Hai
1). An expression of exclamation or puzzlement, 2). a war cry. Perhaps one of the many variations that became corrupted into the word "Hai" used in chat rooms as "Gorean language." The word "Hai" never appeared in the books by John Norman.
"Hah!" yelled Kamchak, slapping me on the back, nearly knocking me from the back of my kaiila." — Nomads of Gor, — page 119.
"Hail," said I, "Kamchak, Ubar San!"
"Hail," cried Harold, "Kamchak, Ubar San!" — Nomads of Gor, page 338."Ho!" cried Torm, that most improbable member of the Caste of Scribes, throwing his blue robes over his head as though he could not bear to see the light of day. — Tarnsman of Gor, page 36.
"Ho!" cried Aphris of Turia, summoning the feast steward… — Nomads of Gor, page 97.
"Ho!" I heard, and spun to see the black lance fall and scarcely had it moved but it was seized in the fist of the scarred Tuchuk warrior. — Nomads of Gor, page 22.
Haik
In the Tahari, the haik is similar to the haiks of Afganistan on Earth. 
They are black in color and cover the female from head to toe, with a small lace "window" to enable them to see.
"Following me down the gangplank, clad in a black haik, could have been only my companion, the pitiful free woman who shared my poverty. The haik, black, covers the woman from head to toe. At the eyes, there is a tiny bit of black lace, through which she may see." — Tribesmen of Gor, page 44.
"She was slave. She turned her head, briefly, to look at me; I saw her eyes, dark, through the tiny opening in the haik, through the tiny, black-lace screen, about an inch in height and four inches in width. Then, with a rustle of the chain, and the tiny music of her bells, she turned swiftly, following her master." — Tribesmen of Gor, pages 44-45.
Hail
A greeting usually reserved for recognized experts or champions in a particular field, such as a skilled player of Kaissa, a supreme warrior, or a highly-skilled physician, etc.
"Greetings, Teibar!" called a fellow.
"Hail, Teibar!" called another. From the latter manner of greeting, I gathered this Teibar might be excellent with the staff, or sword. Such greetings are usually reserved for recognized experts, or champions, at one thing or another. For example, a skilled Kaissa player is sometimes greeted in such a manner." — Magicians of Gor, page 52.
Hair [1]
A command to a to kneel with her head down, offering the use of her hair for a variety of things, such as a leash or napkin.
"When a girl hears the command, 'Hair,' she must kneel, lowering her head so that her hair may be used for a variety of purposes, such as a wiping cloth or napkin, by means of which the free person, male or female, may remove stains, grease or crumbs from his or her hands." — Kajira of Gor, pages 68.
Hair [2]
A ponytail hairdo, also known as the "Leash" and is often favored by masters because a girl may be seized and controlled by it.
"There are various hairdos in which such combs are worn in the hair. usually, however, the hair of slaves is worn long, and loose, or confined only in some simple way, as with a ribbon or woolen fillet. Some masters like the ponytail hairdo on a slave, which, on Gor, is usually spoken of as the 'leash,' or 'hair leash,' for, by it, a girl may be conveniently seized and controlled." — Dancer of Gor, page 112.
Hala
The red savages (Kaiila) term for the Gorean word "hinti" which are non-parasitic insects, small, active, resembling fleas.
"'Hala' is Kaiila for the Gorean hinti which are small, active insects. They resemble fleas but are not parasitic. The boy had been small for his age, and energetic." — Blood Brothers of Gor, pages 219-220.
Hall of Commissaries
"Store" in the Nest of the Priest-Kings where Muls and Matoks are issued tunics, etc.
"I had not gone more than a pasang or so when I spun the disk to a stop before another portal in the Hall of Commissaries. I entered the portal and in a few moments emerged wearing the purple of a Mul. The clerk, at my request writing down the expense to Sarm, informed me that I would promptly have to have the new tunic imprinted with the scent-patterns pertaining to my identity, record-scars, etc." — Priest-Kings of Gor, page 208.
Hall of Council
The meeting room of the Council of the Captains in Port Kar.
"The Hall of the Council, this night, was surrounded by the men of the captains, who, too, patrolled the rooftops and the walks beside the canals for a full pasang on all sides." — Raiders of Gor, page 155.
Hall of Processing
Because of the fastidiousness for cleanliness of the Priest-Kings, this room is where any within or before entering the Nest, are cleansed of any contamination, both externally and internally.
"This is the Hall of Processing," said one of them."
"You will not much care for the processing," said one of my guides.
"But it will be good for you," said the other.
"Why must I be processed?" I asked.
"To protect the Nest from contamination," said the first.
— Priest-Kings of Gor, page 100."One of these with maddening delicacy snipped the clothing from my body, even cutting the thongs of my sandals. Another deftly forced a large, ugly pellet down my throat… It took only two or three minutes for the pellet to do its work and it is not with pleasure that I recall those minutes… Then the entire cage, on a track of some sort, began to move through an opening which appeared in the right wall. In the following journey the cage was successively submerged in various solutions of various temperatures and densities… At last after I, sputtering and choking, had been duly cleansed and rinsed several times, and then it seemed several times again, the cage began to move slowly, mercifully, between vents from which blasts of hot air issued, and, eventually, it passed slowly between an assortment of humming projection points for wide-beam rays, some of which were visible to my eye, being yellow, red and a refulgent green. I would later learn that these rays, which passed through my body as easily and harmlessly as sunlight through glass, were indexed to the metabolic physiology of various organisms which can infect Priest-Kings." — Priest-Kings of Gor, pages 106-108.
Hammerfest
One of the Vosk River townships.
"I had stopped also at Hammerfest and Ragnar's Hamlet, the latter actually, now, a good-sized town." — Rogue of Gor, page 63.
Hand [1]
A unit of measurement specific to animals, such as kailiauk, kaiila and bosk, from the ground to the top of the shoulders. It is not stated in the books whether the Gorean unit of measurement is equal to the hand of earth.
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German hant hand; Date: before 12th century:
"A unit of measure equal to 4 inches (10.2 centimeters) used especially for the height of horses." — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006"Ancient unit of length, now standardized at four inches (4") (10.16 cm) and used today primarily for measuring the height of horses from the ground to the withers (top of the shoulders). The unit was originally defined as the width of a man's hand from the little finger to the thumb. A statute of Henry VIII of England established the hand at four inches. Units of various lengths, known as hand, or palm, were used by ancient Egyptians, Hebrews, Greeks, Romans, and others." — Encyclopaedia Britannica ©2004-2006
"The kaiila is extremely agile, and can easily outmaneuver the slower, more ponderous high tharlarion. It requires less food, of course, than the tarn. A kaiila, which normally stands about twenty to twenty-two hands at the shoulder, can over as much as six hundred pasangs in a single day's riding." — Nomads of Gor, page 13.
"… both creatures are comparable in size, ranging from some twenty to twenty-two hands at the shoulder …" — Tribesmen of Gor, page 70.
Hand [2]
The Gorean week consisting of five (5) days; five such weeks make the Gorean month.
"The Gorean week consists of five days. Each month consists of five such weeks. Following each month, of which there are twelve, separating them, is a five-day Passage Hand. The twelfth Passage Hand is followed by the Waiting Hand, a five-day period prior to the vernal equinox, which marks the Gorean New Year." — Tribesmen of Gor, page 26.
Hand [3]
Highly militaristic and organized, with divisors and multiples having to do with seemingly, a base-twelve mathematics, a Hand is a Kurii military unit formed of six (6) lowest ranked Bloods; their leader is called an Eye.
"One is a Blood," I said.
"What is that?" asked Samos.
"In their military organizations," I said, "six such beasts constitute a Hand, and its leader is called an Eye. Two hands and two eyes constitute a larger unit, called a 'Kur' or 'Beast,' which is commanded by a leader, or Blood. Twelve such units constitute a Band, commanded again by a Blood, though of higher rank. Twelve bands, Twelve bands, again commanded by a Blood, of yet higher rank, constitute a March. Twelve Marches is said to constitute a People. These divisors and multiples have to do with, it seems, a base-twelve mathematics, itself perhaps indexed historically to the six digits of one of the creature's prehensil appendages." — Savages of Gor, page 22.
Hand Sign
Also: Hand Talk
Sign language of the red savages.
"He speaks some Dust Leg, and some of the talk of other tribes," said the fellow. "Too, he knows sign."
"Sign?" I asked.
"Hand talk," said the young man. "It is the way the red savages of different tribes communicate among one another. They cannot speak one another's languages, you know."
"I would suppose not," I admitted. Hand sign, I suspected, was the key to the capacity of the tribes to unite and protect their territories against outside encroachment, that and what they called the Memory.
"Various traders, I suspect, know Hand Sign," I said. — Savages of Gor, page 80.
Handle Tie
A method of binding a slave girl or captive female.
"Put her in the handle tie," I said. — Beasts of Gor, page 173.
Hanging [by Iron Collars]
An ancient form of execution in which the offenders are chained and suspended by iron collars on posts, taking two to three days to die.
"Chain them and hang them in iron collars at the inn!" said a fellow. Sometimes a man lasts two or three days in this fashion. — Renegades of Gor, page 14.
"This, like hanging in chains, the exposure on boards, and such, is a very ancient modality of execution." — of Gor, page 14-15.
Harbor Side
Sailors of Cos usually refer to the left side of the ship by the port of destination and the right side of the ship by the port of registration; this alters, of course, when the ports of destination and registration are the same; in that case the sailors of Cos customarily refer to the left side of the ship as the "harbor side," the right side of the ship normally continuing to be designated as before, by reference to the port of registration.
"Sailors of Cos usually refer to the left side of the ship by the port of destination and the right side of the ship by the port of registration; this alters, of course, when the ports of destination and registration are the same; in that case the sailors of Cos customarily refer to the left side of the ship as the 'harbor side,' the right side of the ship normally continuing to be designated as before, by reference to the port of registration." — Slave Girl of Gor, page 362.
Harfax
One of the major cities of slave trade.
"These wholesalers usually distribute to retailers, in their individual cities, or, often, also, in well-known slaving centers, of which there are many, for example, Ar, Ko-ro-ba, Venna, Vonda, Victoria, on the Vosk, Market of Semris, Besnit, Esalinus, Harfax, Corcyus, Argentum, Torcadino, and others." — Dancer of Gor, page 102.
Harigga
Literal meaning is "Bosk Wagons;" not an actual city.
"We suddenly emerged into the center of what seemed to be a wide, grassy street among the wagons, a wide lane, open and level, an avenue in that city of Harigga, or Bosk Wagons." — Nomads of Gor, page 34.
Harl Loop
A form of chaining slaves with harl rings. See: "Harl Ring."
Harl Ring
Named for the slaver Harl of Turia, thought to have been the first to use these, this is a type of slave chain comprised of four parts.
Harness
Usually of leather, used for the binding of a slave or captive.
To one side, stripped, bound tightly in black leather, hand and foot, straps crossing between her breasts and circling her thighs, to which her wrists were secured, in buckled cuffs, knelt a whitish-skinned girl, blond, frightened. … She shuddered, and squirmed in the straps. Her fists were clenched at her thighs, beside which they were held in the cuff straps of her harness. — Tribesmen of Gor, pages 9-10.
Harpoon
Throwing weapon of the Innuit.
"I grasped the long harpoon. It was some eight feet in length, some two and a half inches in diameter. Its major shaft was of wood, but it had a foreshaft of bone. In this foreshaft was set the head of the harpoon, of bone, drilled, with a point of sharpened slate. Through the drilled hole in the bone, some four inches below the slate point and some four inches above the base of the head, was passed a rawhide line, which lay coiled in the bottom of the boat. As the hole is drilled the line, when it snaps taut, will turn the head of the harpoon in the wound, anchoring it." — Beasts of Gor, page 258.
Harrow [1]
An agricultural tool used primarily to level the ground after plowing, smoothing the soil, mulching and covering seed.
"It was Dietrich of Tarnburg who had first introduced the "harrow" to positional warfare on Gor, that formation named for the large, rake-like agricultural instrument, used for such tasks as the further leveling of ground after plowing and, sometimes, on the great farms, for the covering of seed." — Mercenaries of Gor, page 31.
Harrow [2]
Named for the agricultural tool which resembles a large rake, this tactic was developed by Dietrich of Tarnburg and is most effective against tharlarion cavalries. In this formation, spikes of archers, protected by iron-shod stakes and sleen pits, project beyond the forward lines of heavily armed warriors and their reserves.
"It was Dietrich of Tarnburg who had first introduced the 'harrow' to positional warfare on Gor, that formation named for the large, rake-like agricultural instrument, used for such tasks as the further leveling of ground after plowing and, sometimes, on the great farms, for the covering of seed." — Mercenaries of Gor, page 32.
Har-Ta
Faster.
I shouted to my tarn, in Gorean and in English. "Har-ta! Har-ta! Faster! Faster!" — Tarnsman of Gor, page 57.
"Har-ta!" I cried. "Faster! Har-ta! Faster! Faster!" — Assassin of Gor, page 375.
"Har-ta!" said Imnak to the girls." Har-ta!" The expression "har-ta" is Gorean. "Faster! Faster!" — Beasts of Gor, page 191.
Haruspex
A diviner. Not a soothsayer. At times John Norman uses them interchangeably, however, one quote he does speak of them as two separate things. See: "Soothsayer." See also the Wagon People pages for further information.
Plural - haruspices; Etymology: Latin, from haru- (akin to chordE gut, cord) + -spex, from specere to look; Date: 1584:
"A diviner in ancient Rome basing his predictions on inspection of the entrails of sacrificial animals." — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006
"Among them, too, were soothsayers and haruspexes …" — Nomads of Gor, page 34.
"I heard a haruspex singing between the wagons; for a piece of meat he would read the wind and the grass; for a cup of wine the stars and the flight of birds; for a fat-bellied dinner the liver of a sleen or slave." — Nomads of Gor, page 27.
"… the omens are taken usually over several days by hundreds of haruspexes, mostly readers of bosk blood and verr livers, to determine if they are favorable for a choosing of a Ubar San…" — Nomads of Gor, page 11.
Hastings
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.
Hci
The term used to describe a type of gap which might occur in the edge of a trade ax, or hatchet (used to draw nails free), or a gash as in a cut in a tree, or a scar.
