Clan terminology

**Update**

This page is currently **under construction**. The staff team is currently working hard on other pages at the moment, so it will be hard to gauge when this specific page will be done.

***Thank you for your patience!***

- **The Staff Team**

This is a collection of terms used by the Clan cats in their speech. Just as we humans have sayings, the Clan cats have idioms, too, although theirs relate to things found in the world of the Clan cats.

## Clan

### General terms

* **Gathering/Fourtrees** – The monthly meeting of all the Clans when the moon is full, at Fourtrees. There is a truce on this night, and no fighting is allowed.

* **Starriver** – The large swath of stars in the sky (believed to be the Milky Way). These stars are a direct representation of The starry river.

* **The starry river** – The direct representation of the clans heaven.

* **The clawmoon forest** – The direct representation of the clan hell.

* **Crowfood** – A dead prey that has rotted, also as an insult.

* **Fresh-kill** – A recently killed prey caught for the purpose of consumption. Fresh-kill is hunted by warriors & apprentices and placed on the fresh-kill pile, elders, queens & kits, and sick cats eat first.

* **Hunting Patrol** – A group of cats hunting for fresh-kill to bring back for their Clan to eat. May fight if there are trespassers.

* **Sharing tongues** – Cats grooming each other while sharing the latest gossip. A cat lies on the ground, talking, while the other grooms their fur, listening.

* **Collarpet** – A domesticated pet cat.

* **Loner** – A cat that lives by itself and doesn't defend its territory.

* **Rogue** – A usually hostile cat who does not have a permanent home, roams around and does not care about crossing Clan boundaries.

* **Wildcats** – A term Mountainclan use for cougars/lynxes/etc. They are rarely encountered and more dangerous than eagles.

* **Molly** – A female cat.

* **Tom/tomcat** – A male cat.

* **Furless/Upwalker** – human.

* **Furless/Upwalker kit** – human child.

* **Furless/Upwalker nest** – human's house.

* **Furless/Upwalker clan** – A town, city, or village where Twoleg’s live.

* **Monster** – A vehicle operated by humans. Often described when cats are near Twolegs/the Thunderpath.

* **Thunderpath** – A paved road with an extremely acrid smell that cars often go across.

* **Thundersnake** – A train. They travel strictly on a Silverpath (Traintracks).

#### Time terms

* **Leafwake** - Spring.

* **Sunwake**  - Summer.

* **Redfall** - Autumn/fall.

* **Snowfall** - Winter.

* **Sunrise** - One day (i.e. *One sunrise ago*).

* **Quarter-moon** - About a week.

* **Half-moon** - About two weeks, half a month.

* **Moon** - The time between one full moon and the next, or a month.

* **Sunup** - Dawn, Dawn is still used for example in the phrase "Dawn Patrol".

* **Sunhigh** - The point during the day when the sun is highest in the sky; noon.

* **Sundown** - Dusk.

* **Moonhigh** - When the moon is the highest in the sky, midnight.

* **Moonrise** - The time when the moon rises.

* **Claw-moon** – When the moon resembles the shape of an unsheathed claw, equivalent to the crescent moon.

* **Season** – A quarter of a year in cat time. Four seasons equal a year.

#### Distance terms

* **Claw-length** – About the length of cat's claw; less than an inch. (1.5 cm)

* **Fox-length** – About the length of a fox; approximately a yard. (80 cm)

* **Frog-length** – About the length of a frog; approximately two to four inches. (6-10 cm)

* **Kittenstep** or **kitstep** – About the length of kit's step; approximately an inch or a half-inch. (1.25-2.5 cm)

* **Rabbit hop** or **rabbit length** – About a foot and a half away. (45 cm)

* **Reed-length** – About the length of a reed; 5 feet or less. (1.5 m)

* **Mouse-length** – About two or three inches. (5-7.5 cm)

* **Muzzle-length** – About one inch. (2.54 cm)

* **Pawstep** – About the length of a grown cat's step, roughly six inches. (15 cm)

* **Tail-length** – About the length of a cat's tail; approximately a foot. (30 cm)

* **Tree-length** – About the length of a tree; around 40 to 50 feet. (15 m)

* **Whisker-length** – About the length of a cat's whisker; less than two inches. (5 cm

### Insults, exclamations, & phrases

#### Afterlife related

* **Great Stars!** – An exclamation used to signify extreme surprise or anger. Similar to *Oh my god!* in usage and to the fact that they both have mention of a higher force.

* **The star's kits!** – An exclamation of surprise or disbelief. Sometimes used as an exclamation if a cat is hurt.

* **How in the stars?** – An exclamation used meaning "How in the world?"

* **In all the stars** - An exclamation of disbelief.

* **What in the star's name?** – An exclamation similar to "What on earth?" or "What in the world?"

* **(Only) the stars knows (what)** – Sometimes used to answer a question that is impossible to answer. Similar to *"Only the gods knows what," "Only the gods knows," and "god knows."*

* **May the stars light your path/Banish all the fleas from your nest** – A friendly term used to tell others they wish them well, (as well as **May you receive good hunting, and dry shelter when you sleep**).

* **May the Sun warm your back and the fish leap into your paws** – A blessing used in Hollowclan used to wish good dreams or, to deceased loved ones.

* **May you find good hunting, swift-running, and shelter when you sleep** – A farewell used by Horizonclan, to wish upon to others or, to deceased loved ones.

* **May the forest claim your spirit, and find dry shelter when you lay** – A saying used in Forestclan, to say goodbye to deceased loved ones.

* **May your path be clean of rocks, and may the wildcats leave you in peace** – A goodbye/blessing used by Mountainclan, to say goodbye or, to deceased loved ones.

#### Sayings/Wise words

* **It's as dark as a fox's heart** – A phrase used to describe darkness.

* **It's better to scare away a mouse than welcome a badger** – An old nursery saying that means that it's better to scare away a friendly cat than welcome a not-so-friendly cat.

* **Kill two prey with one blow** – Meaning to solve two problems with one action or solution. Equivalent of "Kill two birds with one stone".

* **Load of fox-dung** – Referring to something that is not true, a mass of lies. Somewhat similar to *That's a load of badger droppings*.

* **Load of thistle** - Referring to something that is not true, a mass of lies. A more light-hearted variant of *load of fox-dung*.

* **Make dirt** – To use the bathroom, or the dirtplace in warrior terms.

* **One piece of prey in [one's] paws is worth two in a tree** – A phrase of the same meaning as "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."

* **(That's a) load of badger droppings** – A harsh exclamation saying that something is nonsense.

* **Thistles and thorns** – Used to describe bad luck (as in: *Thistles and thorns! I blew it!*); similar to "Darn it" or "mouse-dung."

* **We'll cross that river if we come to it** – A phrase meaning the same as "we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

* **Stirring up a bee's nest** – A phrase meaning a cat is looking for trouble or starting it.

* **Sunshine and daisies** – A phrase meaning the same as "sunshine and rainbows."

* **When hedgehogs will fly** – An exclamation style statement that shows disbelief that a certain event will likely occur (as in *That will happen when hedgehogs fly*), used in many variations. Somewhat like the human phrase, "When pigs fly!"

* **Tabbies don't change their stripes** – Meaning that a cat doesn't change their nature. Equivalent to "a leopard can't change his spots."

* **Who made dirt in their fresh kill/nest?** – A phrase to describe a cranky or suddenly moody cat.

* **Who ruffled their fur?** – A similar way of saying "who got under their skin?"

* **Wild rabbit hunt** – A phrase of the same meaning as "wild goose chase."

* **Sorry catches no prey** or **Sorry fills no bellies** – Means cats can be sorry, but that it will not change the past.

* **Doesn't matter a whisker/Doesn't catch so much as a whisker** – An exclamation meaning the cat does not care, (i.e. *it didn't matter a whisker that she didn't share their beliefs*) similar to *I don't give a mousetail.* Or saying that a patrol didn't catch anything.

