Da
Literal meaning: "These are" or "Here are."
Then, with her finger, moving them on their string, she indicated the tiny, colored wooden beads. "Da Bina," she said, smiling. Then she lifted a necklace, looking at it. "Bina," she said. I then understood that "Bina" was the expression for beads, or for a necklace of beads. — Slave Girl of Gor, page 81.
Dagger
A small knife; a weapon of stealth. Daggers take many forms, depending upon the needs and whims of their users, and such weapons are the most common form of side-arm used on Gor. Daggers are worn openly in a belt-sheath or concealed beneath one's clothing, often strapped to the wrist beneath the owner's sleeve, tucked into the collar behind the neck, or hidden in a boot. Carried by foolish free women as a personal means of self-defense, perhaps a false sense of security.
"In Mip's hand I saw a small dagger, a throwing knife, of a sort manufactured in Ar; it was smaller than the southern quiva; it was tapered on only one side... Mip tossed the knife underhanded to me, and I caught it. My heart had nearly stopped beating. I examined the knife, the balance of it, the hilt, the tapered blade." — Assassin of Gor, pages 174- 175.
"His hand drew Talena's dagger from his belt…" — Tarnsman of Gor, page 104..
Dais
On Earth, a dais is a raised platform, used to designate where a person of high honor is to sit or stand, as in ceremonies. The dais on Gor is no different.
"We knelt before a low dais, covered with rugs and cushions, on which reclined Saphrar of Turia." — Nomads of Gor, page 193.
"A large dais had been built, vast and spreading, but standing no more than a foot from the earth. This dais was covered with dozens of thick rugs, sometimes four and five deep. There were many Tuchuks, and some others, crowded about the dais, and, standing upon it, about Kutaituchik, there were several men who, from their position on the dais and their trappings, I judged to be of great importance." — Nomads of Gor, pages 41-42.
" … I saw that beneath Kutaituchik, over these rugs, had been spread a simple, worn, tattered robe of gray boskhide. It was upon this simple robe that he sat. It was undoubtedly that of which Kamchak had spoken, the robe upon which sits the Ubar of the Tuchuks, that simple robe which is his throne." — Nomads of Gor, page 43.
Dance of the Larl Hunters
One of the dances of the panther girls. This particular quote is one in which males dance during Kajuralia.
"Near the pit of sand several slave girls, dancers, in Pleasure Silk were kneeling back on their heels and clapping their hands with glee… A moment later another guard leaped into the pit of sand and, to the amusement of the girls, began a dance of larl hunters, joined by two or three others, in a file, dancing the stalking of the beast, the confrontation, the kill." — Assassin of Gor, page 240.
Dance of Newly Collared Slave
One of the many slave dances.
"Already a large, curtained enclosure had been set up near the slave wagon. For a fee, the proprietor of the wagon would permit visitors. These arrangements irritated me somewhat, for customarily the chain dance, the whip dance, the love dance of the newly collared slave girl, the brand dance, and so on, are performed openly by firelight in the evening, for the delight of any who care to watch." — Nomads of Gor, page 147.
Dance of the Six Thongs
One of the many slave dances. In this dance, six men participate as well, each holding a length of binding fiber, which are attached to the girl at various points (each wrist and ankle, and two at the waist). The girl will then struggle in her dance, exhibiting terror and fury at first, before her submission. This dance is very similar to the Tether Dance. See: "Tether Dance."
"You may dance, Slave," I told her. It was to be the dance of the six thongs. — Raiders of Gor, page 228.
Dance of the Tuchuk Slave Girl
One of the barbaric dances of the girls of the wagon tribes.
"One thing that I thought was nice was that Elizabeth had asked Sura about the dance she had begun to perform but could not finish, when we had first come to the house of Cernus, the dance which is accompanied by the Tuchuk slave song. Sura, who seemed to know everything, taught the rest of it, song and all, to her, and to the other girls. For good measure she also taught them the independent dance, sometimes called the Dance of the Tuchuk Slave Girl, which I had once seen performed at a banquet in Turia." — Assassin of Gor, page 205.
Dancing Collar
A lovely, often jeweled collar which is worn by a slave girl while dancing.
"I watched her, in the training sand, dancing to hide drums, naked, in slave bracelets and jeweled dancing collar." — Captive of Gor, page 174.
