Post by Zaim al-Daleel on Aug 2, 2008 21:32:06 GMT -7
A
Aba (or abba). Robe
Agal. Cord or group of cords designed to hold a keffiyeh or headcloth,snugly to the head.
Ajami. Foreigner. Also the name given to certain specialist classes of wizards.
Ajael .Outworlder, Demon
Al . The (definite article). As a prefix, it may also mean "the house of" or "the tribe of."
Al-Badia. nomads.
Amir (or emir). Ruler of an Emirate.
Askar. The armed citizenry of settlements large and small.
B
Barchan. Crescent-shaped dune, commonly at the desert's edge. The "horns"point away from prevailing winds.
Bit . Copper coin worth 1/100 of a dinar (gold piece).
Blood feud . A battle, often long-standing, between two families, clans, or tribes. It typically begins when one side kills amember of the other, but feels justified in doing so. The other side disagrees and attempts to even the score, launching a cycle of one vengeance killing after another.
C
Caftan. Flowing, ankle-length overgarment, often cinched at the waist with a sash.
Caliph. Spiritual leader and temporal ruler.
Chador. The modest dress of some women employing a full-body robe with a hood, plus a veil or cloth "mask" that may conceal even the wearer's eyes.
Corsair. Seafaring warrior.
D
Daraq. Small, lightweight shield similar to the buckler, favored by desert riders.
Dhow. A ship, particularly of Zakharan manufacture.
Didban. The ship's look-out.
Dinars . Gold coin worth 10 dirham (silver pieces).
Dirah. The territory of a given desert clan, usually about 200 square miles.
Dirham . Copper coin of the Delta worth 1/10 of a silver piece or 10 brass terces.
Dishdashah. Simple tunic, usually worn by farmers and poor merchants.
Dolman. Loose, floor-length robe with sleeves.
E
F
Fakir . mendicant monk who is regarded as a holy man
Faris (pl. farisan). Holy warriors (Paladins)
Fez. Round felt hat, like a cone with a flat top. A tassel roughly as tall as the hat dangles from the top.
G
Gen. A small creature from one of the elemental planes, which may serve as a sha'ir's familiar.
H
Hakima. Wise woman; she has mystical abilities, including the ability to penetrate the veil of magic and perceive the underlying truth. See Haqim.
Harim. (har-REEM) Women's quarters; Also refers to the women who spend time in those quarters.
I
Imam. High Priest.
J
Jambiya. Curved, double-edged dagger commonly employed by desert dwellers.
Jellaba. Heavy "winter aba," worn over the traditional aba and usually made of wool or felt rather than linen.
K
Katar. Short, easily-concealed weapon, sometimes called a "punch dagger."
Kavir. Salt/mud flat; a dangerous terrain in which a saltcrust lies directly over a sea of black, slimy mud.
Keffiyeh. Headcloth.
Koumiss. Drink of fermented mare's milk, very potent.
L
Lamellar. Type of scale mail or banded mail made of overlapping metal (or other substance)plates (lamellas),connected by metal links.
M
Mamluk. A slave warrior, raised for battle and for government
Matrud. Desert thieves; ther are outcasts from their tribes.
N
O
P
Q
Qadi. Judge.
Qal'at. Fortress; a fortified keep, manor, or palace.
R
Rawun. Bards of the desert tribes--tale-spinners, lore-keepers, and entertainers.
Rubban. Captain.
Rubbaniyah. Ship's officers.
S
Safinah. Ship.
Salt bond. A formal bond o f hospitality between host and guest, which lasts 3 days. During that time the host takes responsibility for the guest'swell-being, and the gues agrees no harm shall come to the host--not by the guest's own hand nor by that of his or her family.
Sa l'uk. Thief.
Saluqi. Desert greyhound.
Seif. Also called "sand dune," it is the largest of all dune types. It runs parallel to the desert winds, has a sharp peak, is very rugged, and can extend for hundreds of miles.
Selama (selamlik). Men's quarters; counterpart to harim.
Sha'ir. A wizard with the power to command genies.
Sha'ir Kol. A wizard with the power to command diabolos.
Sheikh. A leader of a tribe, which may be large or small, and is typically nomadic.
Star dune. Twisted mass of sand resembling a starfish.
Suq. Covered marketplace, typically at a city's center.
T
U
V
Vizier. High-ranking advisor to a sultan or amir.
W
Wadi. Seasonal watercourse that floods but once or twice a year, and is otherwise dry and solid.
Whaleback dune. Dune resembling a colossal beached whale. It runs parallel to prevailing winds.
