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Clan terminology

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Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

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.

General terms

  • Carrionplace - A Twoleg dump in the forest territories that in human language is called the North Allerton Amenity Tip. A part of ShadowClan territory that is a last resource for fresh-kill in leaf-bare. It is the cause of the Carrionplace Disease.
  • Crowfood or crow-food – A dead prey animal that has begun to rot;[1] can also be used as an insult[2] (see below).
  • Cutter – A veterinarian, often referred to as one that spays or neuters cats,[3] but this is not always the case.[4]
  • Dirt - Feces.[5]
  • Fresh-kill – A recently killed prey animal caught for the purpose of consumption.[6] Fresh-kill is hunted by warriors and apprentices, and sometimes elders, and placed on the fresh-kill pile or brought to the elders.[7] Elders, kits, queens, and sick cats eat first, then warriors and apprentices. Extras stay in the fresh-kill pile.[8]
  • Fourtrees - A place located in the forest territory, where the territory's corners would meet, in which four oaks stood and the Clans would gather in peace every full moon.[9]
  • Gathering – The monthly meeting of all the Clans when the moon is full, at either Fourtrees or the Island. There is a truce on this night, and no fighting is allowed.[10]
  • Greenleaf Twolegplace – A place frequented used by Twolegs during summer, such as a resort or camping spot near the lake.[11]
  • Hunting Patrol – A group of cats hunting for fresh-kill to bring back for their Clan to eat. May fight if there are trespassers.[14]
  • Loner – A cat that lives by itself and doesn't defend its territory.[16]
  • Making dirt - Defecating.[15]
  • Monster – A vehicle operated by humans.[17] Often described when cats are near Twolegs/the Thunderpath.[18] Motorboats are sometimes referred to as "water-monsters."[19]
  • Moonpool – The place near the Lake where medicine cats and leaders share tongues with StarClan.[20]
  • Moonstone – The place in the Forest where medicine cats and leaders shared tongues with StarClan.[21]
  • Mothermouth - The opening to the cave where the Moonstone is/was located.[22]
  • Rogue – A usually hostile cat who does not have a permanent home, roams around, and does not care about crossing Clan boundaries.[23]
  • 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.[24]
  • Sharptooth - A term the Tribe of Rushing Water use for cougars.[25] They are rarely encountered and more dangerous than eagles.[26] One Sharptooth has made an appearance in Moonrise.[27]
  • She-cat - A female cat.[28]
  • She-kit - A female kit.
  • Silver boulder - A boulder that, when the silver disc is pulled off, holds Twoleg rubbish. To Twolegs, they are just trash cans/bins.[29]
  • Silverpath - Railroads. Only Thundersnakes travel on them.[30]
  • Silverpelt – The large swath of stars in the sky[31] (believed to be the Milky Way). These stars are a direct representation of StarClan.[32]
  • Silverthorn - Barbed wire.[33]
  • Smooth boulder-thing - Twoleg ball.[34]
  • Snowmelt - A term used to describe slush or dirty, melted snow.[35]
  • Soft boulder - A pillow or cushion.[36]
  • Tree-eater – A bulldozer.[38]
  • Thundersnake - A train.[30] They travel strictly on a Silverpath.[30]
  • Tom/tomcat - A male cat.[40]
  • Tom-kit- a male kit.

Time terms

  • Newleaf - The season of spring.[44]
  • Greenleaf - The season of summer.[45]
  • Leaf-fall - The season of autumn or fall.[46]
  • Leaf-bare - The season of winter.[17]
  • Moon - The time between one full moon and the next, spanning about 29 days, a month.[17][10]
  • Moonhigh - When the moon is the highest in the sky; about midnight.[47]
  • Moonrise - The time when the moon rises.[48]
  • Half-moon - About two weeks, half a month.[49]
  • Quarter-moon - About a week.[50]
  • Sunhigh - The point during the day when the sun is highest in the sky; noon.[51]
  • Sunrise - One day in cat time (i.e. One sunrise ago).[52]
  • Season - A quarter of a year in cat time. Four seasons equal a year.[53]
  • Heartbeat - A split second.[54]
  • Claw-moon - When the moon resembles the shape of an unsheathed claw, equivalent to crescent moon.[55]
  • Sundown - Dusk.[56]
  • Sunup - Dawn.[56] However, Dawn is still used for example in the phrase "Dawn Patrol."

Distance terms

  • Fox-length - About the length of a fox; approximately a yard. (80 cm)[57]
  • Kittenstep or kitstep - About the length of kit's step; approximately an inch or a half inch. (1.25-2.5 cm)[58]
  • Tail-length - About the length of a cat's tail; approximately a foot. (30 cm)[59]
  • Rabbit hop or rabbit length - About a foot and a half away. (45 cm)[60]
  • Mouse-length - About two or three inches. (5-7.5 cm)[1]
  • Pawstep - About the length of a grown cat's step, roughly six inches. (15 cm)[61]
  • Tree-length - About the length of a tree; around 40 to 50 feet. (15 m)[62]

Insults, exclamations, & phrases

  • As easy as swallowing a minnow - A phrase used to indicate easiness of the task.[63]
  • As much use as a dead fox - A (harsh) insult, meaning the recipient is useless.[64]
  • Bees in your brain - An exclamation meaning confusion or a cat not making sense. (i.e., You've got bees in your brain!)[65]
  • Buzzardfood- Alternative of crowfood, used before the start of the Clans. Used in The Sun Trail.[66]
  • Chickfeed- Alternative of crowfood, used before the start of the Clans. Used in The Sun Trail.[67]
  • Cleanpaw- An (scornful) insult used for someone who sticks to the rules closely. [68]
  • 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).[2]
  • (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." Lionblaze uses this to describe Ashfur.[69]
  • 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.[70]
  • Drypaw - A cat that dislikes getting wet, usually used in RiverClan.[72]
  • Like LionClan/TigerClan - An expression stating that a cat does something very fiercely or well.[74]
  • Featherbrain - A term used by WindClan cats, equivalent to mouse-brain.[75]
  • Fishface, fishfur or fish-breath - An insult used against RiverClan warriors, mainly appears in Bluestar's Prophecy.[76]
  • Flea-brain - A (friendly, yet harsh) insult. Severity of the insult is almost always decided by tone. [source?]
  • Fox-dung - A (harsh) insult comparing the recipient to fox feces. Also used as an exclamation. (as in That's fox-dung!)[78]
  • Fox-hearted - An insult meaning cruel, cold-hearted, or evil (as in fox-hearted Twolegs).[79]
  • Furball - A (friendly, yet harsh) insult. Severity of the insult is almost always decided by tone.[81]
  • Fuzz-brain - A (friendly, but harsh) insult. Severity of the insult is almost always decided by tone. Used in The Sun Trail by Gray Wing when Jagged Peak leaves the mountain cave.[82]
  • Great StarClan! - 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.[83]
  • Hare-dung - Used as an exclamation, similar to "mouse-dung". Somewhat like "Darn it!" Used in The Sun Trail. [84]
  • 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![85]
  • How in Silverpelt? - An exclamation used meaning "How in the world?" Used in The Sight.[86]
  • 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.[87]
  • I'd have shredded you into mousedust! - to gravely injure, rip to shreds. Similar to mousemeat. Used by Yellowfang in Into the Wild while intimidating Firepaw.[88]
  • 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. Used by Cloudtail in Dark River when an apprentice almost scared Mothwing away.
  • Make dirt - to use the bathroom, or the dirtplace in warrior terms.[90]
  • May StarClan light your path/Banish all the fleas from your nest - A friendly term used to tell others they wish them well.[91]
  • May the Sun warm your back and the fish leap into your paws- A blessing used in RiverClan used to wish good dreams or, in some instances, to say farewell to a dead cat.[92]
  • May you find good hunting, swift running, and shelter when you sleep- An ancient farewell used by all the Clans, to say goodbye to loved ones on their way to StarClan.[93]
  • Mouse-brain - A (friendly yet harsh) insult. Severity of the insult is almost always decided by tone.[95]
  • 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!"[96]
  • Mouse-hearted - An insult that describes one who is cowardly.[97]
  • Mousefodder - An insult describing that the cat is worthless or a kittypet. Used by Yellowfang in Into the Wild to Firepaw after realizing he was a kittypet.[88]
  • Once a kittypet, always a kittypet! - A harsh phrase used to describe a cat with kittypet roots. Used by Longtail in Into The Wild on Rusty when he was joining ThunderClan.[98]
  • (Only) StarClan knows (what) - Sometimes used to answer a question that is impossible to answer. Similar to "Only god knows what," "Only god knows," and "god knows."[99]
  • Scaredy-mouse! - A similar expression to scaredy-cat, referring to a cat easily frightened. [101]
  • Scaredy-sparrow - Same as the term "scaredy-mouse." [102]
  • Snake-hearted, or Snake-heart- Similar to the term "fox-hearted," generally used by RiverClan. Used in Crookedstar's Promise.[103]
  • Snake-tongue - An insult meaning cold or unfair; similar to "fox-hearted" or "snake-hearted", used by ShadowClan in Night Whispers.[104]
  • Sorry catches no prey or Sorry fills no bellies - Means cats can be sorry, but that will not change the past. [105]
  • StarClan's kits! – An exclamation of surprise or disbelief. Sometimes used as an exclamation if a cat is hurt. Used by Ivypool in Fading Echoes.[106]
  • Tabbies don't change their stripes - means that a cat doesn't change their nature. Equivalent to "a leopard can't change his spots."[107]
  • Toad-brain - similar to mouse-brain.[108]
  • What in StarClan's name?- A exclamation similar to "What on earth?" or "What in the world?"[109]
  • That's a load of badger droppings - A harsh exclamation saying that something is nonsense.[110]
  • Thistles and thorns - Used to describe bad luck (as in: Thistles and thorns! I blew it!); similar to "Darn it" or "mouse-dung."[111]
  • You fight/hunt like a kittypet! - An expression used to insult or tease a cat who fights/hunts poorly.[113]
  • Who made dirt in his/her fresh kill/nest?- A phrase to describe a cranky or suddenly moody cat, as used in The Sign of the Moon.[114]
  • Would've made mousemeat out of you! - To badly injure, rip to shreds. Similar to mousedust. Used by Graypaw in Into the Wild describing how dangerous a fox could be.
  • Frog-dirt and Fish-guts - Used in RiverClan, has the same meaning as thistles and thorns, used in Crookedstar's Promise.[115]

Living spaces

  • Camp - The place where a Clan makes their permanent home.[119]
  • Leader's den - The den in camp that belongs to the Clan leader.[120]
  • Medicine cat's den - The den in camp that belongs to the Clan's medicine cat and his or her apprentice.[121] 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.[122]
  • Apprentices' den - The den in camp that is shared between the apprentices of that Clan.[123]
  • Elders' den - The den in camp that is shared between the elders of that Clan.[120]
  • Nursery - The den in camp that is shared by the queens and kits of that Clan.[24]
  • 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,[8] where the warriors drop the prey they caught while hunting, so it is easily accessible to all the cats in the Clan.[124]

Clan ranks

  • Kit - A kitten younger than six moons.[125]
  • Apprentice - A cat at least six moons old, and training to be a warrior (or a medicine cat.)[126]
  • Warrior - A mature cat who has completed his or her warrior training.[127] A she-cat is considered a warrior when she is not currently expecting or nursing a tom's kits.[128]
  • Mentor - A cat who is currently training an apprentice.[129]
  • Queen - A she-cat 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.[130] (i.e. Daisy, Ferncloud)
  • Elder - Cats who cannot hunt or fight anymore,[7] sometimes due to injury (Stonepelt),[131] loss of sight (Longtail),[132] sickness (Heavystep),[133] 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.[134]
  • Deputy - A warrior who is second in command to the leader,[137] helping the leader in their tasks and replacing them after their death or resignment.[138] They organize patrols and make reports to the leader,[139] and are known to be frequently given apprentices.[137]
  • Leader - A cat who controls the entire Clan.[28] A leader is granted nine lives by StarClan[140] so they "can be first in every battle and last to take a piece of fresh-kill"[141] basically giving them extra time to serve and lead their Clan.

See also

End of spoiler warning

References and citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Revealed in Into the Wild, page 86
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Revealed in Forest of Secrets, page 289
  3. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 23
  4. ↑ Revealed in Secrets of the Clans, page 110
  5. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 9
  6. ↑ Revealed in Code of the Clans, page 47
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Revealed in Into the Wild, page 49
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Revealed in Into the Wild, page 63
  9. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 59
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Revealed in Into the Wild, page 60
  11. ↑ Revealed in The Fourth Apprentice, pages 126-127
  12. ↑ Revealed in Starlight, page 58
  13. ↑ Revealed in Starlight, page 95
  14. ↑ Revealed in Fire and Ice, page 59
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Revealed in Into the Wild, page 16
  16. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 91
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Revealed in Into the Wild, page 275
  18. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 171
  19. ↑ Revealed in Sunrise, page 98
  20. ↑ Revealed in The Darkest Hour, page 271
  21. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 167
  22. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 182
  23. ↑ Revealed in Fire and Ice, page 246
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Revealed in Into the Wild, page 32
  25. ↑ Revealed in Moonrise, page 200
  26. ↑ Revealed in A Forest Divided, page 207
  27. ↑ Revealed in Moonrise, page 2
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 Revealed in Into the Wild, page 17
  29. ↑ Revealed in Sunrise, page 119
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 Revealed in Tigerheart's Shadow, chapter 10
  31. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 43
  32. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 269
  33. ↑ Revealed in After the Flood, page 27
  34. ↑ Revealed in The Fourth Apprentice, page 176
  35. ↑ Revealed in Midnight, page 8
  36. ↑ Revealed in Sunrise, page 207
  37. ↑ Revealed in Midnight, page 296
  38. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 30
  39. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 62
  40. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 2
  41. ↑ Revealed in The Fourth Apprentice, page 178
  42. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 20
  43. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 58
  44. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 21
  45. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 70
  46. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 201
  47. ↑ Revealed in Fire and Ice, page 96
  48. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 98
  49. ↑ Revealed in Forest of Secrets, page 261
  50. ↑ Revealed in Forest of Secrets, page 316
  51. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 31
  52. ↑ Revealed in Forest of Secrets, page 38
  53. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 4
  54. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 89
  55. ↑ Revealed in Crookedstar's Promise, page 225
  56. ↑ 56.0 56.1 Revealed in The Heart of a Warrior, page 27
  57. ↑ Revealed in Fire and Ice, page 83
  58. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 241
  59. ↑ Revealed in Forest of Secrets, page 62
  60. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 216
  61. ