Naartok
Masculine Innuit name which means "Fat Belly."
"The word 'Naartok' in the language of the Innuit means 'Fat Belly'." — Beasts of Gor, page 294.
Nadu
Nadu is the Gorean term that simply means "kneel." It is NOT the name of a position. Nadu is the Gorean word for the command which translates to "kneel". The command of Position is also utilized when commanding a slave to a specific position, which can include the position of the pleasure slave, and is used in lieu of the term nadu.
It seems to be forgotten that pagar is the term for pleasure slave, and therefore, if a master had a reason to lower his authority with tedious explanations of how to kneel, to command a slave to kneel in pleasure slave position would be "Nadu, pagar". In the following passage, you can see that he commands "Bracelets" and then commands "Kneel," "Crawl," "Return," and again "Kneel." Of course "Bracelets" is in English and not in Gorean; the same with "Kneel," "Crawl" and "Return," and thusly why the passage was written in this manner.
"Bracelets!" I said in Gorean, harshly. "I am a free woman!" she said.
The girl snapped to position, hands behind the small of her back, head lifted, chin up, turned to the left. In such a posture she may be conveniently put in bracelets, and leashed. "I am a free woman!" she said.
"Kneel," I told her. Again she knelt, in the position of the pleasure slave. "I am a free woman!" she said.
To one side, her arms folded, the quirt in her hand, in leather strips and halter, with collar and ring, with high-laced sandals, stood the large female slave, who had originally conducted the girl from the room, and had brought her back today. She smiled. "I am a free woman!" she said.
I pointed to the stones at my feet. "Crawl," I said, in Gorean. "I am a free woman!" she said.
The girl slipped to her belly, and, as a slave girl, crawled to my feet. She put her lips to my foot; I felt her hair over it. "Return," I told her. On her belly, head down, she returned to where she had knelt. "I am a free woman!" she said.
"Kneel," I said. "I am a free woman!" she said.
Again she knelt in the position of the pleasure slave. Her eyes were angry. — Tribesmen of Gor, page 78.
Similarly to the above, and to help clarify the terminology, the following is a slave put through various commands of taking positions, and each time, the Gorean term is used; "Bara" is Gorean for Belly, "Sula" is Gorean for Supine, "Lesha" is Gorean for Leash, and "Nadu" is Gorean for … Kneel.
"Nadu!" he snapped. She swiftly turned, facing him, and dropped to her knees. She knelt back on her heels, her back straight, her hands on her thighs, her head up, her knees wide. It was the position of the pleasure slave. "Sula, Kajira!" said the man. She slid her legs from under her and lay on her back, her hands at her sides, palms up, her legs open. "Bara, Kajira!" he said. She rolled quickly to her stomach, placing her wrists behind her, crossed, and crossing her ankles, ready to be bound. "She is a pretty thing," said Ulafi, and turned away. "Yes," I said. "Sula!" said the man. "Bara! Nadu! Lesha! Nadu! Bara! Sula! Nadu!" — Explorers of Gor, page 77.
Napoktan
The term in the Kaiila dialect of the red savages meaning "bracelets."
Napoktan Band
Literal, Sand Band. One of the five bands (subgroups) that make up the red savage Kaiila tribe; named for the copper bracelets worn on the left wrist. The smallest of the five bands, numbering only three- to four-hundred (300-400) members, claim the land east of the Snake River and north of the Northern Kaiila River and the Kaiila River proper.
"The Isbu, or Little-Stones band; the Casmu, or Sand, band; the Isanna, the Little-Knife band; the Napoktan, or Bracelets, band; and the Wismahi, or Arrowhead band, are the five bands which constitute the Kaiila tribe. … The Bracelets band, or the Napoktan, wear copper bracelets on the left wrist." — Blood Brothers of Gor, page 10.
The land of the Napoktan, or Bracelets band of the Kaiila, is east of the Snake, and north of the Northern Kaiila, and the Kaiila proper." — Blood Brothers of Gor, pages 24.
"The Napoktan, which had arrived at the camp only yesterday, was the smallest of the bands of the Kaiila, numbering between some three and four hundred members." — Blood Brothers of Gor, page 25.
Nard
Another onlinism word created by someone other than John Norman. This word is not used in the books, except by its full name, spikenard.
Nard:
Etymology: Middle English narde, from Old English, from Latin nardus, from Greek nardos, of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew nErd nard
"Spikenard." — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2006
Spikenard:
Etymology:Middle English, from Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French spicanarde, from Medieval Latin spica nardi (translation of Greek nardou stachys), from Latin spica head (of grain), tuft (of a plant) + nardi, gen. of nardus nard;
"A costly ointment with a musky odor valued as a perfume in ancient times — called also nard; — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2006
Neck Leash
Common leash in which two slave girls share the same leash attached to neck collars.