Dancing Silks
The beautiful diaphanous costumes worn by a slave girl while dancing.
"As I mused, Talena stepped forth from behind the silk curtain. I had thought she had retired. Instead, she stood before me in the diaphanous, scarlet dancing silks of Gor." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 134.
Dar
Literal translation: "Holy," also "Sacred."
Pointing to its shadowed, concealed face, it whispered, "The Holy Disease." That was the literal translation of Dar-Kosis — the Holy Disease — or, equivalently, the Sacred Affliction. — Tarnsman of Gor, page 150.
Dar-Kosis
Also known as the Holy Disease, or the Sacred Affliction, once thought to be incurable, but later discovered by Physicians the true nature of this disease.
The figure seemed to shrink backward and grow smaller in its yellow rags. Pointing to its shadowed, concealed face, it whispered, "The Holy Disease." That was the literal translation of Dar-Kosis — the Holy Disease — or, equivalently, the Sacred Affliction. — Tarnsman of Gor, page 150.
Dar-Kosis Pits
Huge cavernous pits which serve as a voluntary home for those Afflicted with the Dar-Kosis disease. Living in such pits are voluntary, however, once a person has gone to live in the pits, they must remain there until their death.
"As an act of charity, Initiates have arranged at various places Dar-Kosis Pits where the Afflicted may voluntarily imprison themselves, to be fed with food hurled downwards from the backs of passing tarns. Once in a Dar-Kosis Pit, the Afflicted are not allowed to depart." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 151.
"At any rate, disease is now almost unknown among the Gorean cities, with the exception of the dreaded Dar-kosis disease, or the Holy Disease, research on which is generally frowned upon by the Caste of Initiates, who insist the disease is a visitation of the displeasure of Priest-Kings on its recipients." — Assassin of Gor, page 29-30.
Dart-Firing Weapon
A weapon of the Kurii.
Date
The sweet fruit of the date palm, dates are the staple diet of the people of the Tahari.
"A veiled woman was hawking dates by the tefa." — Tribesmen of Gor, page 46.
Date Brick
The sweet fruit of the date palm compressed into "bricks;" the principal export of the city of Tor.
"I am a humble merchant," I said. "I have a few small stones which I would like to sell at the Oasis of Nine Wells, to buy date bricks to return and sell in Tor." — Tribesman of Gor, page 62.
Date Palm
The highly valued palm tree of the Tahari which bears the date fruit.
"I counted eleven palm trees, date palms, cut down, their trunks fallen at an angle into the dust, the palm leaves dried and lifeless, the fruit unripened. It takes years for such a tree to grow to the point at which it will bear fruit." — Tribesman of Gor, page 153.
Deck Cage
Small cages found on cargo ships, which are fastened on the deck; used for the transporting of slaves.
"She could have been, of course, in a deck cage," I said. These are small cages, fastened on deck. At night and in rough weather they are usually covered with a tarpaulin. This tends to prevent rust. — Explorers of Gor, page 26.
Deck-Cage Girl
See: "Cage Girl."
Deck Stones
Soft, white rounded stones which are used to smooth and sand the boards of the deck of a ship.
"In their right hands, grasped, were deck stones, soft, white stones, rounded, which are used to smooth and sand the boards of the deck. Earlier they had scrubbed and rinsed and, with rags, on their hands and knees, dried the deck. Later, when finished with the deck stones, they would again rinse and, again on their hands and knees, with rags, dry the deck." — Explorers of Gor, page 98.
"The deck was white and smooth to my knees. It had been rubbed with deck stones, and washed down and scrubbed. The deck-cage girls, on their hands and knees, ankles shackled, attended to this work." — Slave Girl of Gor, page 322.
• Defensive Picket Formation
Military tactic in which an equal number of men are forward as there are standing back within the interstices (the gaps between the forward men), thusly sealing the line making it solid. It allows a good amount of mobility, with allowances for the swordsmen to engage their weapons and properly defend themselves. Similar to the Torian Squares.
"I now stood and faced some six Taurentians who stood in the defensive picket formation, three men forward in this case, and, in the interstices, three men back." — Assassin of Gor, page 343.
• Defensive Square
A common Gorean defense against tharlarion attack utilizing braced spears.
"The common Gorean defense against tharlarion attack, if it must be met on the open ground, is the stationary, defensive square, defended by braced spears." — Mercenaries of Gor, pages 31-33.
Degradation Stripe
A two and one-half inch (2-1/2") wide band shaved into the hair of men captured by the panther girls. The stripe runs from the forehead to the nape of the neck.
"To one side of the room, unclothed, his wrists manacled behind his body, his ankles confined in short chains, knelt a large man, a heavy band of iron hammered about his throat. He was flanked by two guards, standing slightly behind him, helmeted, Gorean steel at their sides. The man's head had, some weeks ago, been shaven, a two-and-one-half-inch stripe, running from the forehead to the back of his neck. … — Hunters of Gor, page 8.
"The strip which had been shaven on his head, from the forehead tot he back of the neck, signified that he had been captured, and sold, by the panther girls of the northern forests. It is among the greatest shames that a man can know, that he had been enslaved by women, who had then, when weary of him, sold him, taking their profit on him." — Hunters of Gor, page 12."I fought, but two girls held my head, and Mira, laughing, with a small bowl of lather and a shaving knife, shave the two-and-one-half-inch degradation stripe on my head, from the forehead to the back of my neck." — Hunters of Gor, page 137.
Dela
Someone created this word; it wasn't John Norman and never seen in the books of Gor.
Delka
The delka is the 4th letter of the Gorean alphabet, triangular in shape, which corresponds to the 4th letter of the Greek alphabet, the "delta," from which origin it was likely derived. In Gorean, the delta of a river is referred to as a "delka." The reasoning is the same as in the Greek on Earth as in the resemblance of a delta region to a cartographic triangle.
"On the chest was a bloody triangle, the 'delka.' That is the fourth letter in the Gorean alphabet, and formed identically to teh fourth letter of the Greek alphabet, the 'delta,' to which letter it doubtless owes its origin. In Gorean, the delta of a river is referred to as a 'delka.'" The reasoning here is the same as in the Greek, derivatively, in English, namely the resemblance of a delta region to a cartographic triangle." — Magicians of Gor, page 176.
Delta Brigade
A rebel group of Ar formed soley by Tarl Cabot and Marcus; their symbol was a bloody "delka" to symbolize the delta region (see: "Delka") slashed into the skin of their victims or painted on walls with the blood of their victims. The growth of this unorganized group began from a comment made in a tavern by Tarl Cabot; that rumor led others, independent of each other, to use similar tactics, which convinced the Cosians of a large concerted effort against them assuming them to be traitors of their own.
"See, Captain?" asked the guardsman. He rolled one of the bodies to its back. On the chest was a bloody triangle, the "delka." That is the fourth letter in the Gorean alphabet, and formed identically to the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet, the 'delta', to which letter it doubtless owes its origin. In Gorean, the delta of a river is referred to as its "delka." The reasoning here is the same as in Greek, and, derivatively, in English, namely the resemblance of a delta region to a cartographical triangle. — Magicians of Gor, page 176.
"It was the same five days ago," said one of the men, "with the five brigands found slain in the Trevelyan district, and the two mercenaries cut down on Wagon Street, at the second Ahn, only the bloody delta left behind, scrawled on the wall."
"In the blood of the brigands, and of the mercenaries," said one of the men." — Magicians of Gor, page 177.
"The Delta Brigade," he said.
I myself, in a paga tavern or two, some days ago, had dropped this expression, mentioning it as though it were one I had heard somewhere, and was curious to understand. I was pleased to note that it was now common currency in Ar. Such are the wings of rumors. "You think this afternoon's attack was the work of this Delta Brigade?" I asked.
"Surely," he said.
"Who are they?" I asked.
"Dissidents, or renegades, doubtless," said the captain, "traitors to both Cos and Ar."
"I see," I said.
"I suspect veterans of the delta campaign," he said, "or scions of disaffected cities, such as Ar's Station."
"I am from Ar's Station," said Marcus.
"But you are an auxiliary," said the captain.
"True," said Marcus.
"Perhaps Marlenus of Ar has returned," I said. I thought that an excellent rumor to start. "No," said the captain. "I do not think so. Marlenus was not, as far as we know, in the delta. I think it is more likely to be veterans of the delta, of which there are many in the city, or fellows from the north, from Ar's Station or somewhere."
