Pack Urt
A large variety that lives in large packs; also known as the "Giant Urt."
Padlock
A common lock on Gor.
"Padlocks, it might be mentioned, are common on Gor. Also, combination locks are not unknown, but they are infrequently found. The most common combination lock consists of a set of lettered rings which conceal a bolt. When the letters are properly aligned the bolt may be withdrawn." — Assassin of Gor, page 52.
Paga
Short for Pagar-Sa-Tarna. See: "Pagar-Sa-Tarna."
"The Older Tarl and I may have drunk too much of that fermented brew concocted with fiendish skill from the yellow grain, Sa-Tarna, and called Pagar Sa-Tarna, Pleasure of the Life-Daughter, but almost always 'Paga' for short." — Tarnsman of Gor, pages 60-61.
Paga Attendant
A male employee of a paga tavern who supervises the serving of paga by slave girls and collects payment for the paga and the use of the slave girls. Often such role is performed by the proprieter of the paga tavern. The Gorean Bartender.
"Paga!" called the standing men. "Paga!" A blond girl, nude, with a string of pearls wound about her steel collar, ran to the table and from the bronze vessel, on its stap about her shoulder, poured paga into the goblet before the seated man. The fellow who stood by the table scarcely noticing the girl, placed a tarsk bit in her mouth, and she fled back to the counter where, under the eye of a paga attendant, she spit the coin into a copper bowl. — Rogue of Gor, page 77.
Paga Tavern
The Gorean establishment that in earth terms, is a combination bar and grill/whorehouse/inn. With the price of a cup of paga, the use of the serving slave is included. Generally, in the main area of the tavern, you will find a sand pit. In this sand pit, girls may dance or men may fight. Alcoves are provided for privacy; often these establishments are named so as to entice.
"I decided, if worst came to worst, that I could always go to a simple Paga Tavern where… one might, curled in a rug behind the low tables, unobtrusively spend the night for the price of a pot of Paga… It was customary to find diversions other than Paga in the Paga Taverns as well, but in grey Tharna the cymbals, drums and flutes of the musicians, the clashing of bangles on the ankles of dancing girls would be unfamiliar sounds." — Outlaw of Gor, page 74.
"I remembered, too, the girls in the last tavern… I found the thought crossing my mind that I would have liked to have owned that one for more than the hour I had paid for." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 61.
"… perhaps she would be purchased by the master of a Paga Tavern, or even of a lowly Kal-da shop, to dance for, and to serve and please his customers." — Outlaw of Gor, page 244.
At a Paga Tavern, one near the great gate, cheap and crowded, dingy and smelling, a place frequented by strangers and small Merchants, the Assassin took the girl by the arm and thrust her within. Those in the tavern looked up from the low tables. There were three musicians against one wall. They stopped playing. The slave girls in Pleasure Silk turned and stood stock still, the Paga flasks cradled over their right forearms. Not even the bells locked to their left ankles made a sound. Not a paga bowl was lifted nor a hand moved. The men looked at the Assassin, who regarded them, one by one. Men turned white under that gaze. Some fled from the tables, lest, unknown to themselves, it be they for whom this man wore the mark of the black dagger. The Assassin turned to the man in a black apron, a fat, grimy man, who wore a soiled tunic of white and gold, stained with sweat and spilled paga. "Collar," said the Assassin.
The man took a key from a line of hooks on the wall behind him. "Seven," he said, throwing the Assassin the key. The Assassin caught the key and taking the girl by the arm led her to a dark wall, in a low-ceilinged comer of the sloping room. She moved woodenly, as though numb. Her eyes seemed frightened. There were one or two other girls there, kneeling, who drew back, with a sound of chain. He thrust the dark-haired girl to her knees by the seventh collar and snapped it about her neck, turning the key, locking it. It gave her about a two-foot length of chain, fastened to a slave ring bolted into the stone. Then he looked down on her. Her eyes were lifted to his, frightened. The yellow of her livery seemed dark in the shadows. From where she knelt she could see the low-hanging tharlarion oil lamps of the main portion of the Paga tavern, the men, the girls in silk who, in a moment, belled, would move among them, replenishing the paga. In the center of the tables, under a hanging lamp, there was a square area, recessed, filled with sand, in which men might fight or girls dance. Beyond the area of the sand and the many tables there was a high wall, some twenty feet or so high, in which there were four levels, each containing seven small curtained alcoves, the entrances to which were circular, with a diameter of about twenty-four inches. Seven narrow ladders, each about eight inches in width, fixed into the wall, gave access to these alcoves. — Assassin of Gor, pages 7-9.
Pagar
Literally: "Pleasure."
"… called Pagar Sa-Tarna, Pleasure of the Life-Daughter…" — Tarnsman of Gor, page 61.
Pagar Kajira
Pleasure slave. See definitions for "Pagar" and "Kajira."
Pagar-Sa-Tarna
Literal meaning is "pleasure of the life-daughter."
"The Older Tarl and I may have drunk too much of that fermented brew concocted with fiendish skill from the yellow grain, Sa-Tarna, and called Pagar Sa-Tarna, Pleasure of the Life-Daughter, but almost always 'Paga' for short." — Tarnsman of Gor, pages 60-61.
"… of a pot of Paga, a strong, fermented drink brewed from the yellow grains of Gor's staple crop, Sa-Tarna, or Life-Daughter. The expression is related to Sa-Tassna, the expression for meat, or for food in general, which means Life-Mother. Paga is a corruption of Pagar-Sa-Tarna, which means Pleasure of the Life-Daughter." — Outlaw of Gor, pages 74-75.
Page Boy
Male slaves which serve as messengers of the Council of the Captains in Port Kar.
"I took the note from the boy, who appeared suddenly beside my chair. He had long hair, and wore a tunic of red and yellow silk. I recognized him, he being a page of the council." — Raiders of Gor, page 142.
Palace Guard
Upon Marlenus' regaining the rule of Ar, he disbanded the Taurentians and created his own palace guard. See: "Taurentians."
"There were now no Taurentians in the Central Cylinder. The Taurentians had been disbanded, disgraced and exiled from the city… The palace guard was now made up of Warriors who had been of the party of Marlenus. Their helmets and cloaks were no different from those of the armed forces of Ar generally. The palace guard, I had learned from Hup, would be, on a staggered basis, rotated, in order that the honor of serving the Ubar would be more broadly distributed, and, further, presumably, that no given faction of men could come, in time, to dominate the guards; the pay of the guards, incidentally, was substantially reduced, perhaps in order that, in virtue of this sacrifice, the honor of the post might be more clear, and that fewer invidious distinctions might grow up between the palace guard and the military generally, from which it was now composed." — Assassin of Gor, pages 392-393.
Palace of the Tatrix
Regal residence of Lara, Tatrix of Tharna.
"It sounds to me as though the Palace of the Tatrix were the more comfortable," I said. — Outlaw of Gor, page 75.
Palestrae
A gymnasium.
"Symmetrically arranged on either side of the baths were rooms for changing, massage, depilation, and medicinal use. From the changing rooms (apodyteria), one would go to the gymnasia (palaestrae) to exercise and from there to a sauna (laconica) to induce an even greater sweat." — Encyclopaedia Romana ©2002
"… by the managers or owners of palestrae, or gymnasiums…" — Magicians of Gor, page 75.
