The Garden :: Petals and Thorns

Gorean Glossary Sl-Sw

Gor is a complex lifestyle based on a series of novels by John Norman featuring a strict caste system of highly trained Free and slaves. For more information, check out the Garden's section on Gor.

Note about this Glossary: items marked with a K are Kassar or Old Gorean, online-created languages used to augment Gorean. Kassar was not created or endorsed by John Norman and is not consistent within the Gorean language or universe. Kassar should be used cautiously and sparingly as many Goreans do not use or approve of the language.

Sleeping Robes	Pajamas.
Sleeve Sheath	A knife sheath that is sewn into the sleeve of a man's tunic, thus concealing the weapon and keeping it easily accessible at the same time.
slime worm	a long, slow, blind worm which inhabits the caverns below the Nest in the Sardar; scavenges the remains of the Golden Beetles kills
Slippers	Worn by free women, these non-heeled shoes come in many varieties, depending on region and culture.
Sloth	A slow-moving, tree-dwelling mammal found in the rainforests.
Slugs	Larger version of the Earth common garden variety.
Slut Sport / Slave Sport	The use of a female slave by a male slave; done without permission is often a death sentence to the slave.
Small Bow	A variation of the small, straight bow is that of the curved Horn Bow, favored by the Tuchuks.
small people	a tribe in the jungles of Schendi, not otherwise named. They are no more than 5 feet in height and weigh about 80 pounds at most. They have coppery skin and are probably of the Negroid race. They were slaves of the talunas until Tarl Cabot aided them in capturing and enslaving the last of the taluna women. Book 13: Explorers of Gor, pages 390-393 and 397-399
Snails	Slimy creatures, useful for food as well as fish bait.
Snake River	Tributary of the Northern Kaiila River, flowing southerly.
Snout Strap	Used by tharlarion breeders, this strap is used to tie the beaks of newly hatched tharlarions to prevent injury to the breeder.
Snow Knife	A large, curved, saw-tooth knife made of bone; used by the Innuit to cut snow and make ice houses.
snow lart	a small 4-legged mammal, about 10 inches high, weighing between 8 and 12 pounds. The snow lart has two stomachs and hunts in summer, filling the second stomach in the fall to last the animal through winter. It's pelt is snowy white and thick. It is considered valuable, selling in Ar for half a silver tarsk. They are found in the Polar North. Book 12: Beasts of Gor, page 74
Somodis	stupid, ignorant, 'low one'	K
Sona	happy	K
Sool	below, down	K
Soona	Seat	K
Soonis	camp, encampment, place where the wagons are sitting	K
Soothsayer	Person who predicts the future using various magical amulets, etc.
sorp	a shellfish, common esp. in the Vosk river, similar to an oyster; like an oyster, it manufactures pearls
Southern Kaiila River	The southern branch of the Kaiila River.
Space Heater	Simple personal heating device made of a brazier filled with hot coals.
Spatha	A long, cutting sword of the Alars.
Spear Casting, Ritual of	Ritualistic signaling circling of two or more warriors about to battle.
Spear Gambling	A particular favorite wagering of the Wagon Peoples performed with a spear cast into the soil.
Spearman	A Kaissa piece.
Spider People / Swamp Spiders	A rather shy, rational creature. They are enemies of Ar, as they are hunted and killed, while only a few are kept alive to make the precious Cur-lon fiber, used in the mills of Ar.
Spiked Gauntlet	Often used in the games at the Stadium of Blades.
Spiked Planks	Similar to gangplanks, these boards are intended to be dropped onto the deck of an enemy ship.
Spikenard/ Nard	perennial; export from the Bazi region; an herb used in healing for salves Spikenard is a aromatic rhizome. The botanical name has its roots in the Hindu word Jatamansi which means "lock of hair." It's use goes back in several cultures and religions. Medically it's part of the Ayurveda, and is traditionally considered to calm the nerves and promote awareness and strengthen the mind. It is in the same family as Valeriana jatamansi (Indian valerian) and was sometimes used treatment of hysteria. Spikenard is one of the most common ingredients in ancient Japanese incense recipes.
Sport Slave	Slave used as a bait for a hunter's sport; often a female hunter.
Springal	A type of catapult.
Spurs	Metal spikes which are set into wooden blocks and buried in the sand, used as a military defense.
Squash	Vegetable grown in agricultural communities in the Barrens.
Squirrel	Pesky cute rodent, which lives on the ground, as well as in trees. Likes to eat nuts and vegetation.
Stabilization Serums	a series of medical injections which, among other things, retards the aging process; an invention of the Priest-Kings, approved by them for use by humans; administered in 4 injections
Stadium Attendant	Those who work the Stadium of Blades, initiating the battles or removing the dead from the arena; often they are slaves.
Stadium of Blades	An arena games of death take place, between men and men, and men and beast; the participants are not generally warriors, but are men of low caste, slaves, and criminals, et al.; much like ancient Rome and the famed gladiators of the coliseums.
Stadium of Tarns	The tarn racing arena.
stake position	When chained at a stake the with this command the slave lies down and is not permitted to rise even to her knees. Book 24: Vagabonds of Gor, page 386
staking, exposure death by	A death from exposure used in Klima for those attempting to escape. As the term implies, a person is staked to the salt crusts, spread-eagled, until the heat of the Tahari sun kills. Book 10: Tribesmen of Gor, page 265
staking, sleen death or punishment by	an form of execution or punishment used when a Master is done with a slave; he may stake her for sleen, by staking ankles and legs widely apart between two stakes. The slave is blindfolded and cut on the thigh to draw blood, smearing it across her body, to attract the animal.. Book 8: Hunters of Gor, page 230 -231
Standard Bearer	In a line of warriors, the one who carries the standard, or banner, of a particular military unit.
Standard Binding Position	The standard position a girl is commanded to assume for binding.
Starboard	The right side of a ship. However, though Tarl uses this term, it seems the expression "starboard" is not a part of the Gorean language, though there is an equivalent in Gorean, though he does not provide that information.
state slave	a state owned girl may have various duties, ranging from general cleaning to carrying messages. State tunics and collars are uniform, sleeveless and plain. Considered by most states an unenviable slavery. Book 25: Magicians of Gor, pages 340-341 and 376. Usually wearing grey.
Steel	"Steel is the coinage of the warrior, with it he purchases what pleases him ." (pg. 9, Tribesmen of Gor) "`Until you find Talena,' he said, `your companion is peril and steel.' It was an old Warrior saying." (pg.307, Priest Kings of Gor) "Within the circle of each mans sword, therein lies an Ubar ." (pg. 9, Tribesmen of Gor)
Steel Claws	Long, sharp steel claws which are 1.) attached to the claws of war tarns; and 2.) worn on fingers and used in fighting; often slave girls must fight this way in the cruel games at the Stadium of Blades.
steel tower	the visible portion of a spaceship half buried in the Tahari Desert. It housed a destructive device, and was sent by the Kurii to destroy the planet Gor, hence the Priest-Kings. Their supposed prize was to be Earth, or Gor, as some believe, a planet to replace their ancient home, a planet destroyed by their own technology. The destructive device was destroyed at the last moment by Tarl Cabot, who had survived a punishing trip through the dunes, aided by a Kur who was in opposition to the politics of the Kurii. From this Kur, Cabot received the Tahari Ring. Book 10: Tribesmen of Gor, pages 22-23, 44, 116, 166, 285-294, and 363
steel worlds	an ancient race of Kurii, whose advanced technology contributed to the ruin of their planet, now share a boulder-strewn, enigmatic black space beyond the orbits of Gor, Earth and Mars, living on space ships such as the one found half buried in the Tahari. Since they have no planet of their own, they seek one, possibly Gor, or even Earth. The Priest-Kings constantly battle them, and monitor to see that they do not intrude beyond certain atmospheres, orbiting with the asteroids in their 'steel-world'. Book 9: Marauders of Gor, page 295 Book 10: Tribesmen of Gor, page 362 Book 13: Explorers of Gor, page 94
Steels, The	A tarn racing faction of Ar; their patch a blue-gray.
Stern	The rear of a ship.
Stern Castle	Raised area on the deck at the rear of a ship used for combat or work purposes.
stimulation cage	an ornate, fairly roomy cage, furnished comfortably with fabrics of all kinds, furs, cosmetics, perfumes, jewelry, etc. in which a naked slavegirl in training may be housed; its purpose is to awaken her senses, esp. the tactile senses, to everything in the world around her, so that she may be more pleasing to masters; in addition, it is just too short for her to stand upright, so that her head is always inclined in a gesture of submission
Stone	a unit of measurement equal to 4 Earth pounds
Stones	a guessing game in which one player must guess whether the number of stones held in the fist of the second player is odd or even
Storm Sail	Sail used on Gorean ships during times of heavy storms.
stranger	enemy
Strap-Master	One who drives the wagons pulled by the broad tharlarion, guiding the beasts.
Street of Brands	the city or area in a given city where slavers conduct their business
Street of Coins	the street or area in a given city where banking and other financial transactions take place
Street of Pots	The area of a city where shops of the pottery makers may be found.
Street of Tapestries	The area of a city where shops of the cloth-worker's may be found.
Street of Tarns	The area of a city which is near the stadiums used for tarn racing.
Street of the Field Gate	The street leading to the Field Gate; a main thoroughfare
street veil	the outermost veil worn by free women; worn over the house veil when leaving the house
strigil	usually made of metal in a narrow, spatulate form. Used at bathing to scrap excess oils and dirt from pores. Book 23: Renegades of Gor, page 51
Stylus	Writing implement.
Su, (Sum)	yes, (good)	K
Submission [Position] / Female Submission	The position a woman takes before a man, which displays her submission to him.
submission mat / submission rug	a scarlet mat, used in Tharna, on which a free woman, naked and bound with yellow cords, must submit as slave to her master, first hearing him recite a ritual poem, then yielding physically. "In those days it had been a portion of the rites of submission, as practiced in Tharna, to strip and bind the captive with yellow cords and place her on a scarlet rug, the yellow of the cord being symbolic of talenders, a flower often associated with feminine love and beauty, the scarlet of the rug being symbolic of blood, and perhaps of passion." - Outlaw of Gor, page 205.
Submission, Rites Of	The ritual performed after the capture of a new slave.
Submit [Command]	The command of a free for the slave to assume the position of submission.
Sug, Suga	immediately	K
Suga	A position of obeisance, like karta, with wrists crossed. The position Prostrate is mentioned and is similar to this position.	K
sugars	white or yellow
sul	a starchy, tuberous vegetable similar to the potato; often served sliced and fried; the principal ingredient in sullage
sul paga	My Master extended his cup to me, and I, kneeling, filled it with Sul paga. I pressed my lips to the cup, and handed it to him. My eyes smarted. I almost felt drunk from the fumes.pg 134 Slave Girl of GOR Sul paga is, when distilled, though the sul itself is yellow, is as clear as water... the still, with its tanks and pipes, lay within the village, that of Tabuk's Ford, in which Thurnus, our host, was caste leader. `Excellent,' said my master, sipping the Sul paga. He could have been commenting only on the potency of drink, for Sul paga is almost tasteless. One does not guzzle Sul paga. Last night one of the men had held my head back and forced me to swallow a mouthful. In moments things had gone black, and I had fallen unconscious. pg 134 Slave Girl of GOR
Sula	This position is self-explanatory. She lies on her back, her hands at her sides, palms facing upward. Her legs are spread wide open... she awaits Master's inspection.
Sula-ki / Alternative Sula	This position is almost identical to the Sula position, except once she has assumed the Sula position she slowly lifts her hips up off the floor, as if beckoning him with her body, encouraging her sexual use by him.	K
Suleiman	Suleiman was the Ubar of the Oasis of Nine Wells. I have seen references in other pages that suggest "Suleiman" to be some sort of title. This is incorrect. It is simply the name of a man.
sullage	a soup made principally from suls, tur-pah, and kes, along with whatever else may be handy
Sullage	Staple stew of Gor.
Sulport	One of the Vosk River townships.
Sumi	Do Good	K
Sumichi	(to) excel, surpass all others, strive for greatness	K
Sumli	(to) love	K
sun gate	sun gate (noun): one or several are found in most cities, so called because they are commonly opened at dawn and closed at dusk, their hours of ingress and egress determined by the diurnal cycle. Book 21: Mercenaries of Gor, page 102 Book 25: Magicians of Gor, page 9 and 20
Sun Lances	a warrior society of the Sleen tribe of Red Savages
Sundial	A timekeeping device which is measured by the shadows of the sun.
Supreme Home Stone	There exists on Gor, dreams and hopes of one single home stone, uniting the entire planet together as one, this being the Supreme Home Stone. Such Home Stone is believed by some to be in the hands of the Priest-Kings.
Supreme Initiate	The Initiate who believed himself to be above all Initiates of all Gor. Self-belief, however.
Sutler	One who follows the armies to sell supplies, etc. to the warriors.
Suv/Suva	Color, Paint, Dye	K
Swamp Forest	Forest surrounding swamp lands
Swamp Spiders; Spider People	man-sized arachnids which inhabit the swampland near the city of Ar; they can communicate in human speech via the mechanical translators they wear around their abdomens; they spin Cur-lon Fiber, which is used in the textile mills of Ar
Swamp Tree	A tree indigenous to the swamps and marshes of Gor.
Swamp Vine	Vines found in the swamplands.
Sweetening	Coating the rim of a goblet with the slave's arousal fluid	K
Sweetmeats	A sugary treat.
Sweetrocks	Hard, crystal rocks of sugar for use in tea or black wine are not mentioned anywhere in the books.	K
Swing Bridge	A type of bridge used specifically in Port Kar along its canal ways.
Sword Brother	"One who has shed your blood , or whose blood you have shed , becomes your sword brother, unless you formally repudiate the blood upon your weapons." (pg. 118 Tarnsman of Gor)
Sword-Right	When a warrior has won a slave girl by Kajira canjellne, the warrior thus owns her by "sword-right."