X
Y
Z
Zaruq. Small ship, slightly larger than a barijah.
Aba (or abba). Robe
Agal. Cord or group of cords designed to hold a keffiyeh or headcloth,snugly to the head.
Ajami. Foreigner. Also the name given to certain specialist classes of wizards.
Ajael .Outworlder, Demon
Al . The (definite article). As a prefix, it may also mean "the house of" or "the tribe of."
Al-Badia. nomads.
Amir (or emir). Ruler of an Emirate.
Askar. The armed citizenry of settlements large and small.
B
Barchan. Crescent-shaped dune, commonly at the desert's edge. The "horns"point away from prevailing winds.
Bit . Copper coin worth 1/100 of a dinar (gold piece).
Blood feud . A battle, often long-standing, between two families, clans, or tribes. It typically begins when one side kills amember of the other, but feels justified in doing so. The other side disagrees and attempts to even the score, launching a cycle of one vengeance killing after another.
C
Caftan. Flowing, ankle-length overgarment, often cinched at the waist with a sash.
Caliph. Spiritual leader and temporal ruler.
Chador. The modest dress of some women employing a full-body robe with a hood, plus a veil or cloth "mask" that may conceal even the wearer's eyes.
Corsair. Seafaring warrior.
D
Daraq. Small, lightweight shield similar to the buckler, favored by desert riders.
Dhow. A ship, particularly of Zakharan manufacture.
Didban. The ship's look-out.
Dinars . Gold coin worth 10 dirham (silver pieces).
Dirah. The territory of a given desert clan, usually about 200 square miles.
Dirham . Copper coin of the Delta worth 1/10 of a silver piece or 10 brass terces.
Dishdashah. Simple tunic, usually worn by farmers and poor merchants.
Dolman. Loose, floor-length robe with sleeves.
E
F
Fakir . mendicant monk who is regarded as a holy man
Faris (pl. farisan). Holy warriors (Paladins)
Fez. Round felt hat, like a cone with a flat top. A tassel roughly as tall as the hat dangles from the top.
G
Gen. A small creature from one of the elemental planes, which may serve as a sha'ir's familiar.
H
Hakima. Wise woman; she has mystical abilities, including the ability to penetrate the veil of magic and perceive the underlying truth. See Haqim.
Harim. (har-REEM) Women's quarters; Also refers to the women who spend time in those quarters.
I
Imam. High Priest.
J
Jambiya. Curved, double-edged dagger commonly employed by desert dwellers.
Jellaba. Heavy "winter aba," worn over the traditional aba and usually made of wool or felt rather than linen.
K
Katar. Short, easily-concealed weapon, sometimes called a "punch dagger."
Kavir. Salt/mud flat; a dangerous terrain in which a saltcrust lies directly over a sea of black, slimy mud.
Keffiyeh. Headcloth.
Koumiss. Drink of fermented mare's milk, very potent.
L
Lamellar. Type of scale mail or banded mail made of overlapping metal (or other substance)plates (lamellas),connected by metal links.
M
Mamluk. A slave warrior, raised for battle and for government
Matrud. Desert thieves; ther are outcasts from their tribes.
N
O
P
Q
Qadi. Judge.
Qal'at. Fortress; a fortified keep, manor, or palace.
R
Rawun. Bards of the desert tribes--tale-spinners, lore-keepers, and entertainers.
Rubban. Captain.
Rubbaniyah. Ship's officers.
S
Safinah. Ship.
Salt bond. A formal bond o f hospitality between host and guest, which lasts 3 days. During that time the host takes responsibility for the guest'swell-being, and the gues agrees no harm shall come to the host--not by the guest's own hand nor by that of his or her family.
Sa l'uk. Thief.
Saluqi. Desert greyhound.
Seif. Also called "sand dune," it is the largest of all dune types. It runs parallel to the desert winds, has a sharp peak, is very rugged, and can extend for hundreds of miles.
Selama (selamlik). Men's quarters; counterpart to harim.
Sha'ir. A wizard with the power to command genies.
Sha'ir Kol. A wizard with the power to command diabolos.
Sheikh. A leader of a tribe, which may be large or small, and is typically nomadic.
Star dune. Twisted mass of sand resembling a starfish.
Suq. Covered marketplace, typically at a city's center.
T
U
V
Vizier. High-ranking advisor to a sultan or amir.
W
Wadi. Seasonal watercourse that floods but once or twice a year, and is otherwise dry and solid.
Whaleback dune. Dune resembling a colossal beached whale. It runs parallel to prevailing winds.
X
Y
Z
Zaruq. Small ship, slightly larger than a barijah.