Needle Flies
Also: "Sting Flies." Bothersome stinging flies generally found in marshlands.
Needle Tree
An evergreen tree whose oil is used in perfumes; the wood of the tree is used in shipbuilding, specifically for masts, spars, cabin and deck planking.
"Port Kar is, incidentally, completely dependent on the northern timber. Tur wood is used for galley frames, and beams and clamps and posts, and for hull planking; Ka-la-na serves for capstans and mastheads; Tem-wood for rudders and oars; and the needle trees, the evergreens, for masts and spars, and cabin and deck planking." — Raiders of Gor, page 141.
Neromiktok
Feminine Innuit name which means "Smooth-and-Soft-to-Touch."
"The word 'Neromiktok', in the language of the People. means 'Smooth-and-Soft-to-Touch'." — Beasts of Gor, page 425.
Nest
The home of the Priest-Kings in the Sardar. The Mother serves as the ruler of the Priest-Kings.
"Greatest in the Nest is the Mother," said Misk … "None may see the Mother save her caste attendants and the High Priest-Kings,' said Sarm, 'the First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Born." — Priest-Kings of Gor, page 87.
"The Mother is the Nest and the Nest is the Mother," said Misk. — Priest-Kings of Gor, page 92.
"Elizabeth and I had remained with Misk in the Nest of Priest-Kings, that incredible complex beneath the Sardar, for some weeks." — Assassin of Gor, page 60.
Nest Feast Cycle
Celebratory feasts of the Priest-Kings. The Nest feast cycle involves three feasts: Tola (the nuptial), Tolam (the first egg laid), and Tolama (the first egg hatched).
"What are the three great holidays?" I asked.
"The Nest Feast Cycle," said Misk, "Tola, Tolam and Tolama."
"What are these feasts?" I asked.
"They are the Anniversary of the Nuptial Flight," said Misk, "the Feast of the Deposition of the First Egg and the Celebration of the Hatching of the First Egg." — Priest-Kings of Gor, page 87.
Nest Trust
Nest Trust is the Priest-King verbage for friendship.
"There is an expression in their language which translates into English as 'Nest Trust', however, and seems to play something of the same role in their thinking. The notion of friendship, it seems to me, has to do with a reliance and affection between two or more individuals; the notion of Nest Trust, as clearly as I can understand it, is more of a communal notion, a sense of relying on the practices and traditions of an institution, accepting them and living in terms of them." — Priest-Kings of Gor, page 80.
Nest War
A war amongst the Priest-Kings themselves; one faction led by Misk, another by Sarm. The Nest War nearly destroyed the Priest-Kings, as well as the entire planet of Gor, forever.
"I knew, as Kamchak and Kutaituchik did not, of the recent Nest War beneath the Sardar, and of the disruption in the technological complexes of the Nest…" — Nomads of Gor, page 51.
"But some years ago, in the time of the Nest War, the power of the Priest-Kings was considerably reduced." — Beasts of Gor, page 8.
Netmen
Men who work the tarn races, that extract the tarns caught in the nets.
"The tarn, screaming, its wing useless, tumbled uncontrollably from the edge of the large, open, padded ring suspended over the net on the track, plunging into the net, its rider cutting the safety straps and leaping from its back in order that he not be slain beneath the bird struggling in the net… This was only the third lap in a ten-lap race, and yet already two tarns were down in the net. I could see the netmen expertly moving across the broad stands approaching them, loops in their hands to tie together the bird's beak, to bind its curved, wicked talons. The wing one bird was apparently broken, for the netmen, after binding it, quickly cut its throat, the blood falling through the net, staining it, soaking into the sand below in a brownish red patch. Its rider took the saddle and control straps from the still-quivering bird and dropped with them through the broad strands of the net, to the sand some six feet below." — Assassin of Gor, pages 138-139.
Nets
Also: "Capture Nets."
Netted rope used in capturing wild animals, slaves, and such in times of hunt, raid and war. The use of the net with the trident is popular amongst the fishermen caste.
"Another popular set of weapons, as in the ancient Ludi of Rome, is net and trident." — Assassin of Gor, page 189.
Then before us a woman screamed, stopping, pointing. "They have nets!" she cried. We were being driven toward the nets. — Raiders of Gor, page 51.
Ngao
An inland (Schendi) word which means "Shield."
"Lake Ngao, which was discovered by Shaba, and named by him, was named for a shield, because of its long, oval shape. The shields in this area tend to have that shape. It is also an inland word, of course." — Explorers of Gor, page 100.