"Perhaps you are right," I said. The captain was a shrewd fellow, and thusly an unlikely candidate to enlist in my efforts to initiate rumors, or at least this particular one. To be sure, even a fellow of genuine probity, one who is unlikely to nourish, reproduce, transmit, or credit a rumor in its infancy, may find himself uncritically accepting it later on, when it becomes "common knowledge," so to speak. Are we not all the victims of hearsay, even with respect to many of our most profound "truths"? Of our thousands, and hundreds of thousands, of such "truths," how many have we personally earned? How many of us can determine the distance of a planet or the structure of a molecule?
"I will have a wagon sent for the bodies," said the captain.
"Yes, Captain," I said. The captain regarded the delka, scrawled on the wall, with anger. "It is only a scratching, a mark," I said.
"No," he said. "It is more. It is a defiance of Cos, and of Ar!" — Magicians of Gor, page 182.
"Thusly increasing the reputation of the Delta Brigade," he said.
"Yes," I said.
"Is is a form of Kaissa, is it not?" he asked.
"Of course," I said.
"How many are in the Delta Brigade?" I asked him.
"Two," he smiled. "We are the Delta Brigade." — Magicians of Gor, page 188.
"No," I said, "there are more." He looked at me, puzzled. "This morning," I said, "four soldiers, doubtless Cosians, were found slain in the vicinity of the Avenue of Turia. The delka was found there." Marcus was silent. "We have allies," I said. "Too, I have learned that the delka appears elsewhere in Ar, presumably mostly in poorer districts."
"I do not welcome unknown allies," he said.
"At least we cannot betray them under torture, nor they us."
"Am I to derive comfort from that thought?" he asked.
"Why not?" I asked.
"We cannot control them," he said.
"Nor they us," I said.
"We began this," said Marcus. "But I do not know where it will end." — Magicians of Gor, page 189.
Demotic
In reference to Tarl's comments on how perhaps some of the letters of the Gorean alphabet derived, demotic refers to the following:
"… of relating to written in the simplified form of ancient Egyptian hieratic writing." — American Heritage College Dictionary, Third Edition ©2001
"The Gorean alphabet has twenty-eight characters, all of which, I suspect, owe their origin to one or another of the alphabets of Earth. Several show a clear-cut resemblance to Greek letters, for example. 'Sidge', on the other hand, could be cuneiform, and 'Tun' and 'Val' are probably calligraphically drifted from demotic." — Explorers of Gor, pages 9-10.
Desert Kaiila
Also called the Sand Kailla, a species of kaiila native to the Tahari.
"The sand kaiila, or desert kaiila, is a kaiila, and handles similarly, but it is not identically the same animal which is indigenous, domestic and wild, in the middle latitudes of Gor's southern hemisphere…" — Tribesmen of Gor, page 70.
Desert Zad
A scavenger bird of the Tahari.
"These were jungle zads. They are less to be feared than desert zads, I believe, being less aggressive." — Explorers of Gor, page 415.
Dhow
The dhow that Tarl Cabot describes is probably much like these Arabian ships.
"… a dhow is a lateen-rigged ship used especially by the Arabs along the coast of the the Indian Ocean." — American Heritage College Dictionary, Third Edition ©2001
"I could see the craft now. It was a shallow-drafted, dismasted dhow. It was being drawn by dozens of men, wading in the marsh, pulling on ropes." — Explorers of Gor, page 224.
Diamonds
Valuable 
gemstones.
"I had brought you a five-belt necklace of diamonds," said Kamchak… — Nomads of Gor, page 94.
[The] Diaries
Refers to the field diaries of a famous officer of Argentum, Carl Commenius. In these diaries can be found many adages and words of wisdom
"His campaigns were studied in all the war schools of the high cities. I knew him from scrolls I had studied years ago in Ko-ro-ba, and from volumes in my library in Port Kar, such as the commentaries of Minicius and the anonymous analyses of 'The Diaries,' sometimes attributed to the military historian, Carl Commenius, of Argentum, rumored to have once been a mercenary himself." — Mercenaries of Gor, pages 31-32.
"Deitrich of Tarnburg, for example, though one often thinks of him in terms of innovations such as the oblique advance and the use of siege equipment in the field, is also, in my opinion, based on my studies of his campaigns, for example, in the commentaries of Minicius and the "Diaries," which some ascribe to Carl Commenius, of Argentum, a military historian, a master of the use of reserves. Some claim, incidentally, the Commenius was himself once a mercenary. I do not know if this is true or not, but his diaries, if, indeed, they are his, suggest that he was not a stranger to the field. I do not think it likely that all the incidents in them, in their detail, are merely based on the reports of others. His accounts of Rovere and Kargash, for example, suggest to me the fidelity, the authenticity, of a perceptive eyewitness. It seems to me, for example, that a common soldier would not be likely to supply a detail such as the loosing of water by a confused, terrified tharlarion in the field. The common soldier would be aware of such things, and, indeed, would even take them for granted, but they are not the sorts of details which he would be likely to include in his accounts of battles. Too, one wonders how a simple scholar could have come by the numerous beautiful slaves and fortresslike villa of a Carl Commenius. I suspect that at one time, perhaps long ago, he may not have been a stranger to the distributions of loot." Renegades of Gor, page 332.
"You pretend to simplicity," I said. "Yet you quote from the Diaries." These were the field diaries attributed by many to Carl Commenius, of Argentum. The reference would be clear to Marcus, a trained warrior. — Magicians of Gor, page 188.
Diaz
One of the first white explorers to track out and map territories of the Barrens.
"Some of these territories, apparently, had scarcely been penetrated since the days of the first white explorers of the Barrens, men such as Boswell, Diaz, Bento, Hastings and Hogarthe.' — Savages of Gor, page 148.
Dina
Also known as the "slave flower," a delicate, multi-petaled flower.
"…the dina is a small, lovely, multiply petaled flower, short-stemmed, and blooming in a turf of green leaves, usually on the slopes of hills, in the northern temperate zones of Gor…" — Slave Girl of Gor, page 61.
Dina Brand
Named from and shaped as the dina flower, a small, short-stemmed flower indigenous to hillsides, resembling a rose of Earth; sometimes called the "slave flower."
"It was natural, given the fact that the dina is the "slave flower," that eventually enterprising slavers, warriors and merchants, those with interest in the buying and selling of women, should develop a brand based on the flower. — Slave Girl of Gor, page 62.
"There are, of course, men who buy for brands. To meet this market various brands are developed and utilized. The 'slave flower' brand was a natural development. Unfortunately for these entrepreneurs, their greed and lack of control over the metal shops resulted in the widespread proliferation of the dina brand. As it became more popular, it was becoming, simultaneously, of course, a fairly common brand. Girls branded as I was were already spoken of on Gor, rather disparagingly, as 'dinas.' Collectors now seldom sought for dinas." — Slave Girl of Gor, page 63.
Discipline Sign
Used often to discipline a slave, the girl is marked for free use of all; used most commonly in paga taverns.
Disk Lock
One of the more common forms of cylinder locks on Gor, similar to the pin-tumbler, but rather than pins, moving disks are used.
"There are a number of other forms of lock also found upon occasion, a common variety being the disk lock in which moving disks, rather than pins are used." — Assassin of Gor, page 51.
Display Chain
A method of chaining girls to exhibit girls to be sold.
"In the display chain, it might be mentioned, as would be expected, we are exhibited, unclothed." — Captive of Gor, page 62.
Display Slave
This is a slave girl whose primary purpose is for the display of her beauty to reflect the affluence of her master.
"I had never been chained by the neck to a man's stirrup. I wondered what it would be like. I supposed the matter had to do with the effect he hoped to achieve, perhaps like the silver shield. I gathered I would be a display slave at his stirrup, something like a golden saddle and a purple cloak, something for show." — Dancer of Gor, page 352.
Display Wagon
A flat-bedded wagon used in the transportation of female slaves; the framework of the wagon enables the slaves inside to be viewed, thus enticing buyers. At times, these wagons serve as traveling markets, selling girls directly from them.
"There are varieties of slave wagons on Gor. A common type, used to transport female slaves, is covered with blue and yellow canvas. A central metal bar, hinged at one end, near the wagon box, and locked at the other, near the wagon bed's gate, usually occurs in such wagons. The girls' ankles are then chained about this bar. When the bar is freed and lifted they may then, still in their shackles, be removed through the rear of the wagon, the wagon gate being lowered. Another common type of wagon used generally in the transportation of women is the flat-bedded display wagon, with its mounted iron framework. The girls chained and manacled in various positions within and to this framework, sometimes compellingly attractive positions, are then visible. Sometimes buyers follow such wagons to the markets toward which they are bound. Sometimes, however, the girls are sold directly from such wagons, the wagons being in effect themselves traveling markets. In such cases usually one side of the flat wagon bed is used as an auction platform, a small but suitable scaffolding on which may be well displayed the lineaments of the girl's beauty, and on which may be exacted from her the provocative performances demanded by cruel and merciless vendors of their beautiful, degraded merchandise." — Fighting Slave of Gor, page 326.
Disruptor Cone
The nose of the gravitational disruptor; these are banned weapons, even to the Priest-Kings, which were used during the Nest Wars, which caused gravitational (or Ur) disruptions all over the planet. The fall-back to this weapon, is that it would ultimately destroy the planet. See also: "Ur Disruptor."
"He turned and twisted but I kept with him, close, too close for him to use his disruptor cone… I saw the disruptor cone rise and focus on me .. I knew I could not evade the wide-angle scope of the disruptor beam." — Priest-Kings of Gor, page 249.
Dissection Chambers
Found in the Nest of the Priest-Kings, where Muls are sent to die.
"Please," he begged, "let us go to the dissection chambers."
"You cannot send them to their deaths," I said.
"You must understand, Tarl of Ko-ro-ba," said Misk, apparently sensing my puzzlement, "that it is the greatest of joy of Muls to love and serve Priest-Kings. If it is the wish of a Priest-King that they die, they do so with great joy…" — Priest-Kings of Gor, pages 97-98.
District Leader
Groups of peasant villages form Districts; a leader is chosen to represent this District. Each village has a Caste Leader. See also: "Caste Leader."
"You could have been a caste leader for a district," she said. "Instead I am only the companion of a village leader. I could have companioned a district leader. You stink of the sleen you train and the girls you own." — Slave Girl of Gor, page 203.
Djellaba
A striped, hooded, sleeved, loose robe; the color of the stripes of the djellaba indicates city affiliation. 
There are also simpler designs of djellabas for slaves.
"It was in this port that the warehouses of Ibn Saran, salt merchant, currently the guest of Samos of Port Kat, were to be found. This city, too, was indicated in the cording of his agal, and in the stripes of his djellaba." — Tribesmen of Gor, page 33.
"At a watering hole, from a nomad, I purchased Alyena a brief second-hand, black-and-white-striped, rep-cloth slave djellaba" — Tribesmen of Gor, page 72.
Djinn
In certain cultures, the djinn was believed to be a powerful spirit.
Djinni
(pronounced jee-nee - variant(s): djinn or djin; Etymology: Arabic jinnIy demon; Date: 1684
"1: one of a class of spirits that according to Muslim demonology inhabit the earth, assume various forms, and exercise supernatural power;
2: Genie" — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006<"Ambivalent or neutral spiritual beings are usually not found in Western religions, which usually divide the inhabitants of the cosmos into those who are either allied with or in opposition to the Supreme Being. Islam, however, classifies spiritual beings into angels (mala'ikah), demons (shayat in), and djinnis, or genies. This last category includes spiritual beings that might be either benevolent or malevolent. According to legend, the djinni were created out of fire 2,000 years before the creation of Adam, the first man. Capable of both visibility and invisibility, a djinni could assume various forms-either animal or human-and could be either a help or a hindrance to man. By cunning, a superior use of intellect, or magic, a man might be able to manipulate a djinni for his own benefit." — Encyclopaedia Britannica ©2004-2006
"What could have done this horrible thing?" asked one of his men.
"I was warned of this," said Ibn Saran.
"A Djinn?" asked one of the men.
"Smell it?" said Ibn Saran. "Smell it! It is still here!" I heard the Kur breathing, near me. "Block the door!" said Ibn Saran. The two men by the door, who had been standing there, looked about themselves, brandishing their scimitars, frightened. "Do not fear, my fellows," said Ibn Saran. "This is not a Djinn. It is a creature of flesh and blood. But be wary! Be wary!" He then formed his men into a line, against the far wall of the outer room, that into which the threshold gave access. "I had warning of this possibility," he said. "It has now occurred. Do not fear. It can be met." — Tribesmen of Gor, pages 119-120.
