| Lapine Glossary |
"Watership Down" by Richard Adams
Bob-stones: A traditional game
among rabbits.
among rabbits.
Crixa,the: The center of Efrafa, at the
crossing point of two bridal paths.
crossing point of two bridal paths.
Efrafa: The name of the warren
founded by General Woundwort.
founded by General Woundwort.
El-ahrairah: The rabbit folk hero. The
name (Elil-hrair-rah) means
"Enemies-Thousand-Prince"
ie. Prince with a Thousand Enemies
name (Elil-hrair-rah) means
"Enemies-Thousand-Prince"
ie. Prince with a Thousand Enemies
Elil: Enemies (of rabbits)
Ni-Frith: Noon.
Embleer: Stinking,e.g. the smell of a
fox.
fox.
Nildro-hain: "Blackbird's Song". The
name of a doe.
name of a doe.
Flay: Food, e.g. grass or other green
fodder.
fodder.
Owsla: The strongest rabbits in a
warren, the ruling clique.
warren, the ruling clique.
Flayrah: Unusually good food, e.g.
lettuce.
lettuce.
Frith: The sun, personified as a god by
rabbits. Frithrah!=the lord Sun-used
as an exclamation.
rabbits. Frithrah!=the lord Sun-used
as an exclamation.
Owslafa: The Council police (a word
found only in Efrafa).
found only in Efrafa).
Pfeffa: A cat
Fu Inle': After moonrise.
Hlao: Any dimple or depression in the
grass, which can hold moisture.
Also, the name of a rabbit.
grass, which can hold moisture.
Also, the name of a rabbit.
Rah: A prince, leader or chief rabbit.
Usually used as a suffix. E.g.
Threarah=Lord Threar
Usually used as a suffix. E.g.
Threarah=Lord Threar
Roo: Used as a suffix to denote a
diminutive. E.g. Hrairoo
diminutive. E.g. Hrairoo
Hlao-roo: "Little Hlao". An
affectionate diminutive of the name
of Hlao, one of the rabbits in the story.
affectionate diminutive of the name
of Hlao, one of the rabbits in the story.
Sayn: Groundsel
Hlessi: A rabbit living above ground,
without a regular hole or warren. A
wandering rabbit living in the open.
(Plural: hlessil)
without a regular hole or warren. A
wandering rabbit living in the open.
(Plural: hlessil)
Silf: Outside, that is, not underground
Silflay: To go above ground to feed.
Literally, to feed outside. Also used as
a noun.
Literally, to feed outside. Also used as
a noun.
Homba: A fox. (Plural: hombil)
Hrair: A great many; an uncountable
number; any number above four. U
Hrair=The Thousand (enemies).
number; any number above four. U
Hrair=The Thousand (enemies).
Thlay: Fur.
Hrairoo: "Little Thousand". The
name of Fiver in Lapine.
name of Fiver in Lapine.
Tharn: Stupefied, distraught,
hypnotized with fear. But can also, in
certain contexts, mean "looking
foolish", or again "heartbroken" or
"forlorn".
hypnotized with fear. But can also, in
certain contexts, mean "looking
foolish", or again "heartbroken" or
"forlorn".
Hraka: Droppings.
Hrududu: A tractor, car or any motor
vehicle.
Plural (hrududil).
vehicle.
Plural (hrududil).
Thethuthinnang: "Movement of
leaves". Also the name of a doe.
leaves". Also the name of a doe.
Hyzenthlay: Literally,
"Shine-dew-fur"=fur shining like
dew. The name of a doe.
"Shine-dew-fur"=fur shining like
dew. The name of a doe.
Thlayli: "Fur-head". A nickname.
Inle': Literally, the moon; also
moonrise.
But a second meaning carries the idea
of darkness, fear and death.
moonrise.
But a second meaning carries the idea
of darkness, fear and death.
Threar: A rowan tree, or mountain
ash.
ash.
Vair: To excrete, pass droppings.
Lendri: A badger.
Yona: A hedgehog. (Plural, yonil).
Marli: A doe. Also carries the
meaning of mother.
meaning of mother.
Zorn: Destroyed, murdered. Denotes
a catastrophe.
a catastrophe.
M'saion: "We meet them."
Narn: Nice, pleasant (to eat).
Page compiled by: Sally Evans My
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A short story by Sally Evans
Shoo and I meeting at the Bridge
Shoo and I meeting at the Bridge