* **I don't give a mousetail/They wouldn't give a mousetail** – An exclamation meaning that the cat does not care. Another variation is *I would \_\_\_\_ for a couple of mousetails*, meaning that they are willing to do the inserted action for no real reward. Can also mean that a cat would be stingy enough not to share a mousetail.

* **I'd have shredded you into mousedust!** – To gravely injure, rip to shreds. Similar to mousemeat. Used to intimidate others.

* **Would've made mousemeat out of you!** – To badly injure, rip to shreds. Similar to mousedust.

* **(You're) crazier than a fox in a fit!** – An insult used when a cat (or cats) are acting crazy. Another variation uses "madder" instead of "crazier."

#### Insults against others

* **Rabbit-chasers** – A less harsh insult used in Hollowclan to describe Horizonclan.

* **Squirrel-hunters** - A phrase used to describe Forestclan cats, used in Hollowclan.

* **Fishface**, **fishfur** or **fish-breath** – An insult used against Hollowclan warriors.

* **Forestdweller** – Used by Mountainclan to describe a Forestclan cat.

* **Rock eaters** – An insult used by Forestclan to describe a Mountainclan cat.

* **Once a Collarpet, always a Collarpet!** – A harsh phrase used to describe a cat with Collarpet roots.

* **You fight/hunt like a Collarpet!** – An expression used to insult or tease a cat who fights/hunts poorly.

#### Specific clan sayings

* **Featherbrain** – A term used by Horizonclan cats, equivalent to mouse-brain.

* **Frog-dirt and Fish-guts** – An exclamation used in Hollowclan, has the same meaning as thistles and thorns.

* **Frog-dung** – Same as fox-dung, except it's often used in Hollowclan.

* **Minnow-brain** – An insult that is friendly but harsh. A Hollowclan version of mouse-brain.

* **Mousefodder** – An insult describing that the cat is worthless or a Collarpet.

* **Rabbit-brain** – An insult that is friendly but harsh. A Horizonclan version of mouse-brain.

* **Snake-tongue** – An insult meaning cold or unfair; similar to "fox-hearted" or "snake-hearted", used by Mountainclan.

* **Snake-heart(ed)** – Similar to the term "fox-hearted," generally used by Hollowclan.

* **As easy as swallowing a minnow** – A phrase used to indicate easiness of the task, used mostly in Hollowclan.

* **Weasel heart** - A (harsh) insult, used to describe cats from other Clans.

* **Clan-swapper** – An insulting term used for cats who switch Clans.

* **Clan-swapping** – An insulting term used for the action of switching Clans (same meaning as *Clan-swapper*).

* **Drypaw** – A cat that dislikes getting wet, usually used in Hollowclan.

* **Buzzardfood** – Alternative of crowfood, used in Mountainclan.

* **Chickfeed** – Alternative of crowfood, used in Horizonclan.

#### Insults

* **As much use as a dead fox** – A (harsh) insult, meaning the recipient is useless.

* **Bat-blind** – An insult to a cat's eyesight, similar to the phrase "as blind as a bat".

x

* **Cleanpaw** – A scornful insult used for someone who sticks to the rules closely.

* **Dormouse** – An expression or exclamation used against a cat who sleeps a lot.

* **Crowfood** – A (harsh) insult comparing the recipient to rotting prey animals (as in *I'll turn you into crowfood!*), or suggesting that they eat it (as in *crowfood-eater*).

* **Bee-brain** – A similar exclamation to "bees in your brain".

* **Bees in your brain** – An exclamation meaning confusion or a cat not making sense. (i.e., You've got bees in your brain!)

* **Dungface** – A harsh insult.

* **Flea-brain** – A (friendly, yet harsh) insult. The severity of the insult is almost always decided by tone.

* **Foxbreath** – An insult used to compare the recipient's breath to that of a fox.