"It is Hci," said Cuwignaka. There is no exact translation of the expression 'Hci' from Kaiila, into either Gorean or English. This is not all the unusual, incidentally. One cannot expect identical regularities in meaning and usage to obtain in diverse linguistic communities. The expression, for most practical purposes, signifies a certain type of gap, such as, for example, might occur in the edge of a trade ax, or hatchet, for use in drawing nails, an occupation for which red savages, of course, have little use. It is also used more broadly for a gash, such as an ax might cut in a tree, or for a cut or scar. It seems to be clearly in the latter range of meanings that the name belonged. At the left side of Hci's face, at the chin, there was an irregular, jagged scar, some two inches in length. This dated from several years ago, when he had been seventeen, from the second time he had set the paws of his kaiila on the warpath. It had been given to him by a Yellow Knife, in mounted combat, the result of a stroke by a long-handled, stone-bladed tomahawk, or canhpi. Before that time, as a stalwart, handsome lad, he had been affectionately known as Ihdazicaka, or One-Who-Counts-Himself-Rich. Afterwards he had become, by his own wish, only Hci. He had become morose and cruel. Immersing himself in the comraderie, and the rituals and ceremonies of the Sleen Soldiers, it seemed he lived then for little other than the concerns of raiding and war. There were members of his own society who feared to ride with him, so swift, so fierce, so careless of danger he was. Once, in a fight with Fleer, he had leaped to the ground and thrust his lance through the long, trailing end of the society's war sash, which, on that occasion, he had been wearing. He thus fastened himself in place, on foot, among the charging Fleer. "I will not yield this ground!" he had cried. The fleeing members of his society, seeing this, and knowing that he wore the war sash, had then rallied and, though outnumbered, had charged the Fleer. The Fleer, eventually, had left the scene of battle, feeling the cost of obtaining a victory over such men would be too high. As they left they had raised their lances in salute to the young warrior. Such courage is acknowledged in the Barrens, even though it be in an enemy. — Blood Brothers of Gor, page 9.
Heavy Class
Denotes the size of a ship; most ram-ships are of medium or heavy class.
"Indeed, the galleys of Port Kar, medium and heavy class, carried shearing blades, which had been an invention of Tersites." — Raiders of Gor, page 136.
Heiban
One of the four original towns that latter combined to form the city of Tetrapoli.
"Tetrapoli, on the other hand, began as four separate towns, Ri, Teibar, Heiban and Azdal, as legend has it founded by four brothers." — Rogue of Gor,` page 63.
Helmsman
Just as on earth, a nautical term to denote the one whose job it is to tend the tiller of a boat, thus steering it; the steersman.
"A person who steers a ship." — The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition ©2000
"The helmsman stood at the tiller, not moving." — Raiders of Gor, page 69.
Helmutsport
One of the coastal free port cities of Gor.
"These islands, with occasional free ports on the coast, north and south of the Gorean equator, such as Lydius and Helmutsport, and Schendi and Bazi, make possible the commerce between Cos and Tyros, and the mainland, and its cities, such as Ko-ro-ba, Thentis, Tor, Ar, Turia, and many others." — Raiders of Gor, pages 137-138.
Hemaca
A red savage term meaning "I am."
"Canka," said the young warrior, striking himself in the chest with a fist. "Akicita hemaca. Isbu hemaca. Kaiila hemaca!"
"'I am Canka, Fire Steel,'" said Grunt. "'I am a warrior. I am of the Little Stones. I am of the Kaiila!'" — Savages of Gor, page 321.
Hemp Hemp is mentioned only briefly in the books, with no detail that this hemp differs to the hemp plant of earth. I've seen sites try to use the quote from the books to justify marijuana use as part of Gorean role play. In the quote, reference to the hemp is clearly the Bowstring Hemp and not the cannibis these other sites are intimating. Please also refer to the Flora and Fauna page and the Weapons page for further information.
Bowstring Hemp
1. "Any of various Asiatic and African plants of the genus Sansevieria — see African Bowstring Hemp, Ife, Murva, Pangane;
2: the soft tenacious leaf fiber of bowstring hemp used in making bowstrings, cordage, and cloth and in packing;
3: Mudar
African Bowstring Hemp
A bowstring hemp (Sansevieria guineensis) of tropical Africa."
Aloe Hemp
"Any plant of the genus Agave that yields a hemplike fiber; bowstring hemp." — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006
"Thurnock, though in Port Kar, had found a piece of Ka-la-na stock, and had been carving a great bow, the long bow. I knew he had also found some bits of bosk horn, and some leather, and some hemp and silk. In two or three days, I expected, he, too, would have a bow. Piles he had already commissioned from a smith; and Thura, on his command, this afternoon, with a bit of stick, had struck down a Vosk gull, that the shafts he fashioned, whether from Ka-la-na or tem-wood, would be well fletched." — Raiders of Gor, page 112.
Herd Sleen
Trained prairie sleen used by the Wagon Peoples as sentinels and shepherds. Please also see the Sleen page for more detailed information.
If I were found on the plains near the camps or the bosk herds I knew I would be scented out and slain by the domesticated, nocturnal herd sleen, used as shepherds and sentinels by the Wagon Peoples, released from their cages with the falling of darkness. These animals, trained prairie sleen, move rapidly and silently, attacking upon no other provocation than trespass on what they have decided is their territory. They respond only to the voice of their master, and when he is killed pr dies, his animals are slain and eaten. — Nomads of Gor, page 9.
Herd of Tancred
A gigantic herd of tabuk in the far north, of which annually makes the same migratory trek. This herd is vital to the lives of the Red Hunters of the Gorean arctic.
"Have you heard," he asked, "of the herd of Tancred?"
"It is a herd of northern tabuk," said Samos, "a gigantic herd, one of several. The herd of Tancred winters in the rims of the northern forests south and east of Torvaldsland. In the spring, short-haired and hungry, they emerge from the forests hind migrate northward." He indicated the map." They follow this route," he said, "emerging from the forest here, skirting Torvaldsland here, to the east, and then moving west above Torvaldsland, to the sea. They follow the shore of Thassa north, cross Ax Glacier here, like dark clouds on the ice, then continue to follow the shore north here, until they then turn eastward into the tundra of the polar basin, for their summer grazing. With the coming of winter, long-haired and fat, they return by the same route to the forests. This migration, like others of its kind, occurs annually. Red hunters of the polar basin, trading for tea and sugar, have reported the failure of the herd to appear… It means the perishing of the men of the polar basin, or their near starvation. They depend on the tabuk in the summer for food." — Beasts of Gor, page 36.
Herlit
The Gorean eagle.
"Light filtered into the pit. Similar pits, though much smaller, are used for the capture of the taloned Herlit." — Blood Brothers of Gor, page 315.
Herlit-Bone Whistle
Made of the bones of the Herlit, this whistle is used by the Kaiila tribe in the performance of the Great Dance as well as in strategic instructions during raids.
"Tactical instructions in a melee, incidentally, are normally administered to the red savages, in their units, commonly warrior societies, or divisions of such societies, by blasts on a whistle, formed from the wing bone of the taloned Herlit, or movements of a long, feathered battle staff." — Savages of Gor, page 286.
"This is the first day of the great dance," he said. — Blood Brothers of Gor, page 275.
"The lodge of the dance has been rent," I said. "The pole itself has been defaced and profaned, its trappings stripped away. Your body would not be properly painted. You not have brush at your wrists and ankles. You could not dare to blow upon the Herlit-bone whistle." — Blood Brothers of Gor, page 276.
Hermit Bird
A variety of forest-dwelling bird; a woodpecker.
"Somewhere, far off, but carrying through the forest, was the rapid, staccato slap of the sharp beak of the yellow-breasted hermit bird, pounding into the reddish bark of the tur tree, hunting for larvae." — Hunters of Gor, page 106.
Hersius
The name Goreans have given the planet Jupiter; named for a legendary hero of Ar.
"As long as these ships remain outside the fifth ring, that of the planet earthmen call Jupiter, the Goreans Hersius, after a legendary hero of Ar, we do not fight." — Assassin of Gor, page 65.
Hesius
A hero of legends who is believed to be the first to deliver to the people of Gor, the first Home Stone.
"There are, of course, several mythical accounts of the origin of the Home Stone. One popular account has it that an ancient hero, Hesius, once performed great labors for Priest-Kings, and was promised a reward greater than gold and silver." — Dancer of Gor, page 302.
High Castes
Most Gorean societies are built on the Caste system. The High Castes are considered the intellectuals.
High Castes
Most Gorean societies are built on the Caste system. The High Castes are considered the intellectuals.
"In many cities only members of the high castes may belong to the city's high council." — Slave Girl of Gor, page 114.
High-Harness Position
A display position of slaves.
"You need not now keep your head in high-harness position," he said to the girl. — Mercenaries of Gor, page 309.
High Initiate
The highest seat in the Caste of Initiates.
Hinrabian Kilns
Kilns owned by the Hinrabian family, of the Caste of Builders, which produced much of the brick in Ar.
"The new Administrator of Ar was a man named Minus Tentius Hinrabius, an unimportant man except for being of the Hinrabian family, prominent among the Builders, having the major holdings in the vast, walled Hinrabian kilns, where much of Ar's brick is produced." — Assassin of Gor, page 16.
Hinti
Small, energetic insects resembling fleas; non-parasitic.
"'Hala' is Kaiila for the Gorean hinti which are small, active insects. They resemble fleas but are not parasitic. The boy had been small for his age, and energetic." — Blood Brothers of Gor, pages 219-220.
Hith
The Gorean python.
"In one cage, restlessly lifting its swaying head, there coiled a great, banded hith, Gor's most feared serpentine constrictor. It was native only to certain areas of the forest." — Captive of Gor, page 210.
Ho [1]
A common prefix indicating lineage (e.g., Henrikson in Gorean would be Ho-Henrik).
"Ho-Tenrik," he said proudly … 'Ho,', incidentally, in Gorean, is a common prefix indicating a lineage. It is sometimes used, and sometimes not. In this context it would presumably indicate that the young man was the son, or a descendant, natural or adopted, of a fellow named 'Tenrik.' I might have translated the name, I suppose, as 'Tenrikson' but I preferred to retain the original Gorean, supplemented by this note. "I am the son of Tenrik," he said… — Vagabonds of Gor, page 343.
Ho [2]
The term in the red savages language meaning "yes." Another variation of this term is "howe." See also: "Howe."
"Howo, Oiputake," called her red master, turning about. He was Wapike, "One-Who-Is-Fortunate," Of the Isanna.
"Ho, Itancanka!" she cried, springing to her feet, joyfully, and running to follow him. — Blood Brothers of Gor, page 469.
Hodakiciyapi
The term in the red savages language meaning "peace and friendship."
"Hodakiciyapi," said Grunt. "Hou, Koda. Hou, Mitakoda."