"We turned to look at the street. Approaching, singing, was a group of youths, in rows, a sports team, marching together. Their colors were of both Ar and Cos. Such teams, drawn from various parts of the city, competed in various games, in hurling the stone, in hurling the thonged javelin, both for distance accuracy, in races of various sorts, in jumping, in wrestling and such. There were meets, and local championships, with awards, such as fillets of the wool of the bounding hurt, dyed different colors, and for champions, crowns woven of the leaves of the mighty Tur tree. Eventually various teams, in their respective age brackets, would become city champions. Such sports as these were familial to Goreans, and had for years been privately practiced at numerous palestrae throughout the city. Indeed, such palestrae, upon occasion, would compete with another." — Magicians of Gor, page 206.
Palm Brand
One of the many varieties of slave brands.
Palm Trees
More than 1500 varieties of palm trees exist on Gor; two examples are the Date Palm and the Fan Palm.
"There is an incredible variety of trees in the rain forest, how many I cannot conjecture. There are, however, more than fifteen hundred varieties and types of palm alone. Some of these palms have leaves which are twenty feet in length. One type of palm, the fan palm, more than twenty feet high, which spreads its leaves in the form of an opened fan, is an excellent source of pure water, as much as a liter of such water being found, almost as though cupped, at the base of each leaf's stem." — Explorers of Gor, page 310.
Palm Wine
Drink of the Schendi region.
Panga
A two-foot long, curve-bladed bush knife used in the Ushindi region for the cutting of vines and other jungle growth; a machete.
Panther
Nocturnal feline of the forests and jungles. Also: "Forest Panther" and "Jungle Panther."
"Panthers, too, hunted largely at night, but, unlike the sleen, were not invariably nocturnal. The panther, when hungry, or irritable, hunts." — Hunters of Gor, page 106.
Panther Girls
Barbaric, wild free women of the northern forests.
Parade of Slaves
The beauty pageant [of the slaves] of Gor.
"The 'parade of slaves' as it is sometimes called, commonly takes place in venues such as paga taverns and brothels… It is a presentation of beauty and attractions. The slaves presnt themselves usually one by one, often to the accompaniment of music, for the inspection of guests." — Vagabonds of Gor, page 29.
Paravaci
One of the four tribes of the Wagon Peoples.
Parchment
A fine paper used for scrolls.
Etymology: Middle English parchemin, from Middle French, modification of Latin pergamena, from Greek pergamEnE, from feminine of PergamEnos of Pergamum, from Pergamon Pergamum; Date: 14th century
"1: the skin of a sheep or goat prepared for writing on;
2: strong, tough, and often somewhat translucent paper made to resemble parchment;
3: a parchment manuscript; also: an academic diploma." — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006
"I would have expected the message to have been written either on stout, glossy-surfaced linen paper, of the sort milled in Ar, or perhaps on vellum and parchment, prepared in many cities and used commonly in scrolls, the process involving among other thing tile washing and liming of skins, their scraping and stretching, dusting them with sifted chalk, rubbing them down with pumice. " — Nomads of Gor, page 49.
"… vellum and parchment, prepared in many cities, are also popular." — Raiders of Gor, page 8.
Parfleche
A storage device made of kailiauk hide, which is prepared in sheets, tben cut almost as thin as paper. After it is dried in the sun, it is then layered to form a flat, leather envelope which is sealed with a seam of hardened fat. Used to store food, such as kailiauk meat.
Etymology: Canadian French parflèche, from French parer to ward off, parry + flèche arrow;
"1: a rawhide (as of buffalo) soaked in lye to remove the hair and dried;
2: an article (as a box, sack, or saddlebag) made of parfleche." — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006
"The woman opened a rectangular hide envelope, a parfleche, slung on a strap over her shoulder. In it were various samples of beadwork and some small skins." — Savages of Gor, page 213.
"We did not feel that his stomach would be ready yet for the meat of kailiauk. We had some from the Dust Legs. It was in sheets, cut almost as thin as paper, dried in the prairie sun, layered in a flat, leather envelope, a parfleche, originally scaled with a seam of hardened fat." — Savages of Gor, page 328.
Parrot
Brightly colored bird of the Schendi.
"In the level of the emergents there live primarily birds, in particular parrots, long-billed fleers, and needle-tailed lits." — Explorers of Gor, page 311.
Parsit
Small, usually striped migratory fish; a staple of food for many peoples of Gor.
"… several varieties of migrating parsit, a small, narrow, usually striped fish. " — Beasts of Gor, page 38.
Parsit Current
The main ocean current above the polar basin; named for the migrating parsit that follow this current.
"The parsit current is the main eastward current above the polar basin. It is called the parsit current for it is followed by several varieties of migrating parsit …" — Beasts of Gor, page 38.
Pasang
A unit of measure equal to approximately .7 of an Earth mile.
"The pasang is a measure of distance on Gor, equivalent to approximately .7 of a mile." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 58.
"The pasang, a common unit of Gorean land measurement, is approximately .7 of a mile." — Nomads of Gor, page 13 (footnote).
Pasang Stone
Gorean mile-markers; also set to be dually-used as sundials.
"It seemed we had little to fear, and we had passed several of the pasang stones that line the side of the highway without seeing anything more threatening than a line of peasants carrying brushwood on their backs, and a pair of hurrying Initiates." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 113.
"I was delighted to come on one of the narrow roads to the city. I recognized it, and even if I had not, the cylindrical pasang stones that marked its length were each inscribed with the sign of the city and the appropriate pasang count to its walls." — Outlaw of Gor, page 25.
"The shadows of the pasang stones had grown long, and, judging by the angle of these shadows (for the stones are set in such a way as to serve also as sundials) it was past the fourteenth Gorean Ahn, or hour." — Outlaw of Gor, page 26.
Pasha
High ranking official amongst the desert nomadic tribes; the Pasha would be second to a Ubar.
Etymology: Turkish pasa; Date: 1646
"A man of high rank or office (as in Turkey or northern Africa)" — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006
"And what word," asked Hassan, "has been heard from Haroun, high pasha of the Kavars?" — Tribesmen of Gor, page 148.
"I looked about the room. It was a marvelous and lofty room, high ceilinged, columned and tiled, ornately carved, open and spacious in aspect, rich in its decoration. A vizier, a pasha, a caliph, might have held audience in such a chamber." — Tribesmen of Gor, page 211.
Pass Tile
Small, flat rectangle of made of clay, then glazed; used as an identifying means of entering specific rooms which are restricted.
"Though doubtless Ho-Tu was well known to the guards at the tarncot, he nonetheless showed them a small, flat rectangle of glazed clay, white in color, marked with the sign of the House of Cernus." — Assassin of Gor, page 93.
"It is to learn more of the House of Cernus," I said. "Do you know much of the House?"
"I know certain areas quite well," she said. "Further, I can receive a pass tile from Caprus to go most places in the house." — Assassin of Gor, page 105.
Passage Hand
The five (5) day period between every other Gorean month.
"Each month, containing five five-day weeks, is separated by a five-day period, called the Passage Hand, from every other month, there being one exception to this, which is that the last month of the year is separated from the first month of the year, which begins with the Vernal Equinox, not only by a Passage Hand, but by another five-day period called the Waiting Hand…" — Assassin of Gor, page 78.
Passing of Turia
Migrational move of the Wagon Peoples as they head north for the winter months; the first of phases of the Omen Year.
"… the Omen Year, or season, lasts several months, and consists of three phases, called the Passing of Turia, which takes place in the fall; the Wintering, which takes place north of Turia and commonly south of the Cartius, the equator of course lying to the north in this hemisphere; and the Return to Turia, in the spring, or, as the Wagon Peoples say, in the Season of Little Grass." — Nomads of Gor, pages 11-12.
Passion Slave
A slave bred for desirable attributes; not to be confused with a Pleasure Slave.
"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.
Pastures
In the Nest of the Priest-Kings, grown here are Sim plants, as well as the cattle of the Priest-Kings, an arthropod of unspecified type, tended by Muls.
"Everywhere in the Nest," I said, "you must go everywhere that there is something human to be found."
"Even in the Fungus Chambers and the Pastures?" asked Mul Al-Ka. — Priest-Kings of Gor, page 173."… and those from the Pastures drove before them with long pointed goads huge, shambling gray arthropods, the cattle of Priest-Kings… and others from the Pastures carried in long lines on their shoulders the ropelike vines of the heavy-leaved Sim plants…" — Priest-Kings of Gor, page 236.
Peach
No mention is made in the books as to the nature of the plantlife which bears a yellow, fleshy fruit; most likely a tree.
"The fruit — grapes and peaches of some sort — was fresh and as cold as mountain snow." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 22.
"The girl lifted her head then and timidly lifted the ripe, rounded fruit which she held in her hands. Gorean peaches and plums, to me." — Rogue of Gor, pages 194.
Pearls
Gemstone cultured from the Vosk sorp.
"Targo wore purple sandals, the straps of which were set with pearls." — Outlaw of Gor, page 191.
… I said, "amber droplets, the pearls of the Vosk sorp, the polished shell of the Tamber clam, glass colored and cut in Ar for trade with ignorant southern peoples." — Nomads of Gor, page 20.
"On his forehead there was tied a headband formed of the pearls of the Vosk sorp." — Raiders of Gor, page 18.
Peas
Pod vegetable.
"The Tarn Keeper, who was called by those in the tavern Mip, bought the food, bosk steak and yellow bread, peas and Torian olives, and two golden-brown, starchy Suls, broken open and filled with melted bosk cheese. I bought the Paga, and several times we refilled our cups." — Assassin of Gor, page 168.
Peasant Bow
See: "Great Bow."
Peasant Codes
Those codes of honor by which peasant communities live by. To dishonor those codes would result in expulsion from the community.
"I sensed that the codes were to be invoked. What Bran Loort and his fellows had done exceeded the normal rights of custom, the leniencies and tacit permissions of a peasant community; commonly the codes are invisible; they exist not to control human life, but to make it possible. The rapes of Verr Tail and Radish, interestingly, had not counted as code breaches, though in neither case had explicit permission for their conquest been granted by Thurnus; such permission, in such cases, was implicit in the customs of the community; it did not constitute a 'taking from' but a brief use of, an 'enjoyment of,' without the intent to do injury to the honor of the master; 'taking from,' in the sense of the code is not, strictly, theft, though theft would be 'taking from.' 'Taking from,' in the sense of the codes, implies the feature of being done against the presumed will of the master, of infringing his rights, more significantly, of offending his honor. In what Bran Loort had done, insult had been intended. The Gorean peasant, like Goreans in general, has a fierce sense of honor. Bran Loort had known exactly what he had been doing." — Slave Girl of Gor, page 228.
Peasant Hoe
Implement slave girls of the peasant villages use to reap Suls.
"I chopped at the dry earth about the sul plant… The peasant hoe has a staff some six feet in length. Its head is iron, and heavy, some six inches at the cutting edge, tapering to four inches where it joins the stall. It is fastened to the staff by the staff's fitting through a hollow, ringlike socket at its termination. A wedge is driven into the head of the staff to expand and tighten the wood in the socket." — Slave Girl of Gor, page 201.
Peasant Staff
Heavy staff made of wood, used as a walking aid and as a weapon.
"Facing me, clean-shaven, but with a massive, regal face concealed in the hood of a peasant, his gigantic body broad and powerful in the coarse rep-cloth garment of what is thought to be Gor's lowest caste, there stood a man whom I could not mistake, even though it had been years since I had looked upon him, even though his great beard was now gone, even though his body now wore the hood and garment of a peasant. In his right hand there was a heavy peasant staff, some six feet in height and perhaps two inches in width." — Assassin of Gor, pages 156-157.
Peasants, Caste of The lowest and most common of the Castes of Gor.
Pemmican
A soft cake made of kailiauk meat and mixed with fruit; technically, this is jerky. The Kaiila tribe of the red savages call pemmican "wakapapi."
Etymology: Cree pimikan, from pimii grease, fat
"A concentrated food used by North American Indians consisting essentially of lean buffalo meat or venison cut in thin slices, dried in the sun, pounded fine, mixed with melted fat, and packed in sacks of hide; a similar preparation (as of dried beef, flour, molasses, suet) used for emergency rations (as by explorers)." — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2006Assiniboin, (also called Stonies), are an American Plains Indian people belonging to the Siouan linguistic stock who split from the Yanktonai Dakota before the 17th century and lived during their greatest prominence in the area west of Lake Winnipeg along the Assiniboin and Saskatchewan rivers, Canada. Their name is derived from the Ojibwa (Chippewa) tongue and means One Who Cooks with Stones (they are known as Stonies in Canada). They were closely allied with the Algonkian Cree, with whom they fought almost constantly against the Dakota. The Assiniboin were great buffalo hunters known for their trading of pemmican (preserved buffalo meat) for firearms and other European goods brought in by traders on the Hudson Bay and along the upper Missouri. Across the subarctic, people preserved meat by drying and pounding it together with fat and berries to make pemmican. —Encyclopaedia Britannica ©2004-2006
"Wakapapi," said Cuwignaka to me. This is the Kaiila word for pemmican. A soft cake of this substance was pressed into my hands. I crumbled it. In the winter, of course, such cakes can be frozen solid. One then breaks them into small pieces, warms them in one's hands and mouth, and eats them bit by bit. I lifted the crumbled pemmican to my mouth and ate of it. There are various ways in which pemmican may be prepared, depending primarily on what one adds into the mixture, in the way of herbs, seasonings and fruit. — Blood Brothers of Gor, page 46.
Penal Brothel
A prison; in such an institution, a free woman convicted of a crime may serve out her sentence while maintaining her status as a free person.
"Please," she cried, "Sentence me only to a penal brothel!"
The penal brothel is too good for you," said the praetor.
"You are sentenced to slavery," he said. — Explorers of Gor, page 58.
Penalty Brands
Brands to mark a person as a thief, a liar, etc.
People
Highly militaristic and organized, with divisors and multiples having to do with seemingly, a base-twelve mathematics, a People is a Kurii military unit comprised of twelve Marches; their commander is also known as a Blood of the People.
"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, 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."
"Why is the leader spoken of as a Blood?" asked Samos.
"It seems to have been an ancient belief among such creatures," I said, "that thought was a function of the blood, rather than of the brain, a terminology which has apparently lingered in their common speech. Similar anachronisms occur in many languages, including Gorean."
"Who commands a People?" asked Samos.
"One who is said to be a 'Blood' of the People, as I understand it," I said. — Savages of Gor, pages 22-23.
Peppers
Export from the Bazi region; a vegetable.
"Telima had prepared a roast tarsk, stuffed with suls and peppers from Tor." — Raiders of Gor, page 114.
[The] Perfect Bondage
The perfect union of a master and slave.
"He had chosen the perfection of one man, the complete master, and one woman, the total slave. It is called the perfect bondage, each all and perfect to the other. It is right for some men, and not for others. Much depends on whether the man has met his perfect slave and the woman her perfect master." — Slave Girl of Gor, page 442.
[The] Perfumed Rope
A paga tavern located in Ar.
"The Perfumed Rope bids eighty copper tarsks," I heard. — Slave Girl of Gor, page 291.
Pestle
A utensil used for the pounding or grinding of grains in a mortar. See: "Mortar."
Etymology:Middle English pestel, from Middle French,
from Latin pistillum; akin to Middle Low German visel pestle, Latin pilum pestle, javelin, pinsere to pound, crush, Greek ptissein to crush, Sanskrit pinasti he pounds, crushes;
"A usually club-shaped implement for pounding or grinding substances especially in a mortar; any of various devices for pounding, stamping, or pressing." — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006
"The heavy, round-ended pestle some five feet in height, more than five inches wide at the base, dropped. It weighed some thirty pounds. When it dropped, the heavy wooden bowl, more than a foot deep and eighteen inches in diameter tipped. Sa-Tarna grain spilled to the ground." — Tribesmen of Gor, pages 136-137.
Physician
A Kaissa piece.
"Ubar's Tarnsman to Physician Seven," said the Vintner. — Assassin of Gor, page 32.
Physicians, Caste of
Fourth of the five High Castes.
Physician's Gambit
A Kaissa move.
"I wager," said another, "he will use the Physician's Gambit." — Beasts of Gor, page 81.
Pierced-Ear Girl
A slave girl with pierced ears.
Pilgrimage to the Sardar
Every Gorean is required, at some point in his or her life, to make the journey to the Sardar, if only to simply the base of the mountains, to make pilgrimage.
"The Sardar Mountains, which I had never seen, lay more than a thousand pasangs from Ko-ro-ba. Seldom enter the mountains, and do not return when they do, many often venture to their brink, if only to stand within the shadows of those cliffs that hide the secrets of the Priest-Kings. Indeed, at least once in his life every Gorean is expected to make this journey." — Outlaw of Gor, page 47.
"This pilgrimage to the Sardar, enjoyed by the Priest-Kings according to the Caste of the Initiates, undoubtedly plays its role in the distribution of beauty among the hostile cities of Gor… Thus one practical effect of the edict of the Priest-Kings is that each Gorean girl must, at least once in her life, leave her walls and take the very serious risk of becoming a slave girl, perhaps the prize of a pirate or outlaw." — Priest-Kings of Gor, page 12.
"Each young person of Gor is expected, before their twenty-fifth birthday, to make the pilgrimage to the Sardar, to honor the Priest-Kings. These caravans come from all over known Gor. Most arrive safely. Some are preyed upon by bandits and slavers." — Beasts of Gor, page 47.
"On her nineteenth birthday, members of the Caste of Initiates had appeared at the door of the leather worker's hut. It had been decided that she should now undertake the journey to the Sardar, which, according to the teachings of the Caste of Initiates, is enjoined on every Gorean by the Priest-Kings, an obligation which is to be fulfilled prior to their attaining their twenty-fifth year. If a city does not see that her youth undertake this journey then, according to the teachings of the Initiates, misfortunes may befall the city. It is one of the tasks of the Initiates to keep rolls, and determine that each youth, if capable, discharge this putative obligation to the mysterious Priest-Kings… It is a custom of the Initiates of Teletus, and of certain other islands and cities, it the youth agrees to go to the Sardar when they request it, then his, or her, family or guardians, if they wish it, will receive one tarn disk of gold… Besides, she knew will that, some year, prior to her twenty-fifth year, such a journey must be undertaken by her. The Merchants of Teletus, controlling the city, would demand it of her, fearing the effects of the possible displeasure of the Priest-Kings on their trade. If she did not undertake the journey then, she would be simply, prior to her twenty-fifth birthday, removed from the domain of their authority, placed alone outside their jurisdiction, beyond the protection of their soldiers. Such an exile, commonly for a Gorean, is equivalent to enslavement or death." — Captive of Gor, pages 233-234.
Pillar of Exchanges
The place where prisoners are taken and exchanged amongst enemy cities.
"Take me now to the Pillar of Exchanges… A pillar on the borders of Tharna," she said, "where Tharna and her enemies effect the exchange of prisoners." — Outlaw of Gor, page 139.
"Guided by the Tatrix, in perhaps no more than thirty minutes, we saw, gleaming in the distance, the Pillar of Exchanges. It lay about one hundred pasangs northwest of the city, and was a lonely white column of solid marble, perhaps four hundred feet in height and a hundred feet in diameter. It was accessible only on tarnback. It was not a bad place for the exchange of prisoners, and offered an almost ideal situation from the point of view of avoiding ambush. The solid pillar would not allow entrance to men on the ground, and approaching tarns would be easily visible for miles before they could reach it." — Outlaw of Gor, page 141.
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.
Pin-Tumbler Lock
Most common of cylinder locks found on Gor.
"Most doors giving entry into a compartment, or set of compartments, on Gor do, however, have locks, generally hand-crafted, highly ornate locks, usually set in the center of the door and controlling a long bolt. Most of these locks, interestingly, though hand-crafted, are of the pin-tumbler variety, secured by a set of heavy pins extending into the lock plug; when the key is inserted the pins, of various lengths, are lifted to the surface of the lock plug, freeing it, so that when the key turns the plug may rotate, thereby moving the bolt." — Assassin of Gor, page 50.
Pincer Blade
Nautical military tactic.
"My fifth wave was divided into two portions, the pincer blade striking from the north under the command of the tall, long-haired Nigel, with his fifteen ships, supplemented by twenty-five of the arsenal, and the pincer blade from the south under the command of Chung, with his twenty ships, supplemented by another twenty, from the arsenal. All of these ships were tarn ships." — Raiders of Gor, pages 269-270.
Pit Lock
Another form of a Gorean booby-trapped lock; when tampered with, a trap falls away, trapping the intruder in a pit below.
"Another form of lock difficult to guard against is the pit lock, because of the natural crevices in Gorean tiling commonly found in corridors of cylinders; when tampered with a trap falls away beneath the individual, dropping him to a pit below, usually containing knives fixed in stone, but upon occasion osts, or half-starved sleen or water tharlarion; sometimes, however, the pit may be simply a smooth-sided capture pit, so that the individual may later be interrogated and tortured at length." — Assassin of Gor, page 52.
Placatory Dance
This dance is perfomed with the intent to assuage the anger of the maaster and beg his forgiveness.
"Some form of placatory dance is usually taught to the girl in slave training. There is no telling when it might be needed." — Dancer of Gor, page 332.
Places of Sanctuary
Specific locations in which Sanctuary is accorded in times of war. Not much is said about the Places as Sanctury. In fact, the only mention of it is in the following passage:
"You must learn," Torm had said matter-of-factly, "the history and legends of Gor, its geography and economics, its social structures and customs, such as the caste system and clan groups, the right of placing the Home Stone, the Places of Sanctuary, when quarter is and is not permitted in war, and so on." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 40.
Plains of a Thousand Stakes
The playing field for the Love War games.
"I do not know if there are, by count, a thousand stakes or not on the Plains of a Thousand Stakes, but I would suppose that there are that many or more." — Nomads of Gor, page 112.
Plains of Turia
The Land of the Wagon Peoples.
"… what some call the Plains of Turia, others the Land of the Wagon Peoples…" — Nomads of Gor, page 3.
Plank Collar
A two-piece board hinged at one end and capable of being locked at the other, similar in operation to the stocks of 18th-century America and England; it has two or more semi-circular holes cut in each side so that it may fit around the necks of more than one slave girl or captive free woman at one time.
Planting Feast of Sa-Tarna
An annual ceremony to ensure a good harvest.
Plastic Cages
Cages made of plastic to exhibit slaves for sale at auctions. See: "Exhibition Cages."
"Outside the Curulean also, on sale days, actual slave girls are exhibited, some in suspended plastic cages fastened to the roof of the portico, others in a tier of cages lining the interior wall of the portico; these are not, however, the exposition cages within the Curulean; they are merely, so to speak, advertisements and attractions to lure customers; on the other hand, of course, such displays, along with many others, will be offered for sale." — Assassin of Gor, page 286.