* **Fox-dung** – A (harsh) insult comparing the recipient to fox feces. Also used as an exclamation. (as in *That's fox-dung!*)

* **Fox-hearted** – An insult meaning cruel, cold-hearted, or evil (as in *fox-hearted Twolegs*).

* **Furball** – A (friendly, yet harsh) insult. The severity of the insult is almost always decided by tone.

* **Fuzz-brain** – A (friendly, but harsh) insult. The severity of the insult is almost always decided by tone.

* **Gray-pelts** - A derogatory term used against elders and senior warriors.

* **Hare-brain** – An insult similar to mouse-brain.

* **Hare-dung** – Used as an exclamation, similar to "mouse-dung". Somewhat like "Darn it!"

* **Mouse-brain** – A (friendly yet harsh) insult. The severity of the insult is almost always decided by tone.

* **Mouse-breath** – A insult possibly used to intimidate someone.

* **Mouse-dung** – A (somewhat harsh) insult comparing the recipient to mouse feces. Also used as an exclamation (as in *Mouse-dung! That can't be right!*). Somewhat like "Darn it!"

* **Mouse-hearted** – An insult that describes one who is cowardly.

* **Pain in the tail** – An insult meaning a cat is irritating or lazy.

* **Scaredy-mouse!** – A similar expression to "scaredy-cat", referring to a cat easily frightened.

* **Scaredy-sparrow** – Same as the term "scaredy-mouse."

* **Smart-ears** – A friendly insult.

* **Tail-licker** – An insult intended for a cat who is sucking up, similar to the word bootlicker.

* **Toad-brain** – Similar to mouse-brain.

### Living spaces

* **Camp** – The place where a Clan makes their permanent home.

* **Leader's den** – The den in camp that belongs to the Clan leader.

* **Healer's den** – The den in camp that belongs to the Clan's healer and his or her apprentice. Sometimes referred to as the *medicine den*.

* **Warriors' den** – The den in camp that is shared between the warriors and the deputy of that Clan.

* **Apprentices' den** – The den in camp that is shared between the apprentices of that Clan.

* **Elders' den** – The den in camp that is shared between the elders of that Clan.

* **Nursery** – The den in camp that is shared by the queens and kits of that Clan.

* **Dirtplace** – The place near the camp where cats go to urinate or excrete.

* **Fresh-kill pile** – The place, usually in the center of the camp, where the warriors drop the prey they caught while hunting, so it is easily accessible to all the cats in the Clan.

* **Starhollow** – The place in the Forest where healer and leaders speak with The star reader/clans heaven.

### Clan ranks

* **Kit** – A kitten younger than seven moons.

* **Apprentice** – A cat at least seven moons old, and training to be a warrior (or a Healer.)

* **Warrior** – A mature cat who has completed their warrior training. A molly is considered a warrior when she is not currently expecting or nursing a tom's kits.

* **Mentor** – A cat who is currently training an apprentice.

* **Queen** – A molly with kits to take care of or who is pregnant with kits, or stays in the nursery helping other queens even though they have no kits.

* **Elder** – Cats who cannot hunt or fight anymore, sometimes due to injury, loss of sight, sickness, or are just too old to do their warrior duties. They are treated with great respect in the Clan. The apprentices in the Clan take fresh kill to them, pick out their fleas, and change their bedding.

* **Healer** – A cat who heals injuries and/or illnesses, who is skilled with herbs, leaves and natural cures.

* **Deputy** – A warrior who is second in command to the leader, helping the leader in their tasks and replacing them after their death or reassignment. They organize patrols and make reports to the leader, and are known to be given apprentices frequently.

* **Leader** – A cat who controls the entire Clan. A leader is granted nine lives by the ancients so they "can be first in every battle and last to take a piece of fresh-kill", giving them extra time to serve and lead their Clan.

* **Stars reader** - A cat who can talk to the Starwalkers (dead cats clan) and can read the stars and interpret prophecies and omens, where it then tells the clans during a gathering.