"Peace, friendship," had said Grunt, "Greetings. Friend. Greetings, my friend," in Dust Leg. — Savages of Gor, page 257.
Hodari
In the Ushindi language, a word which means "brave." See: "Askari Hodari"
"Askari hodari!" he cried … The words Bila Huruma had uttered were of course in the native tongue of Ushindi. One might translate them, in the context, I suppose, as 'Brave Soldier'. — Explorers of Gor, page 442.
Hogar Variation of the Centian
A Kaissa move.
"Only too later did I realize its position in your plan, the feint of the four-piece combination covering your transposition into the Hogar Variation of the Centian, striking down the file of the Ubara's Scribe. It was brilliant." — Assassin of Gor, page 329.
Hogarthe
One of the first white explorers to track out and map territories of the Barrens. A tree indigenous to the Barrens is named in memory of this explorer.
"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.
Hogarthe Tree
A tree found in the Barrens named for one of the early explorers of the area.
"On the rise were two trees, white-barked trees, some fifty feet tall, with shimmering green leaves. They stood within some thirty to forty feet of one another and bother were outlined dramatically against the sky. … They were Hogarthe trees, named for Hogarthe, one of the early explorers in the area of the Barrens. They are not uncommon in the vicinity of water in the Barrens, usually growing along the banks of small streams or muddy, sluggish rivers. Their shape is very reminiscent of poplar trees on Earth, to which, perhaps, in virtue of seeds brought to the Counter-Earth, they may be related." — Blood Brothers of Gor, page 300.
Holding Cell
Cells used at auction houses for the keeping of slaves that are being sold.
"… the girls are generally kept, prior to their sale, in holding cells, lit by energy bulbs, beneath the ground level…" — Assassin of Gor, page 287.
[The] Holy Disease
See: "Dar-Kosis."
"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.
Homan
One of the 28 letters of the Gorean alphabet, probably of Earth Cretan derivation.
"The Gorean alphabet has twenty-eight characters, all of which, I suspect, owe their origin to one or another of the alphabets of Earth … 'Homan', I speculate, may derive from Cretan." — Explorers of Gor, page 9.
"Over forty percent of the language consists of the first five letters I mentioned, Eta, Tau, Al-Ka, Omnion and Nu … Further, over sixty percent of the language consists of those five letters plus Ar, Ina, Shu and Homan." — Slave Girl of Gor, page 384.
Home Stone [1]
A Home Stone is a symbol of sovereignity. A Home Stone can represent a city, a town, a village, or simply, an individual; every free person can claim their own personal Home Stone.
"In peasant villages on this world," he continued, "each hut was originally built around a flat stone which was placed in the center of the circular dwelling. It was carved with the family sign and was called the Home Stone. It was, so to speak, a symbol of sovereignty, or territory, and each peasant, in his own hut, was a sovereign." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 26.
Home Stone [2]
A Kaissa piece.
"The capture of the Player's Home Stone would take place on the next move." — Assassin of Gor, page 36.
Honey
Delicious product of the honey bee.
"The proprietor arrived with hot bread, honey, salt and, to my delight, a huge, hot roasted chunk of tarsk." — Outlaw of Gor, page 79.
Honey Bees
These industrious insects make delicious honey.
"I saw small fruit trees, and hives, where honey bees were raised …" — Marauders of Gor, page 81.
Hook-Billed Gort
See: "Gort."
"In the ground zone, and on the ground itself, are certain birds, some flighted, like the hook-billed gort…" — Explorers of Gor, page 311.
Hook Knife
A small hook-shaped knife. It is also for the name of the sport in which slave combatants use sheathed hook knives.
"Then the large man with missing teeth seized Hup's hair and pulled up the head, to expose the throat, holding in his right hand a small, thick, curved blade, the hook knife of Ar, used sheathed in the sport of that name, but the knife was not now sheathed. — Assassin of Gor, page 12.
Hook-Beak Turtle
A carnivorous turtle of the Vosk.
"It was far more likely that one of the water lizards of the Vosk or one of the great hook-beaked turtles of the river would seize my body and drag it and the frame under the water, destroying me in the mud below." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 139.
Hook Bracelets
A variation of the steel shackles, hook bracelets are soft leather cuffs with both locks and snaps on them. The snaps require no key and allow for the girl to be secured in various manners, such as her hands behind or before her, or to her collar.
"I rose to my feet and went to the slave room to fetch the hook bracelets, leather cuffs with locks on them, and snaps; they are soft and the snaps, as opposed to the cuffs, require no key; some men enjoy them on their slaves; by means of the snaps the girl may be variously secured by the locked cuffs, her hands being fastened behind her or before her, or perhaps to her collar." — Slave Girl of Gor, page 297.
Hopa
Word in the language of the Dust Legs and Kaiila tribes of the red savages, which means "Pretty" or "Attractive."
"'Hopa,' I knew, meant 'pretty' or 'attractive'." — Savages of Gor, page 216.
Horn Bow
Also known as the Small Bow, favored by the Tuchuks.