Across the floor, now wet with blood, and blood-soaked straw, the men, in their line, Ibn Saran remaining at the door, charged. The blood, between the stones, formed tiny rivers. "Aiii!" cried a man, wheeling back, horrified. There was blood on his scimitar. He was terrified. "A Djinn!" he cried. — Tribesmen of Gor, page 122.
Dock Eel
A black freshwater fish, carnivorous; they inhabit the shallow waters around the dock and wharves of river ports.
"The leg seemed gouged. The dock eels, black, about four feet long, are tenacious creatures. They had not relinquished their hold on the flesh in their jaws when they had been forcibly struck away from the leg, back into the water." — Rogue of Gor, page 155.
[The] Dominant
The "higher male" of the Kur.
"We have three, or, if you prefer, four sexes," it said." There is the dominant, which would, I suppose, correspond most closely to the human male. It is the instinct of the dominant to enter the killings and mate… Of course there is a biological order," he said …" There is first the dominant, and then the egg-carrier, and then the nondominant, and then, if one considers such things Kur, the blood-nurser." — Beasts of Gor, page 370.
Double Flute
Common wind instrument on Gor; not really a true flute but more akin to an oboe.
"A Greek woodwind musical instrument that is commonly called a flute but is in fact a reed instrument similar to an oboe." — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006
"My master had a double flute slung on his back. He was Gordon, an itinerant musician." — Dancer of Gor, page 281.
Double Gold Tarns
The most valuable of coinage.
Double Knowledge
Having instruction on both the First and Second Knowledge. On Gor, there are two forms of knowledge - First Knowledge and Second Knowledge. Those that are of the five High Castes are instructed in both knowledges. See "First Knowledge" and "Second Knowledge."
"I was also instructed in the Double Knowledge — that is, I was instructed in what the people, on the whole, believed, and then I was instructed in what the intellectuals were expected to know … For example, the population as a whole, the castes below the High Castes, were encouraged to believe that their world was a broad flat disk. Perhaps this was to discourage them from exploration or to develop in them a habit of relying on common-sense prejudices — something of a social control device. On the other hand, the High Castes… were told the truth in such matters, perhaps because it was thought they would eventually determine it for themselves." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 41.
Double Leashing
A method of slave and prisoner control; often used with male prisoners due to its effectiveness and strength; there are several such leashing arrangements.
"Then I was double leashed," she said. — Magicians of Gor, page 360.
Double Pin Hitch
One of the many simple, common Gorean knots.
"Would you like me to show you some others?" I asked.
"Signature knots?" she asked.
"No," I said, "simple knots, common Gorean knots." … I then illustrated, she cooperating, several other common knots, among them the Karian anchor knot, the Pin hitch, the double Pin hitch, the Builder's bend and the Builder's overhand. — Assassin of Gor, pages 81-82.
Draft Slave
A slave utilized for manual labor.
"There are various types of 'exotics' bred by Gorean slavers, all of whom are to be distinguished from more normal varieties of bred slaves, such as Passion Slaves and Draft Slaves." — Raiders of Gor, page 15.
Dune Country
The "Death Valley" of the Tahari Desert; this region is generally avoided, although there are a few scattered oases in this zone.
"Few men, without good reason, enter the dune country." — Tribesmen of Gor, page 179.
Dung Sack
Used by the Wagon Peoples, this is a leather sack in which dried dung is collected and placed in to be used as fuel for the fires in camp. The sack is often also used as punishment for slaves by placing them in the sack for several hours at a time.
"Once, it might be noted, she returned from searching for fuel with the dung sack, dragging behind her, only half full. 'It is all I could find,' she told Kamchak. He then, without ceremony, thrust her head first into the sack and tied it shut. He released her the next morning. Elizabeth Cardwell never again brought a half-filled dung sack to the wagon of Kamchak of the Tuchuks." — Nomads of Gor, page 62.
"I followed Kamchak down the steps of the wagon and… gravely held open the large dung sack near the rear left wheel of the wagon… And then I saw the lovely Aphris of Turia pitched head first into the large, leather sack, screaming and sputtering… Kamchak then tied shut the end of the leather sack and wearily stood up." — Nomads of Gor, page 144.