Ngao [Lake]
Lake in the Ushindi region which lay undiscovered for some time, named by the explorer Shaba, due to its shape.
"Lake Ngao, which was discovered by Shaba, and named by him, was named for a shield, because of its long, oval shape. The shields in this area tend to have that shape. It is also an inland word, of course." — Explorers of Gor, page 100.
Nidan
Someone created this word; it wasn't John Norman and never seen in the books of Gor.
[The] Nondominant
The "lesser male" of the Kur.
"We have three, or, if you prefer, four sexes," it said." There is then a form of Kur which closely resembles the dominant but does not join in the killings or mate. You may, or may not, regard this as two sexes… 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.
Noodles
They must've had them.
"I can be up the stairs in an instant," said Marcus, "and open him like a bag of noodles." — Magicians of Gor, page 273.
Northern Brand
The brand common among the Torvaldslanders, though less uniform than its southern counterparts, is about one and one-half inches (1-1/2") wide and one and one-fourth inches (1-1/4") high, consisting of a half circle, which at its right tip and adjoining it, a steep, diagonal line; very symbolic as most brand representing the woman whose belly lies beneath the sword.
"The brand used by Forkbeard is not uncommon in the north, though there is less uniformity in Torvaldsland on these matters than in the south, where the merchant caste, with its recommendations for standardization, is more powerful. All over Gor, of course, the slave girl is a familiar commodity. The brand used by the Forkbeard, found rather frequently in the north, consisted of a half circle, with, at its right tip, adjoining it, a steep, diagonal line. The half circle is about an inch and a quarter in width, and the diagonal line about an inch and a quarter in height. The brand is, like many, symbolic. In the north, the bond-maid is some-times referred to as a woman whose belly lies beneath the sword." — Marauders of Gor, page 87.
Northern Kaiila River
The northern branch of the Kaiila River; its tributary is the Snake River.
"First, understand that there exists the Kaiila River, flowing generally in a southwestward direction. At a given point, high in the territory of the Kaiila tribe, it branches into two rivers, which are normally spoken of as the Northern Kaiila and the Southern Kaiila. The Snake, flowing in an almost southern direction, is a tributary to the Northern Kaiila. … Subsequently, one supposes, watercourses originally understood to be, say, the rivers of the Kaiila people, or the rivers in the country of the Kaiila people, came to be known more simply as the Kaiila River, or Rivers." — Blood Brothers of Gor, pages 24-25.
Northern Lights of Gor
As on Earth, a dazzling spectacle of lights in the sky. However on Gor, the Kur take credit for its existence, being Kurii-made, rather than a natural phenomenon, used for signaling other Kur groups or human agents.
"I looked up at the sky, at streaks and curtains of light, mostly yellowish green, hundreds of miles in height. This is an atmospheric phenomenon, caused by electrically charged particles from the sun bombarding the upper atmosphere. It was unusual for it to occur at this time of year.
The autumnal and vernal equinox times are the most frequent times of occurrence. In different light conditions these curtains and streaks can appear violet or red or orange depending on their height. This silent storm of charged particles, flung from millions of miles across space, raining upon an atmosphere, was very beautiful. On Earth this type of phenomenon is sometimes referred to as the Northern Lights or the Aurora Borealis. It occurs also, of course, in the south, in the vicinity of the southern polar circle." — Beasts of Gor, pages 336-337.
"Yes," it said, "but it is not unlike the natural phenomenon. It is produced by saturating the atmosphere with certain patterns of charged particles. These patterns may be arranged in given orders, to correspond to alphabetic characters, either in a Kur tongue or, say, in Gorean. The lights, apparently a natural phenomenon, are thus used as a signaling device to Kur groups and their human compatriots." — Beasts of Gor, page 373.
Northern Shark
One of the several varieties of shark which inhabit Gor; most probably the White Shark.
"Sometimes they managed to secure the northern shark…" — Beasts of Gor, page 36.
Northern Yoke
This device is made either of bone or of wood, with holes drilled in the middle and at each end; used to confine a slave. Yokes serve as excellent devices in the performance of chores, such as carrying buckets of grains. See also: "Girl-Yoke" and "Yoke."
"She was dressed, save for her bondage strings, in much the same way as most of the women of the red hunters, bare-breasted, with high boots and panties. Thistle, however, behind her, was naked, in a northern yoke and on a leather leash. The northern yoke is either of wood or bone, and is drilled in three places. The one Thistle wore was of wood. It was not heavy. It passed behind her neck at which point one of the drilled holes occurred. The other two holes occurred at the terminations of the yoke. A leather strap is knotted about the girl's wrist, passed through the drilled hole at one end of the yoke, usually that on her left, taken up through the hole behind the neck, looped twice about her neck, threaded back down through the center hole, taken up through the other hole at the end, usually the one at her right, and tied about her right wrist. She is thus fastened in the yoke. From each end of the yoke hung a large sack." — Beasts of Gor, pages 196-197.
