Bjarni Ironrede, King in Norrheim, picks his fighters from all the Norrheimer tribes, including "...his own Bjornings, the Hrossings..." etc. (Chapter Twelve, p. 258)
"Bjarni" is a diminutive of "Bjorn" (see here) so "Bjorning" means the tribe descended from Bjorn/Bjarni? (I think.)
"...destriers rising in caracole..." (Chapter Eleven, p. 250)
"' A l'outrance - charge!'" (ibid.)
"...armor of steel and cuir-bolli..." (Chapter Twelve, p. 253)
"'...thirty or forty conroi of lancers...'" (Chapter Twelve, p. 264)
"...her menie..." (Chapter Twelve, p. 265) (I can't find it on google.)
We have had "destriers" and "menie" before but I did not know what any of the others meant.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
If we were forced back to a circa AD 1300 level of technology, both civil and military, I would expect the terminology used to reflect that--which would mean the reviving of many hitherto obsolete terms. While the terminology which arose after gunpowder weapons became common would be the ones to become obsolete.
Sean
I try to make the references understandable from context, but if you're using a specialist as a POV character, they're going to use the jargon of their trade, I fear... 8-).
Dear Mr. Stirling,
I don't in the least object to that! I appreciated your zeal for accuracy, thoroughness, and precision.
Sean
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