Dust Legs[Tribe]
A large tribe of the red savages, they are considered to be one of the peaceful tribes and often work as intermediaries between the savage nation and white settlements; a hypothesis by Grunt, Tarl's guide while in the Barrens, is that perhaps they are named such as they were the last of the major tribes to master riding the kaiila.
"It is unusual, is it not, for Dust Legs to be on the rampage?" I asked. I had understood them to be one of the more peaceful of the tribes of the Barrens. Indeed, they often acted as intermediaries between the men of the settlements and the wilder tribes of the interior, such as the Yellow Knives, the Sleen and Kaiila. — Savages of Gor, page 85.
"Are we not yet in the country of the Dust Legs?" I inquired. This was a perimeter tribe which, on the whole, was favourably disposed towards whites. Most trading was done with Dust Legs. Indeed, it was through the Dust Legs that most of the goods of the interior might reach civilization, the Dust Legs, in effect, acting as agents and intermediaries. Many tribes, apparently, would not deal on a face-to-face basis with whites. This had to do with the hatred and suspicion fostered by that tradition called the Memory. Too, it was often difficult to control their young men. Although small trading groups were welcomed in the country of the Dust Legs, such groups seldom penetrated the more interior territories. Too many of them had failed to return. Grunt was unusual in having traded as far east as the country of the Fleer and the Yellow Knives. Too, he had entered, at least once, the country of the Sleen and the Kaiila. Some of these territories, apparently, had scarcely been penetrated since the days of the first white explorers of the Barrens, men such as Boswell, Diaz, Bento, Hastings and Hogarthe. — Savages of Gor, page 148.
"Why are they called Dust Legs?" I asked.
"I do not know," said Grunt, "but I think it is because they were the last of the major tribes to master the kaiila. Afoot, they were much at the mercy of the others. Their heritage as traders and diplomats may stem from that period."
"It is an interesting hypothesis," I said. — Savages of Gor, page 242.
Duty Of The Twelve Joys
A daily requirement of the Matoks and Muls is to wash 12 times each day. The Priest-Kings are tenacious with regards to cleanliness. This ritualistic cleansing is known as the Duty of the Twelve Joys.
"If I had been a Mul I would have received a record-scar for each day on which I had not washed completely twelve times. Washing-booths, incidentally, are found in all Mul-cases and often, for convenience, along the tunnels and in public places, such as plazas, shaving-parlors, pellet-dispensaries, and fungus commissaries. Since I was a Matok I insisted that I should be exempted from the Duty of the Twelve Joys, as it is known." — Priest-Kings of Gor, page 111.
Dyers
Not much is said about this caste, or its trade.
"Less impressive perhaps but even more essential to the operation of the House were its kitchens, its laundries, commissaries and storerooms; its medical facilities, in which dental care is also provided; its corridors of rooms for staff members, all of whom live in the House; its library, its records and files; its cubicles for Smiths, Bakers, Cosmeticians, Bleachers, Dyers, Weavers and Leather Workers …" — Assassin of Gor, page 111.
Special Note
Because of the differences in publishing the books, depending upon whether published in the U.S. or Europe, depending upon whether a first publishing or a Masquerade Books release, page numbers will often vary. All of my quotes are from original, first-printing U.S. publications (see The Books page for a listing of publishers and dates) with the exception of the following books:
- Tarnsman of Gor (2nd Printing, Balantine)
- Outlaw of Gor (11th Printing, Balantine)
- Priest-Kings of Gor (2nd Printing, Balantine)
- Assassin of Gor (10th Printing, Balantine)
- Raiders of Gor (15th Printing, Balantine)
- Captive of Gor (3rd Printing, Balantine)
Disclaimer
These pages are not written for any specific home, but rather as informational pages for those not able to get ahold of the books and read them yourself. Opinions and commentaries are strictly my own personal views, therefore, if you don't like what you are reading — then don't. The information in these pages is realistic to what is found within the books. Many sites have added information, assuming the existences of certain products and practices, such as willowbark and agrimony for healing, and travel to earth and back for the collection of goods. I've explored the books, the flora, the fauna, and the beasts, and have compiled from those mentioned, the probabilities of certain practices, and what vegetation mentioned in the books is suitable for healing purposes, as well as given practicalities to other sorts of roleplaying assumptions.