Dawnflight (64 page)

Annàm (ahn-NAIM), Lord.
Caledonach demon overlord; a.k.a. “the Adversary.” Annaomh’s twin brother; leader of the evil Samhraidhean of the Otherworld, symbolized by a pair of crossed bloody cudgels. Name origin: Scottish Gaelic
an nàmh
(“the enemy”).

Annaomh (AHN-nuh), Lord.
Caledonach supreme deity; ruler of the Otherworld and leader of the Army of the Blest, symbolized by the sun. In Caledonach mythology, his evil twin brother is Annàm. Name origin: Scottish Gaelic
an naomh
(“the saint”).

Antonine Wall, The.
Latin:
Antoninorum murum
. Caledonaiche:
Am Balla Tuat
(“The North Wall”). Frontier fortification built in southern Scotland by Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius in the mid-second century A.D. Extends from the Firth of Forth to the Firth of Clyde.

Arbroch (AR-brock; Caledonaiche, “Exalted Town”).
Brytonic:
Ardoca
. Latin:
Alauna Veniconum
. Seat of Clan Argyll and home fortress of Gyanhumara and Ogryvan; Roman fort captured in 1st century A.D. by the Caledonaich, located near the present-day village of Braco in Perthshire, Scotland. Caledonaiche origin: Scottish Gaelic
àrd
(“exalted”),
broch
(“burgh”).

àrd-banoigin (aird-ban-UH-ghin; pl. àrd-banoigainn; Caledonaiche, “exalted heir-bearer(s)”).
The female member of the ruling family through whom the clan’s line of succession is determined. Typically, the clan’s chieftainess serves as àrd-banoigin while she is of childbearing age and passes this status to a daughter or niece when the younger woman reaches physical maturity. Origin: Scottish Gaelic
àrd
(“exalted”),
ban
(“woman”),
oighre
(“heir”),
gin
(“beget”).

Àrd-Ceann Teine-Beathach Mór (aird-KAY-ahn TEE-nay BAYah-tahk more; Caledonaiche, “High-Chief Great Fire-Beast”).
Since Caledonaiche has no word for “dragon,” this is the closest that the Caledonaich can come to rendering “Pendragon” in their language. Usually, they don’t bother. Origin: Scottish Gaelic
ceannard
(“leader;” I switched the suffix to a prefix for consistency with other invented terms),
teine
(“fire”),
beathach
(“beast”),
mór
(“great”). There is no word for “dragon” in Scottish Gaelic, either. The word
nathrach
, which is used in the “Charm of Making” by the characters Merlin and Morganna in the 1981 movie
Excalibur
, means “snake.”

àrd-ceoigin (aird-kayUH-ghin; pl. àrd-ceoiginich; Caledonaiche, “exalted heir-begetter(s)”).
The consort of the clan’s àrd-banoigin. Marrying the àrd-banoigin gives the man access to her wealth but does not automatically grant him the chieftainship of her clan. Modern analogy: Queen Elizabeth II’s husband, Prince Phillip. Origin: Scottish Gaelic
àrd
(“exalted”),
céile
(“husband”),
oighre
(“heir”),
gin
(“beget”).

àrd-oighre (aird-EER-eh; pl. àrd-oighreachan; Caledonaiche, “exalted heir(s)”).
The male heir of the àrd-banoigin and àrd-ceoigin. The àrd-oighre may serve as clan chieftain in the event that the àrd-ceoigin is dead or incapacitated, upon ratification of a vote by the clan’s elders and the chieftainess. Origin: Scottish Gaelic
àrd
(“exalted”),
oighre
(“heir”).

Argyll (AR-gayeel; “The Tempestuous People”), Clan.
Caledonaiche:
Argaillanaich Chaledon
(poss.
h’Argaillanaich
; “of Clan Argyll”). Member of the Caledonach Confederacy. The clan’s name tracks to the former County of Argyll, Scotland, though at this point in the story, the clan hasn’t yet expanded in that direction. Banner: two silver mourning doves in flight, on dark blue. Cloak pattern: dark blue crossed with saffron and scarlet. Gemstone: sapphire. Name origin: Scottish Gaelic
ar gailleann
(“our tempest”).

Armorica (Latin).
Brytoni-settled region of Brittany, France.

Army of the Blest, The.
Caledonaiche:
Sluagh na Beannaich
. The host of dead Caledonach warriors whose souls reside in the Otherworld. Origin: Scottish Gaelic
sluagh
(“host”),
beannaich
(“to bless”).

Attacot(s) (Latin).
Scáthaichean:
Aítachait
. Name applied to one or more inhabitants of the western portion of Eireann.

Attacotti (Latin).
Scáthaichean:
Aítachasan
. Of or pertaining to the inhabitants of the western portion of Eireann.

Aurelia (pl. Aurelii; Latin).
One of the original Roman patrician families; its progeny includes 2nd-century A.D. Roman emperors Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius, and in this story, Ambrosius Aurelius Constantinus, Merlinus Aurelius Ambrosius Dubricius, Vetarus Aurelius Constantinus, Arturus Aurelius Vetarus, and Morganna Aurelia Vetara.