Plate Collar
A metal band which is hammered about the neck of a slave; this particular type of collar needs no lock.
Ho-Tu grinned. "Call the smith!" said he to the guard. "Plate collars!" — Assassin of Gor, page 153.
Platform of the Mother
Found in the Chamber of the Mother, where the Mother of the Priest-Kings lays.
"Inching forward I saw, on the raised platform at this end of the room, the Mother." — Priest-Kings of Gor, page 213.
"… one Priest-King at a time, one after the other, would slowly stalk forward and approach the Platform of the Mother." — Priest-Kings of Gor, page 214.
Platform Shoes
Shoes with thick heels to make the free woman appear taller than she truly is. 
*I wonder if Talena knew how to dance to "Stayin' Alive"*
"One monstrous platform shoe had broken from her small foot and flopped beside her ankle, still attached by its straps. The shoe was at least ten inches high. I laughed. This explained the incredible height of the Ubar's daughter." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 92.
"On the other hand, I think that Talena was actually pleased to be rid of the encumbering, ornate robes of the daughter of the Ubar. Her garment was, of course, too long, as it had originally reached to the ground, covering the absurd platformlike shoes she had worn." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 106.
Platforms
Large decks where slave girls are auctioned and sold. See also: "Western Platforms."
"I mingled with the crowds among the platforms. There are hundreds of such platforms, long, raised about a foot from the ground, far more than one could easily examine in a day's browsing. They are rented to individual slavers, who, reserving them before the fairs, would rent one or more, or several, depending on their riches and the numbers of their stock. Small signs fixed on the platforms identify the flesh merchant, such as 'These are the girls of Sorb of Turia' or 'These slaves are owned by Tenalion of Ar.' On a rounded wooden block a naked slave girl knelt, her wrists braceleted behind her. Her head was back. One of the physicians was cleaning her teeth. Sales take place at night in the pavillion, from a sawdust-strewn block, under the light of torches, but girls may also be sold directly from the platforms. Indeed, many girls are sold from the platforms. Given the number of girls at the fair, and the fact that new ones are constantly being brought to the platforms, it is impractical to hope to market them all from the block. It is just not feasible. At the end of every fair there are always some hundreds of girls left unsold. These are usually sold in groups at wholesale prices In sales restricted to professional slavers, who will transport them to other markets, to dispose of them there …" — Beasts of Gor, pages 53-54.
"Most girls on the platforms are exhibited naked in their chains. Some, on the other hand, are attired, usually briefly and in platform tunics, which may be opened. It is thought that sometimes a clothed girl is more intriguing to a buyer. When he comes forward and asks to see the girl, and the tunic is opened, he is, of course, already there and interested. The slaver or the slaver's man, then, can talk with him, discussing, praising and pointing out the values of the commodity. This would not be easy if the fellow had merely glanced upon the wares and passed by. Girls are seldom, if ever, of course, sold clothed: It is said that only a fool would buy a clothed woman." — Beasts of Gor, pages 63-64.
Player Kaissa
The codified version of Kaissa developed by the the caste of Players.
"Incidentally, there are many versions of Kaissa played on Gor. In some of these versions, the names of the pieces differ, and, in some, even more alarmingly, their nature and power. The caste of Players, to its credit, has been attempting to standardize Kaissa for years. A major victory in this matter was secured a few years ago when the caste of Merchants, which organizes and manages the Sardar Fairs, agreed to a standardized version, proposed by, and provisionally approved by, the high council of the caste of Players, for the Sardar tournaments, one of the attractions of the Sardar Fairs. This form of Kaissa, now utilized in the tournaments, is generally referred to, like the other variations, simply as Kaissa. Sometimes, however, to distinguish it from differing forms of the game, it is spoken of as Merchant Kaissa, from the role of the Merchants in making it the official form of Kaissa for the fairs, Player Kaissa, from the role of the Players in its codification, or the Kaissa of En'Kara, for it was officially promulgated for the first time at one of the fairs of En'Kara, that which occurred in 10,124 C.A., Contasta Ar, from the Founding of Ar, or in Year 5 of the Sovereignty of the Council of Captains, in Port Kar." — Players of Gor, page 8.
Players
Also: Players, Caste of
A professional Kaissa player. They are not a caste or clan in themselves, but rather men of various castes.
"The Players are not a caste, nor a clan, but they tend to be a group apart, living their own lives. They are made up of men from various castes who often have little in common but the game, but that is more than enough." — Assassin of Gor, page 27.
Pleasure Garden
An area in which slave girls and even free women are kept, keeping them safe and out of sight to outsiders.
"She is undoubtedly in the Pleasure Gardens of the boldest tarnsman on Gor," laughed the warrior. — Tarnsman of Gor, page 116.
"… the Pleasure Gardens of so rich a man as Saphrar of Turia may contain a large number of female slaves…" — Nomads of Gor, page 216.
"The masses of flowers and vegetation in Saphrar's Pleasure Gardens filled the air with mingled, heavy sweet fragrances. Also the fountains had been scented and the pools." — Nomads of Gor, page 218.
"A man may have many slave girls," she sniffed." Surely in your Pleasure Gardens - wherever they may be - many beautiful captives wear your collar?" — Outlaw of Gor, page 202.
Pleasure Rack
A device, ranging in complexity from a grid of ropes in a wooden frame to a moveable, adjustable frame with chains, for the display and sexual use of slave girls and captive free women.
"… its women, stripped, lashed to the pleasure-racks of the victors." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 204.
"On one side of the tent there stood, with its straps, a Pleasure Rack." — Outlaw of Gor, page 199.
Pleasure Silk
The sheer, clingy form of silk worn only by slave girls.
"She wore yellow Pleasure Silk … the diaphanous Pleasure Silk that was the only garment permitted her did not, by design, conceal her charms." — Nomads of Gor, page 220.
"The slave girls in Pleasure Silk turned and stood stock still, the Paga flasks cradled over their right forearms. Not even the bells locked to their left ankles made a sound." — Assassin of Gor, page 8.
"The Pleasure Slaves who served wore green Pleasure Silk …" — Assassin of Gor, page 167.
[The] Pleasure Silk
A paga tavern located in Ar.
"The Pleasure Silk bids fifty tarsks," I heard. — Slave Girl of Gor, page 290.
Pleasure Slave
A slave girl trained in the exquisite pleasuring of men.
"I remembered, too, the girls in the last tavern, if it was a tavern, lascivious in their dancing silks, pleasure slaves bred like animals for passion." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 41.
"A good deal of the training of the slave girl, surprisingly, to my naive mind, was in relatively domestic matters. For example, the Pleasure Slave, if she is trained by a good house, must also be the master of those duties commonly assigned to Tower Slaves. Accordingly, they must know how to cut and sew cloth, to wash garments and clean various types of materials and surfaces, and to cook an extensive variety of foods, from the rough fare of Warriors to concoctions which are exotic almost to the point of being inedible." — Assassin of Gor, page 204.
Pleasure Slave [Position]
Most common slave girl position of kneeling.
"On one of these lines, number six, there knelt, one behind the other, in tandem fashion, seven girls. They were barbarians, but they had been knelt in the position of pleasure slaves, back on their heels, knees wide, hands on their thighs, backs straight, heads up." — Savages of of Gor, page 135.
Pleasures of the Golden Beetle
The Priest-Kings, attracted to the narcotic odor of the Golden Beetle, succumb to the insect, which in turns, kills the Priest-King. However, the narcotic produced by the Golden Beetle gives the Priest-King a sense of pleasures.
