt (part of a sword): The entire top section of a sword (everything that comes above the blade itself).

Hull: The underside or body of a boat or ship.

Inner bailey: The fortified inner wall of a castle directly before the tower or keep.

Keep: The inner building or tower of a castle, protected by outer fortifications, and thus its safest place.

Pommel (part of a sword): The shaped end of a sword’s hilt, which sticks out beyond the hand and serves as a counterweight.

Portcullis: A gate made of metal or wood (or both) with a series of spikes across the bottom. It slides between two grooves in a gatehouse, raised and lowered from within. It’s an essential part of a castle’s defense.

Surcoat: A long, loose, sleeveless garment worn over chain mail, reaching the knees, usually with a heraldic emblem on the front (Faintree Castle’s is a blue tree).