"Bring me," I said, "the small horn bow of the Tuchuks, the barbed war arrows of the Wagon Peoples." — Assassin of Gor, page 365.
Horn Spoon
An eating utensil made of the horn of an animal, most probably the bosh. Based upon descriptions of what is eaten with this spoon, it is probably large like a soup spoon of Earth.
"Ho-Tu, I noted, but did not speak to him of it, drank only water and, with a horn spoon, ate only a grain porridge mixed with bosk milk." — Assassin of Gor, page 88.
Horned Gim
A tiny owl-like bird.
"… the call of a tiny horned gim, the tiny purplish owl." — Captive of Gor, page 97.
Horned Tharlarion
One of the many breeds of the thunder lizards. See: "Tharlarion" and refer to the tharlarion page in the beasts section for more detailed information.
Eight tarns were flying in this race, and, hooded, they were brought forth on low, sideless wheeled platforms, drawn by horned tharlarion. The carts were painted in faction colors. The rider rode on the cart beside his bird, dressed in the silk of his faction. — Assassin of Gor, page 143.
Horned Verr
A mountain goat which has a spiral horn; NOT a kangaroo-like animal as I have seen described on other sites. Also see: "Verr."
"… the agile and bellicose Gorean mountain goat, the long-haired, spiral horned verr." See — Tarnsman of Gor, pages 148-149.
Horse
In the world of Gor, the horse is a mythological beast, depicted on cave walls found by Tarl Cabot in Torvaldsberg.
"There was no mistaking the quadruped on which the rider was mounted. It was a horse." — Marauders of Gor, page 230.
Hort
A unit of measure of distance, approximately 1-1/4 inches.
"The hort is approximately an inch and a quarter in length." — Tribesmen of Gor, page 49.
Hortator
Keleustes. See: "Keleustes"
"One who urges, or exhorts." — American Heritage College Dictionary, Third Edition ©2001
"Seeing the men, sweaty, chained, under the whip, I was affrighted. It was a grim fate which awaited them, the confinement and pain of the benches, the weight of the long oars, the shackles, the whip, the drum of the hortator, the stench, the black bread and onions of the ponderous galleys." — Slave Girl of Gor, page 342.
Hou
The term in the red savages language meaning "greetings."
"Hou, Witantanka!" called a girl to one of the warriors. "Greetings, One-Who-Is-Proud." — Blood Brothers of Gor, page 53.
Grunt then, still smiling, clasped his left hand with his right, and shook it. This, too, is used by some tribes as a sign for friend. "Kodakiciyapi," said Grunt. "Hou, Koda. Hou, Mitakoda." 'Peace, friendship,' had said Grunt, 'Greetings, Friend. Greetings, my friend,' in Dust Leg. He then added, in Kaiila, for good measure, substantially the same message. "Hou, Kola. Hou, Mitakola. Olakatoa. Wolakota." 'Greetings, Friend. Greetings, my friend. Peace, Peace, Friendship.' — Savages of Gor, page 257.
House of Cernus
One of the largest slave houses located in Ar.
"You say that this house of which you speak is the largest and richest, the most powerful, on the Street of Brands?"
"Yes," said Portus.
"What is the name of this house?" asked Kuurus.
"The House of Cernus", said Portus. — Assassin of Gor, page 21.
House of Clark
Large slave house.
"It is true that if she, with other girls, were shipped by wagon to Ar, this schedule would not be met; but we knew that the House of Clark, in the case of select merchandise, under which category Elizabeth surely fell, transported slaves by tarn caravan to the markets of Ar, usually binding them in groups of six in slave baskets, sometimes as many as a hundred tarns, with escort, flying at once." — Assassin of Gor, page 79.
House Marshal
Not much is said about the house marshal, but from the tidbit we are given, he seems to hold a position of being in charge of security for a free woman while traveling in palanquin.
"A house marshal was approaching, carrying a baton, with which he touched folks and made a passage among them. He was preceding the palanquin of a free woman, apparently a rich one, borne by some eight male slaves. I stepped to one side to let the marshal, the palanquin and its bearers move past. The side of the palanquin were sealed." — Magicians of Gor, page 13.
House Slave
Another term for the Tower Slave; responsible for duties within a residence, such as serving meals and up to and including intimate service.
"I gather that," I said, "in spite of the doubtless large numbers of beautiful slaves in the house of Appanius, you were to be trained as a house slave." — Magicians of Gor, page 309.
"Female work slaves, field slaves, stable slaves, and such, like kettle-and-mat girls, are usually considered the lowest of the slaves. At any rate they commonly bring the lowest prices in the markets." — Magicians of Gor, page 305.
House Veil
One of the veils worn by free women.
Howe
A form of the word "Ho;" meaning assention or acknowledgment; "yes." See also: "Ho [2]"
A few yards ahead of where we waited by the lodge there was a group of mounted kaiila riders. There was an older fellow there, a member of the Sleen Soldiers. He was addressing a cluster of some five or six young men, almost boys. It was the first hunt, I gathered, in which they would full participate, (pg.55) not riding merely at the fringes, observing the older men, but entering among the beast themselves. I walked up, to where I might hear what was going on. "Remember," the older fellow was telling them, "you do not hunt for yourself today. You hunt for others. Doubtless there will be hunters who will not be successful today. You will hunt for them. And there are those in the camps who are weak and frail. You will hunt for them. And there are those who are sick, less fortunate than yourselves, you hunt today. But always, remember, you hunt not only for yourself. You never hunt only for yourself. You hunt for the Kaiila."
"Howe, howe," acknowledged the boys. — Blood Brothers of Gor, page 54-55.
Howo
In the language of the red savages, the term eaning "come" (possibly "heel"?).
"Howo, Oiputake," called her red master, turning about. He was Wapike, "One-Who-Is-Fortunate," Of the Isanna.
"Ho, Itancanka!" she cried, springing to her feet, joyfully, and running to follow him. — Blood Brothers of Gor, page 469.
Huda
A unit of measure equaling 5 tefa.
"Six such handfuls constitutes a tefa, which is a tiny basket. Five such baskets constitutes a huda. — Tribesmen of Gor, page 46.
Hulneth
One of the exchange islands located in the northern portion of Gor.
"Others were Farnacium, Hulneth and Asperiche." — Raiders of Gor, pages 137-138.
Hunjer
One of the exchange islands located in the far northern portion of Gor.
"Perhaps she would be sold south to Schendi or Bazi, or north to a jarl of Torvaldsland, Scagnar or Hunjer, or across Thassa to Tabor or Asperiche, or taken up the Vosk in a cage to an island city, perhaps eventually to find herself in Ko-ro-ba, Thentis or Tharna, or even Ar itself." — Hunters of Gor, page 317.
Hunjer Long Whale
Rare whales that live in the arctic north.
"… and a preparation formed from a disease calculus scraped from the intestines of the rare Hunjer Long Whale, the result of the inadequate digestion of cuttlefish." — Marauders of Gor, page 114.
Hunjer Whale
One of the toothed whales that live in the arctic north; most likely the Orca of Gor. From this quote, it's not certain that the Long Hunjer Whale and the Hunjer Whale referenced here are one and the same.
"Sometimes they managed to secure the northern shark, sometimes even the toothed Hunjer whale or the less common Karl whale, which was a four-fluked, baleen whale." — Beasts of Gor, page 36.
Hunter's Catch
A special costume, with the use of netting, of slave girls generally worn when entertaining important guests.
Hunting Arrow
A simple-pile arrow favored for hunting, as it is designed to pull the arrowhead free of the victim. The shafts are either sheaf (short bow) or flight (long bow). See also: "Flight Arrow," "Sheaf Arrow", "Simple-Pile Arrow," "Tuchuk Barbed-Arrow", and "War Arrow."
"The hunting arrow, incidentally, has a long, tapering point, and this point is firmly fastened to the shaft. This makes it easier to withdraw the arrow from its target. The war arrow, on the other hand, uses an arrowhead whose base is either angled backwards, forming barbs, or cut straight across, the result in both cases being to make the arrow difficult to extract from a wound. The head of the war arrow, too, is fastened less securely to the shaft than is that of the hunting arrow. The point thus, by intent, if the shaft is pulled out, is likely to linger in the wound. Sometimes it is possible to thrust the arrow through the body, break off the point and then withdraw the shaft backwards. At other times, if the point becomes dislodged in the body, it is common to seek it with a bone or greenwood probe, and then, when one has found it, attempt to work it free with a knife. There are cases where men have survived this. Much depends, of course, on the location of the point.
"The heads of certain war arrows and hunting arrows differ, too, at least in the case of certain warriors, in an interesting way, with respect to the orientation of the plane of the point to the plane of the nock. In these war arrows, the plane of the point is perpendicular to the plane of the nock. In level shooting, then, the plane of the point is roughly parallel to the ground. In these hunting arrows, on the other hand, the plane of the point is parallel to the plane of the nock. In level shooting, then, the plane of the point is roughly perpendicular to the ground. The reason for these different orientations is particularly telling at close range, before the arrow begins to turn in the air. The ribs of the kailiauk are vertical to the ground; the ribs of the human are horizontal to the ground." — Savages of Gor, pages 40-41.
Hurt
A marsupial which is domesticated for its wool.
"Cernus of Ar wore a coarse black robe, woven probably from the wool of the bounding, two-legged Hurt, a domesticated marsupial raised in large numbers in the environs of several of Gor's northern cities." — Assassin of Gor, page 39.
Hurt Ranches
Where hurts are raised for their wool.
"The Hurt, raised on large, fenced ranches, herded by domesticated sleen and sheared by chained slaves, replaces its wool four times a year. The house of Cernus, I had heard, had interests in several of the Hurt ranches near the city." — Assassin of Gor, page 39.
Hydria
On
Gor, the hydria is a two-handled vessel used for serving water. The hydria dates back to the ancient Greeks. Depicted:Hydria by the Meidias Painter, c. 410 BC; in the British Museum.
"The girls filled their vessels, which, like the hydria, or water vessel, are high-handled, for dipping in a large kettle hung simmering over a fire… warm paga makes one drunker…" — Vagabonds of Gor, page 16.
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.