"One by one we succumb to the Pleasures of the Golden Beetle." — Priest-Kings of Gor, page 118.
Sarm's antennae lay immersed in the golden hair of the Beetle; his grasping appendages with their sensory hairs caressed the golden hair; even did he take some of the hairs in his mouth and with his tongue try to lick the exudate from them. "The pleasure," came from Sarm's translator, "The pleasure, the pleasure." I could not shut out from my ears the grim sound of the sucking jaws of the Beetle. — Priest-Kings of Gor, pages 275-276.
Plenipotentiary
A diplomat.
Adjective:
Etymology: Medieval Latin plenipotentiarius, adjective & noun, from Late Latin plenipotent-, plenipotens; Date: circa 1645
"1: invested with full power;
2: of or relating to a plenipotentiary."
Noun: Date: circa 1656:
"A person and especially a diplomatic agent invested with full power to transact business minister plenipotentiary; plural ministers plenipotentiary;"
Noun: Date: 1796:
"A diplomatic agent ranking below an ambassador but possessing full power and authority." — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006
"I looked down the table a bit at Kamras, plenipotentiary of Phanius Turmus, Administrator of Turia. He was a large-wristed strong man with long, black hair. He sat as a warrior, though in robes of silk. Across his face there were two long scars, perhaps from their delicacy the scars of quiva wounds. He was said to be a great warrior, indeed, to be champion of Turia. " — Nomads of Gor, page 86.
Poalu
Feminine Innuit name which means "Mitten."
The names of the red hunters, incidentally, have meaning, but, generally, I content myself with reporting the name in their own language. 'Imnak,' for example, means "Steep Mountain"; 'Poalu' means "Mitten"… — Beasts of Gor, page 194.
Pod Tree
Tree found in the Schendi region.
"The results of our trading had been two baskets of dried fish, a sack of meal and vegetables, a length of bark cloth, plaited and pounded, from the pod tree, dyed red …" — Explorers of Gor, page 287.
Point Alfred
One of the Vosk River townships.
"West of Ar's Station on the river I had visited Jort's Ferry, Point Alfred, Jasmine, Siba, Sais, and Sulport." — Rogue of Gor, page 63.
Poison Lock
Another booby-trapped Gorean lock, coated with the poisonous kanda.
"Some locks, on the compartments of rich persons, or on the storehouses of merchants, the treasuries of cities, and so on, are knife locks or poison locks … Much more dangerous is the poison lock, because the opening through which the tiny pins, usually coated with a paste formed from kanda root, can emerge can be extremely small, almost invisible to the eye, easy to overlook in the crevices and grillwork of the commonly heavy, ornate Gorean lock." — Assassin of Gor, page 52.
Polemarkos
A military commander..
polemikos: hostile; polemos; war. (Latin) — American Heritage College Dictionary, Third Edition ©2001
polemarch:
Etymology:Greek polemarchos, from polemos war + archos ruler;
"A chieftain or military commander in ancient Greece; especially: the third archon in ancient Athens presiding at the court and having jurisdiction over the causes of the metics." — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006
"Myron is a fine Polemarkos," said a man … Myron had weaknesses as an officer, and as a man, but he was, in my opinion, an excellent commander. — Vagabonds of Gor, page 413.
Pomegranate
Tree which produces hard shelled, red, fleshy, segmented fruits. The "hard larma"? See: "Larma."
Etymology: Middle English poumgrenet, from Middle French pomme grenate, literally, seedy apple; Date: 14th century;
"1: a thick-skinned several-celled reddish berry that is about the size of an orange and has many seeds with pulpy crimson arils of tart flavor;
2: a widely cultivated tropical Old World tree (Punica granatum of the family Punicaceae) bearing pomegranates." — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006
"From outside I could smell date palms, pomegranates." — Tribesmen of Gor, page 115.
Ponytail
On a slave girl, this sort of hairdo is known as the "Leash" or the "Hair 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.
Pool of Ar's Glories
One of the pools of the Capacian Baths in Ar.
"I had heard the Pool of the Tropics was an excellent pool in the Capacian; and also the Pool of Ar's Glories, and the Pool of the Northern Forests; there was even, of recent date, a Pool of the Splendor of the Hinrabians; I myself, however, with one arm about Nela, who nestled against me, felt content with the Pool of Blue Flowers." — Assassin of Gor, page 164.
Pool of Blue Flowers
One of the pools of the Capacian Baths in Ar.
"There was a little wench named Nela, usually in the Pool of Blue Flowers, whom I enjoyed sporting with." — Assassin of Gor, page 148.
"The temperature of the Pool of Blue Flowers was cool and pleasing." — Assassin of Gor, page 163.
Pool of the Northern Forests
One of the pools of the Capacian Baths in Ar.
"I had heard the Pool of the Tropics was an excellent pool in the Capacian; and also the Pool of Ar's Glories, and the Pool of the Northern Forests; there was even, of recent date, a Pool of the Splendor of the Hinrabians; I myself, however, with one arm about Nela, who nestled against me, felt content with the Pool of Blue Flowers." — Assassin of Gor, page 164.
Pool of the Splendor of the Hinrabians
One of the pools of the Capacian Baths in Ar.
"I had heard the Pool of the Tropics was an excellent pool in the Capacian; and also the Pool of Ar's Glories, and the Pool of the Northern Forests; there was even, of recent date, a Pool of the Splendor of the Hinrabians; I myself, however, with one arm about Nela, who nestled against me, felt content with the Pool of Blue Flowers." — Assassin of Gor, page 164.
Pool of the Tropics
One of the pools of the Capacian Baths in Ar.
"I had heard the Pool of the Tropics was an excellent pool in the Capacian; and also the Pool of Ar's Glories, and the Pool of the Northern Forests; there was even, of recent date, a Pool of the Splendor of the Hinrabians; I myself, however, with one arm about Nela, who nestled against me, felt content with the Pool of Blue Flowers." — Assassin of Gor, page 164.
Porcupine
This mammal lives is found in the rainforests of Gor.
"Here, too, may be found snakes and monkeys, gliding urts, leaf urts, squirrels, climbing, long-tailed porcupines, lizards, sloths, and the usual varieties of insects, ants, centipedes, scorpions, beetles and flies, and so on." — Explorers of Gor, page 311.
Port
The left side of a ship. However, though Tarl uses this term, it seems the expression "port" is not a part of the Gorean language, though there is an equivalent in Gorean, though he does not provide that information.
"We lifted our oars, and then those of the port side only entered the water and pressed against it." — Raiders of Gor, page 186.
"The exact expressions 'port' and 'starboard' do not exist in Gorean, though there are, naturally, equivalent expressions." — Slave Girl of Gor, page 362.
Port Consortium
The regulating agency for merchant ships for port use in Port Kar.
"Most ports and islands on Thassa, of course, are not managed by the Merchants, but, commonly, by magistrates appointed by the city councils. In Port Kar, my city, the utilization of the facilities of the port is regulated by a board of four magistrates, the Port Consortium, which reports directly to the Council of Captains, which, since the downfall of the warring Ubars, is sovereign in the city." — Hunters of Gor, page 43.
Port Cos
Small port city allied to Cos.
Port Kar
Known for its caste of thieves and dancing girls, this city is located on the Thassa, protected by the Vosk marshes.
"Port Kar, squalid, malignant Port Kar, scourge of gleaming Thassa, Tarn of the Sea, is a vast, disjointed mass of holdings, each almost a fortress, piled almost upon one another, divided and crossed by hundreds of canals. It is, in effect, walled, though it has few walls as one normally thinks of them." — Raiders of Gor, page 103.
"The dancing girls of Port Kar are said to be the best of all Gor. They are sought eagerly in the many cities of the planet. They are slave to the core, vicious, treacherous, cunning, seductive, sensuous, dangerous, desirable, excruciatingly desirable." — Raiders of Gor, page 100.
Port Olni
A large port city on the Olni River.
Position Chain
Chain, which is attached to both sides of the slave collar, is used by auctioneers on the slave block to hold a slave perfectly in position for exhibition.
Posture
A command to a slave girl to stand a particular way.
Pot Girl
Slave whose primary duties are in the kitchens.
"She had first been sold for eight silver tarsks to a keeper of one of the public kitchens in a cylinder, a former creditor of her father, who had in mind making a profit on her; she worked in the kitchen for a year as a pot girl, sleeping on straw and chained at night, and then, as her body more adequately developed the contours of womanhood, her master braceleted her and took her to the Capacian Baths where; after some haggling, he received a price of four gold pieces and a silver tarsk; she had begun in one of the vast cement pools as a copper-tarn-disk girl and had, four years later, become a silver-tarsk girl in the Pool of Blue Flowers." — Assassin of Gor, pages 164-165.
Pot-and-Mat Girl
Slave whose primary duties are in the kitchens as well as intimacy. See: "Kettle and Mat."
"I need a wench," said the man, "one who will cost me little, one to keep in the cots by day, to shovel the excrement of tarns, one to keep in my hut by night, as a pot-and-mat girl." — Beasts of Gor, page 70.
Potato
A root vegetable. Did John Norman forget he created the Sul?
"… who tumbled onions, turnips, radishes, potatoes and bread into the feed trough." — Outlaw of Gor, page 155.
Potters, Caste of
The makers of various types of pottery.
Pounding Block
One of the stones used in an ancient grinding device called the quern. The pounding block is used principally in the same way as the more ancient method of the mortar and pestle. The pounding block descends into the mortar block continually through the use of a springy, bent pole. See: "Quern."
"In some villages, however, something approximating the old mortar and pestle is sometimes used, the two blocks, a pounding block strung to a springy, bent pole, and the mortar block, or anvil block. The pole has one or more ropes attached to it, near its end. When these are drawn downward the pounding block descends into the mortar block, and the springiness of the pole, of course, straightening, then raises it for another blow." — Renegades of Gor, pages 17-18.
Pouring Sling
A sling which cradles the very large bottles of such drinks as paga, making it easier to carry and pour these bottles.
"… and took in return one of the huge bottles of paga, of the sort put in the pouring sling, and reeled out of the tavern …" — Raiders of Gor, page 111.
Pox
Also referred to as Bazi Plague, an especially infectious and deadly disease; most likely Small Pox which devasted civilizations on Earth long ago. See also: "Bazi Plague."
"We are going to test you for pox," he said. The girl groaned. It was my hope that none on board the Clouds of Telnus had carried the pox. It is transmitted by the bites of lice. — Slave Girl of Gor, page 325.
Praetor
Per John Norman's usage on Gor, a praetor is simply a police officer/judge of the docks.
A praetor is a member of the Praetorian Guard under the Roman Empire. —American Heritage College Dictionary, Third Edition ©2001
"We shall send two guardsmen to investigate," said the praetor. "Thank you, Citizen, for this information." — Explorers of Gor, page 51.
"The height of the praetor's desk, he on the high stool behind it, permits him to see a goodly way up and down the wharves. Also, of course, one standing before the desk must look up to see the praetor, which, psychologically, tends to induce a feeling of fear for the power of the law. The wooden bar before the desk's front edge makes it impossible to see what evidence or papers the praetor has at his disposal as he considers your case." — Explorers of Gor, page 54.
"I assure you," smiled the praetor, "it will not go easier on her." "My thanks, Officer," said the man. — Explorers of Gor, page 55.
Prairie Grass
Grass commonly found on prairies and meadowlands.
"… the prairie grass, such that it might graze the ponderous bosk, had been spared." — Nomads of Gor, page 4.
Prairie Urt
The small scavenger rodent of the plains.
"… the tiny brown prairie urts, scavengers…" — Nomads of Gor, page 266.
Praise Sheets
Hymnals to the Priest-Kings.
"Here there were lines of booths in an extended arcade, where merchandise of various sorts might be purchased, usually of an inexpensive and low-quality variety. There were… papers containing praises of Priest-Kings, which might be carried on one's person…" — Assassin of Gor, pages 155-156.
Prayer Strings
Probably much like rosary beads of Earth.
"Here there were lines of booths in an extended arcade, where merchandise of various sorts might be purchased, usually of an inexpensive and low-quality variety. There were poorly webbed, small tapestries; amulets and talismans; knotted prayer strings …" — Assassin of Gor, page 155.
Pride
A company of hunters; be it larl or Warrior. The following quote denotes "prides of a hundred warriors," however there is no indication anywhere else that this is a standard figure to denote a "Pride."
"Minus Tentius Hinrabius," she said, "has a dozen times sent Prides of a hundred Warriors to the Voltai to seek him out and slay him, but never have they found him." — Assassin of Gor, page 166.
Pride Veil
One of the various veils worn by free women on Gor.
Priest-King
Most Goreans, having never seen the Priest-Kings, assume they are religious deities. However, the Priest-Kings are a race of beings that control the world of Gor with their advanced knowledge.
"My father then explained to me something of the legends of the priest kings, and I gathered that they seemed true to this degree at least - that the Priest-Kings could destroy or control whatever they wished, that they were, in effect, the divinities of this world." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 30.
Prison Moon
One of the two small moons of the three moons of Gor.
"I looked up and saw the three moons of Gor, the large moon and the two small ones, one of the latter called the Prison Moon, for no reason I understood." — Assassin of Gor, page 170.
Private Slave Pens
Boarding kennels for slaves, often such is utilized by an individual master as the quality is superior to that of the public slave pens. Training is also provided in the private slave pens. See also: "Public Slave Pens."
"Most masters, however, if inclined to board their slaves, would do so at the private pens, where the food and facilities were better. Another reason for a master to board a slave at the private pens, of course, is that she might, while there, be given training, or further training, that she might be more delicious slave to him upon his return. Indeed, even if a master does not leave the city, it is not unknown for him to send a girl to the private pens, that her value to him, and to others, if she be sold, might be improved." — Captive of Gor, page 162.
Probe Ships
Stealth air ships of the Kur.
"Further," said Misk, "the others [Kurii] are themselves, a not uninteresting species, and we have permitted certain of them, prisoners taken from the disabled probe ships, to live on this world, much as we have humans." — Assassin of Gor, page 66.
Procession To The Sea
A yearly procession at sea.
"The next matter for consideration was the negotiation of a dispute between the sail-makers and the rope-makers in the arsenal with respect to priority in the annual Procession to the Sea, which takes place on the first of En'Kara, the Gorean New Year." — Raiders of Gor, page 134.
Profalarina
Literally means "the state preceding "falarina," or rather, a woman who has not yet been penetrated by a male; a virgin.
"Another way of drawing the distinction is in terms of 'falarina' and 'profalarina.' 'Profarlarina' designates the state preceding falarina, which is the state of the woman who has been penetrated at least once by a male." — Savages of Gor, page 203.