Ayr Point.
Northernmost Brytoni signal-beacon site on the Isle of Maun, now called Point of Ayre.

badge.
Rank insignia worn by members of the Brytoni army: a cloak-pin fashioned in the shape of the legion’s symbol (e.g., dragon). Enlistees’ badges are bone or hardwood. Officers’ badges are wrought of different metals depending on rank and are ringed by green (infantry), red (cavalry), or blue (navy) enamel, or a combination thereof, to indicate breadth of command. If the officer is of the nobility, the badge includes a gemstone representing the clan’s dominant color.

banais-geall (Caledonaiche, “betrothal”).
Origin: Scottish Gaelic
banais
(“marriage”),
geall
(“promise”).

banasròn (bah-nah-SRONE; Caledonaiche, “woman’s head”).
Euphemism for female genitalia. Origin: Scottish Gaelic
ban
(“woman”),
sròn
(“headland”).

bannock.
Small, hard cake made from barley or oat meal and cooked on an open griddle.

banrìgh (BAN-ree; Caledonaiche, “chieftainess”).
Origin: Scottish Gaelic
ban-rìgh
(“queen;” literally, “woman-king”).

Bear Cohort.
Latin:
Cohortis Ursus
. Unit in the Brytoni army stationed at Caerglas consisting of one ala and nine centuries.

beathach (BAYah-tahk; Caledonaiche, “beast”).
Origin: Scottish Gaelic.

1. An element of the Caledonaiche term for “Pendragon,”
   Àrd-Ceann Teine-
   Beathach
   Mór.
   
2. An epithet often used affectionately.
   

Belteine (bell-TEE-nay; pl. Beltean; Caledonaiche, “Passion Fire”).
Brytonic:
Beltain
. Fertility ritual celebrated by non-Christian Caledonaich and Breatanaich culminating on May 1 with firelight activities that would make a Ròmanach orgy participant blush. Caledonaiche name origin: Scottish Gaelic
boil
(“passion”),
teine
(“fire”).

betrothal-band, -mark.
Caledonaiche:
lorg a’bhanais-geall
(fem., “mark of the betrothal;” m.,
aileadh a’bhanais-geall
). A tattoo roughly one inch wide, depicting two ropes braided together, usually painted with dye extracted from the woad plant. By Caledonach custom, this mark is inscribed around the left wrist of the àrd-banoigin and her future consort as a visible display of their promises. Origin: Scottish Gaelic
lorg
(“mark,” fem.),
aileadh
(“mark” or “scar,” m.).

Boar of Moray, The.
Symbol of Clan Moray of Dalriada, a black boar on a field of gold; also referred to as “the Black Boar.”

bonding ritual.
Caledonaiche:
dean am bann naomh
(“make the holy bond”). The Caledonach ceremony wherein the àrd-banoigin is tattooed with her consort’s clan-mark and he with hers. Origin: Scottish Gaelic
dean
(“to make”),
am bann
(“the bond”),
naomh
(“holy”).

Braonshaffir (BRINE-sha-feer; Caledonaiche, “A Drop of Sapphire”).
Gyanhumara’s sword, named for its distinguishing feature. Name origin: Scottish Gaelic
braon
(“a drop”),
shaffir
(“of sapphire,” transliterated from Latin
sapphirus
and rendered with possessive form (
sh-
)).

Breatan (BRAYah-tan; poss. Bhreatan (VRAYah-tan); Caledonaiche, “(of the) Bryton”).
Terms used by the Caledonaich to refer to a single Brytoni individual; also may be translated as “(of the) Deceiver.” Origin: Scottish Gaelic
Breatunn
(“Britain” and “British”),
bràth
(“to deceive”).

Breatanach (brayah-TAN-nack; poss. Bhreatanach (vrayah-TAN-nack), pl. Breatanaich (brayah-TAN-ache), poss. pl. Bhreatanaich (vrayah-TAN-ache); Caledonaiche, “(of the) Bryton(s)”).
Terms used by the Caledonaich to refer to one or more inhabitants of western and mid-Brydein; also may be translated as “(of the) Deceivers.” Origin: Scottish Gaelic
Breatunnach
(“a Briton”),
bràth
(“to deceive”).

Breatanaiche (BRAYah-tan-eesh; Caledonaiche, “tongue of the Brytons”).
Term used by the Caledonaich to refer to the Brytonic language.

Brin.
Gyanhumara’s horse (black gelding).

Brydein (BREE-dane; Brytonic).
Latin:
Britannia
. Caledonaiche:
Breatein
(poss.
Bhreatein
, “(of) Brydein”). Britain, a.k.a. the Island of the Mighty.

Bryton(s) (BREE-tone).
Name applied to one or more inhabitants of western and mid-Brydein.

Brytoni (bree-TOE-nee).
Of or pertaining to the inhabitants of western and mid-Brydein.

Brytonic (bree-TOE-nick).
The native language of the Brytons, also known as “Brythonic” or
P-Celtic
in present-day anthropological usage.

Caer Alclyd (care ALL-cleed; Brytonic, “Fort of Clyde Rock”).
Caledonaiche:
Dùn Bhreatanaich
(“Fort of the Brytons”). Brytoni-controlled fortress on the north bank of the Firth of Clyde, home of Alain and Yglais, located near the western end of the Antonine Wall in the present-day town of Dumbarton, Dunbartonshire, Scotland. Caledonaiche name origin: Scottish Gaelic
dùn
(“fortress”), plus my invented term,
Bhreatanaich
(“of the Brytons”).

Caer Lugubalion (Brytonic, “Fort of Lugh’s Strength”).
Latin:
Luguvalium
(“Lugh’s Valley”). Caledonaiche:
Dùn Lùth Lhugh
(doon LOOT hloo, “Fort of Lugh’s Power”). Brytoni-controlled fortress near the western end of Hadrian’s Wall, headquarters of the Dragon Legion of Brydein, located in what is now Carlisle, Cumbria, England. Caledonaiche name origin: Scottish Gaelic
dùn
(“fortress”),
lùths
(“power”), and my invented possessive form of the name Lugh,
Lhugh
.

Caer Rushen (care ROO-shen; Brytonic, “Rush’s Fort”).
Brytoni-controlled fortress near the southernmost tip of the Isle of Maun, located in present-day Castletown, Isle of Man.

Caerglas (Brytonic, “Green Fort”).
Caledonaiche:
Dùn Ghlas
(“Locked Fort”). Brytoni-controlled fortress on the western end of the Antonine Wall that doubles as a garrison and headquarters of the Brytoni fleet, located in present-day Glasgow, Scotland. Caledonaiche name origin: Scottish Gaelic
dùn
(“fortress”),
ghlas
(“locked”).

Caleberyllus (kah-leh-BARE-ill-us; Latin, “Burning Jewel”).
Arthur’s sword, known through various sources as Caliburnus, Caliburn, Caledfwlch, and Excalibur. This name is my invention, derived from the Latin words
calere
(heat, origin of “calorie”) and
beryllus
(beryl, a classification of gem) as a poetic description of the sword’s distinguishing feature. Technically, a ruby is a cabochon, not a beryl, but I suspect that nobody was making that fine a distinction in the 5th century A.D.

Caledfwlch (kah-LED-vulk; Brytonic, “Caledonia’s Bane”).
The nickname for Caleberyllus coined by Cai after the Battle of Abar-Gleann, which Arthur rejected because he was more interested in forging a meaningful alliance than in rubbing anyone’s nose in his victory. Name origin: Old Welsh of disputed translation, though the
caled-
element is derived from proto-Celtic and is generally agreed to mean “hard.”

Caledon (KAL-eh-don; poss. Chaledon (HAL-eh-don); Caledonaiche, “(of the) Place of the Hard People”).
The name the Caledonaich apply to their territory, encompassing what is now the Scottish Highlands and northern Lowlands. Origin: Pictish/proto-Celtic
caled
(“hard”).

Caledonach (kah-leh-DON-ack, “Caledonian;” Caledonaich (kah-leh-DON-ache), “Caledonians” and “The Hard People;” Caledonaiche (kah-leh-DON-eesh),“Caledonian language;” Chaledonach (hal-eh-DON-ack), “Caledonian’s” or “of the Caledonian;” Chaledonaich (hal-eh-DON-ache), “Caledonians’” or “of the Caledonians”).
Idiomatic terms of my own invention, based on Scottish Gaelic linguistic rules for indicating group membership (
-ach
(sing.) and
-aich
(pl.) suffixes), and the possessive form (
Ch-
prefix). Language designation (
-aiche
suffix) is my own invention.

Caledonach Confederacy, Caledonian Confederacy.
Caledonaiche:
Na Cairdean Caledonach
(“The Caledonian Friends”). Caledonach political entity. Member-clans mainly consist of those living closest to Breatanach-controlled territories. Historically, the region of Caledonia may have been divided into seven major kingdoms, each with many client-kingdoms, and it most likely wasn’t a united nation. Caledonaiche name origin: Scottish Gaelic
na cairdean
(“the friends”), plus my invented term,
Caledonach
(“Caledonian”).

Caledonach law, Caledonian law.
Caledonaiche:
Sgianan na Chaledonaich
(“Laws of the Caledonians”). Unwritten code memorized and recited by seannachaidhean, and administered by priests. Caledonaiche phrase origin: Scottish Gaelic
sgianan
(“knives”), plus my invented term,
Chaledonaich
(“of the Caledonians”). Although there is a word in Scottish Gaelic meaning “law” (
dlighe
), I opted for a more poetic approach.

Caledonia (Latin).
The name that Latin- and Brytonic-speakers apply to the home of the Caledonaich, the region encompassing what is now the Scottish Highlands and northern Lowlands.