Nose Ring
A small, gold ring which is fitted into a hole pierced into the septum of the nose. Among the Wagon Peoples, all females, slave and free wear such rings. Certain masters of many cities, however, also have their slaves' noses pierced and fitted with a ring.
"I supposed that on the morrow Kamchak would call for the Tuchuk Iron Master, to brand what he called his little barbarian… following the branding, I supposed that Kamchak would have one of the tiny nose rings affixed; all Tuchuk females, slave or free, wear such rings…" — Nomads of Gor, page 62.
Ute, who was looking at me with puzzlement, as were the other girls, rose to her feet and went obediently to the block. When she returned, she, too, wore a tiny, steel ring in her nose. There were tears in her eyes. "It smarts," she said to Inge. — Captive of Gor, page 166.
"Normally ear-piercing is done only to the lowest and most sensuous of slaves. It is regarded, by most Goreans, as being far more humiliating and degrading to a woman than the piercing of a girl's septum and the consequent fastening on her of a nose ring. Indeed, such an aperture does not even show. Some slave girls, of course, are fixed for both. Their masters, thus, have the option of ornamenting their lovely properties as they please. It might be mentioned that nose rings are favored in some areas more than in others, and by some peoples more than others. On behalf of the nose ring, too, it should be mentioned that among the Wagon Peoples, even free women wear such rings. This, however, is unusual on Gor. The nose ring, most often, is worn by a slave. These rings, incidentally, those for the ears and for the nose, do not serve simply to bedeck the female. They also have a role to play in her arousal." — Savages of Gor, page 11.
Notched Beam Lock
A Gorean lock in which an extremely heavy sickle shaped key is inserted through a hole in the door, fitted into the noted, and then rotated, either to the left or the right, depending on whether the door is being locked or opened. The keys are so heavy, they can be used as a weapon.
"Another form of lock, providing perhaps even less security, is the notched beam lock which may be opened by a heavy sickle-like key which is inserted through a hole in the door, fitted into the notch, and then rotated to the left or right, depending on whether the door is being locked or opened. These keys are quite heavy and are carried over the shoulder, and can, if necessary, even function as weapons." — Assassin of Gor, page 52.
Notched Stick
A musical instrument.
Nu
One of the 28 letters of the Gorean alphabet.
"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.
Nuptual Flight
See: "Nest Feast Cycle."
"… Tola, Tolam and Tolama… They are the Anniversary of the Nuptial Flight," said Misk, "the Feast of the Deposition of the First Egg and the Celebration of the Hatching of the First Egg." — Priest-Kings of Gor, page 87.
Nutmeg
Export from Bazi region; a spice.
"I had had verr meat, cut in chunks and threaded on a metal rod, with slices of peppers and larma, and roasted; vulo stew with raisins, nuts, onions and honey; a Kort with melted cheese and nutmeg; hot Bazi tea, sugared, and, later, Turian wine." — Tribesmen of Gor, pages 47-48.
Nuts
There are no descriptions on what tree or other vegetation where they obtain these indescript nuts; used in vulo stew, as well as in other dishes.
"Merchants brought sides of bosk, and thighs of tarsk, and wines and fruits to camp, and cheeses and breads and nuts, and flowers and candies and silks and honeys." — Captive of Gor, page 321.
Nykus
Gorean for "Victory." Obviously from the Greek word nike which means "victory."
The Gorean word for victory is 'Nykus,' which expression seems clearly influenced by 'Nike,' or 'Victory,' in classical Greek." — Explorers of Gor, page 100.
Nyoka [1]
An inland (Schendi) word which means "Serpent."
"Kamba, incidentally, is an inland word, not Gorean. It means rope. Similarly the word Nyoka means serpent." — Explorers of Gor, pages 99-100.
Nyoka [2]
River which is fed by Lake Ushindi and flows into the Schendi harbor before emptying into Thassa.
"I now regarded again the brownish stains in the water. Still we could not see land. Yet I knew that land must be nigh. Already, though we were still perhaps thirty or forty pasangs at sea, one could see clearly in the water the traces of inland sediments. These would have been washed out to sea from the Kamba and Nyoka rivers." — Explorers of Gor, page 99.
Nykus
Literal translation: "Victory."
"The Gorean word for victory is 'Nykus,' which expression seems clearly influenced by 'Nike,' or 'Victory,' in classical Greek." — Explorers of Gor, pages 99-100.
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.