"The buyers were also informed that I was 'glana,' or a virgin. The correlated term is 'metaglana,' used to designate the state to which the glana state looks forward, or that which it is regarded as anticipating. Though the word was not used of me I was also 'profalarina', which term designates the state proceeding, and anticipating, that of 'falarina,' the state Goreans seem to think of as that of being a full women, or, at least, as those of Earth might think of it, one who certainly is no longer a virgin. In both terms, 'glana' and 'profalarina', incidentally, it seems that the states they designate are regarded as immature or transitory, those of 'metaglana' or 'falarina.' Among slaves, not free women, those things are sometimes spoken of along the lines as to whether or not a girl has been 'opened' for the uses of men. Other common terms, not generally of slaves, are 'white silk' and 'red silk', for girls, who have not yet been opened, or have been opened, for the uses of men, respectively." — Dancer of Gor, page 128.
Prow Girl
On Merchant 
ships, and even on warships, if luck has it that one of the spoils is a beautiful girl, this girl is chained to the prow (front) of the ship, so that as the ship returns home, the captain's wealth is displayed.
"There were six ships. One beautiful girl was tied to the prow of each ship that, in returning to Port Kar, others might see that the raid had been successful." — Raiders of Gor, pages 59-60.
Pte
Red savage word for the kailiauk cow specifically, but also for the kailiauk collectively; it is conjectured that this is because the Pte is considered the mother of the tribes.
"The expression 'Kailiauk' is used by most of the tribes for the kailiauk, which is not an animal native to Earth. The expression 'Pte' designates the kailiauk female, or kailiauk cow. It is also used, colloquially, interestingly, for the kailiauk in general. This is perhaps because the 'Pte' is regarded, in a sense, as the mother of the tribes. It is she, in the final analysis, which makes possible their hunting, nomadic life. Like any similar peoples, the red savages have generally a great reverence and affection for the animals in their environment. This is particularly true of the animals on which they depend for their food. The useless or meaningless slaughter of such would be unthinkable." — Savages of Gor, page 326.
Public Kitchens and Tables
Gorean restaurants. These large tents are set up at the Sardar Fairs and provide meals, and a girl as well, if desired.
"I would stay in one of the public tents tonight… Unfortunately meals are not served in the tents… This lack, however, is supplied by numerous public kitchens and tables. These are scattered throughout the district of the fair." — Beasts of Gor, pages 50-51.
"One pays before the meal, and carries a disk, a voucher, to the table. The meal itself is brought to his place, marked on an identical disk, by a slave girl. One surrenders the disk to her and she places the meal before you. The girl wears a leather apron and an iron belt. If one wants her one must pay more." — Beasts of Gor, page 62.
Public Slave
A state slave. See: "State Slave."
Public Slave Pens
Slave compounds which rent space to passing slavers or individuals, as well as provide house for the state slaves of a city. See also: "Private Slave Pens."
"The food was better in the private pens, where we were trained, than in the public pens of Ko-ro-ba, areas of which were available for rent to passing slavers, where we were housed at night. In the public pens, state slaves are kept as well as the merchandise of slave caravans passing through the city. A master of the city, of course, who might be leaving the city temporarily, could also rent space in the public pens, to board his slaves, there." — Captive of Gor, page 161.
Public Slave Wagon
A kind of combination of Paga tavern and slave market.
"… among the wagons by the masters of the public slave wagons, who buy, sell and rent girls, providing warriors and slavers with a sort of clearing house and market for their feminine merchandise. The public slave wagons, incidentally, also provide Paga. They are a kind of combination Paga tavern and slave market. I know of nothing else precisely like them on Gor." — Nomads of Gor, page 118.
Public Tents
Much like a Paga Tavern, these large tents are set up at the Sardar Fairs, providing paga and wines, but also lodging and a girl, if desired. Meals are not provided, however. See also: "Public Kitchens and Tables."
"I would stay in one of the public tents tonight. For five copper tarsks one may rent furs and a place in the tent. It is expensive, but it is, after all, En'Kara and the time of the fair. In such tents it is not unusual for peasants to lie crowded, side by side, with captains and merchants. During En'Kara, at the Fair, many of the distinctions among men and castes are forgotten. Unfortunately meals are not served in the tents. For the price it seems one should banquet. This lack, however, is supplied by numerous public kitchens and tables. These are scattered throughout the district of the fair. Also there are vendors. There are some compensations in the public tents, however. One may have paga and wines there. These are served by slave girls, whose comforts and uses are also included within the price of the lodging." — Beasts of Gor, pages 50-51.
Pudjortok
Feminine Innuit name which means "Thimble."
I have spoken of 'Thimble" and 'Thistle." More strictly, their names were 'Pudjortok' and 'Kakidlamerk'. However, since these names, respectively, would be 'Thimble' and 'Thistle', and Imnak often referred to them in Gorean as Thimble" and 'Thistle" I have felt it would be acceptable to use those latter expressions, they being simpler from the point of view of one who does not natively speak the tongue of the People, or Innuit. — Beasts of Gor, page 194.
Pulley-Makers
The makers of pulleys for raising and lowering sails.
The next item on the agenda dealt with the demand of the pulley-makers to receive the same wage per Ahn as the oar-makers. I voted for this measure, but it did not pass. A Captain next to me snorted, "Give the pulley-makers the wage of oar-makers, and sawyers will want the wages of carpenters, and carpenters of shipwrights!" — Raiders of Gor, page 134.
Pumice
Lava stones full of holes that are great for smoothing and polishing.
Etymology: Middle English pomis, from Middle French, from Latin pumic-, pumex; Date: 15th century:
"A volcanic glass full of cavities and very light in weight used especially in powder form for smoothing and polishing." — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006
"I would have expected the message to have been written either on stout, glossy-surfaced linen paper, of the sort milled in Ar, or perhaps on vellum and parchment, prepared in many cities and used commonly in scrolls, the process involving among other thing tile washing and liming of skins, their scraping and stretching, dusting them with sifted chalk, rubbing them down with pumice." — Nomads of Gor, page 49.
Pumpkin
Vegetable grown in agricultural communities in the Barrens.
"They grow produce for their masters, such as wagmeza and wagmu, maize, or corn, and such things as pumpkins and squash." — Savages of Gor, page 234.
Punt
A pontoon; a small boat, flat-bottomed and square-ended, which is move ahead of the marsh barges, the slaves cutting down rushes to clear the path.
Etymology: (assumed) Middle English, from Old English, from Latin ponton-, ponto; Date: before 12th century;
"A long narrow flat-bottomed boat with square ends usually propelled with a pole." — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006
"A punt, from the flagship, moved ahead. Two slaves stood aft in the small, square-ended, flat-bottomed boat, poling." — Raiders of Gor, page 69.
[The] Purple Booth
A practice amongst slavers when selling to important and rich customers, is to afford the prospective buyer a chance to test the intimate qualities of a red-silk slave girl before purchasing. Such allowances are set up in purple booths.
"You are not now in the purple booth," I said. She laughed. The allusion was to certain practices having to do with the merchandising of Red Silk Girls, in private sales for individual and important clients of the House. At certain times of the year several such booths are set up within the courtyard of a slaver's house; in each, unclothed, chained by the left ankle to a ring, on furs, is a choice Red Silk Girl; prospective buyers, usually accompanied by a member of the Caste of Physicians, in the presence of the slaver's agent, examine various girls; when particular interest is indicated in one, the Physician and the slaver's agent withdraw; when, after this, the girl is not purchased, or at least seriously bid upon, she is beaten severely or, perhaps worse, is touched for a full Ehn by the slave goad; if, after two or three such opportunities, the girl is not sold, she is given further training; if after this she is still not sold she is usually returned to the iron pens whence, with other girls, considered to be of inferior value, she will be sold at a price in one of the smaller markets, perhaps even in a minor city. Most girls, it might be mentioned, even extremely choice specimens, are never in the booths; generally the slaver has a chance at a higher price when there are many buyer bidding against one another in the heat of an auction. — Assassin of Gor, page 57.
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.