Terminology

## Time

* **newleaf** - the season of spring
* **greenleaf** - the season of summer
* **leaf-fall** - the season of autumn
* **leaf-bare** - the season of winter
* **moon** - the time between one full moon and the next (eg. *two moons ago*)
* **sunrise** - one day long (eg. *one sunrise ago*)
* **heartbeat** - a second
* **moonhigh** - when the moon is highest in the sky
* **moonrise** - when the moon rises
* **sunup** - dawn
* **sunhigh** - when the sun is highest in the sky
* **sundown** - when the sun sets
* **half-moon** - half a month; when the moon shows only one side
* **claw-moon** - crescent moon
* **quarter-moon** - a week

## Distance

* **sun-rising-sky** - east
* **sun-fleeing-sky** - west
* **fox-length** - the length of a fox (80 cm)
* **kittenstep** - the length of a kit's step (1-3 cm)
* **pawstep** - the length of a warrior's step (15 cm)
* **tail-length** - the length of a cat's tail (25 cm)
* **rabbit hop** - the length of a rabbit's hop (35 cm)
* **rabbit-length** - the length of a rabbit (40 cm)
* **mouse-length** - the length of a mouse (8-10 cm)
* **tree-length** - the length of a tree
	+ RiverClan: *alder* (28 m)
	+ ShadowClan: *pine* (30 m)
	+ ThunderClan: *oak* (30 m)
	+ WindClan: *birch* (30 m)

* **mousedust** - something insignificant and small, or shredded beyond recognition
* **pain in the tail** - someone who is annoying
* **scaredy-mouse** - someone who is cowardly

### RiverClan

* **as easy as swallowing a minnow** - something that is very easy
* **drypaw** - someone who dislikes getting wet
* **frog-dung** - exclamation or insult (harsh)
* **frog-dirt and fish-guts!** - exclamation when something goes wrong
* **minnow-brain** - insult (friendly, teasing)
* **snake-heart(ed)** - someone cold, cruel, or evil (harsh)

### ShadowClan

* **bat-blind** - someone who is not looking where they're going
* **rabbit-chasers** - a WindClan cat
* **snake-heart(ed)** - someone cold, cruel, or evil (harsh)
* **snake-tongue** - someone who should not be believed (harsh)
* **toad-brain** - insult (friendly, usually teasing)

### ThunderClan

* **dormouse** - someone who sleeps a lot

### WindClan

* **feather-brain** - insult (friendly, usually teasing)
* **hare-brain** - insult (friendly, usually teasing)
* **hare-dung** - exclamation
* **rabbit-brain** - insult (friendly, usually teasing)

## Expressions

* **as much use as a dead fox** - something that is useless
* **bees in their brain** - someone is not making sense
* **didn't catch so much as a whisker** - someone who is not a good hunter, or an exclamation that a patrol did not have good hunting
* **it's better to scare away a mouse than welcome a badger** - nursery saying meaning it's better to scare a friendly cat than welcome an unfriendly cat
* **like JaguarClan/LeopardClan/LionClan/LynxClan/TigerClan** - an expression for someone who did something exceptionally
* **madder than a fox in a fit** - someone is not making sense
* **may StarClan light your path** - an expression to wish someone well
* **may StarClan banish all the fleas from your nest** - an expression of gratitude
* **may the sun warm your back and the fish leap into your paws** - blessing used in RiverClan to wish good luck
* **may you find good hunting, swift running, and shelter when you sleep** - a farewell
* **only StarClan knows** - expression that the answer is impossible to know
* **once a kittypet, always a kittypet** - (harsh) expression about how kittypets do not make fine warriors
* **sorry catches no prey** - meaning apologies will not change the past
* **sorry fills no bellies** - meaning apologies will not change the past
* **stir(ring) up a bee's nest** - meaning a cat is looking for or starting trouble
* **tabbies don't change their stripes** - meaning a cat does not change their nature
* **that's a load of badger droppings** - harsh exclamation that something is nonsense
* **thistles and thorns!** - exclamation when something goes wrong
* **what in StarClan's name?** - an expression of confusion
* **wouldn't give a mousetail** - exclamation meaning the cat does not care or someone is stingy
* **would've made mousemeat out of you!** - expression to describe how dangerous an enemy is
* **would [do something] for a couple of mousetails** - saying that they would do something for no reward
* **when hedgehogs fly** - expression of disbelief
* **who made dirt in their fresh-kill/nest?** - an expression about a moody cat
* **who ruffled their fur?** - an expression about a moody cat
* **you fight/hunt like a kittypet!** - an insult to insult someone's poor skills

## Mythology

* **JaguarClan** - a Clan of big spotted cats who hunted in forests
* **LeopardClan** - a Clan of big spotted cats who hunted in grasslands
* **LionClan** - a Clan of big cats with manes who hunted in grasslands
* **LynxClan** - a Clan of big cats with pointed ears who hunted in forests
* **TigerClan** - a Clan of big striped cats who hunted in wetlands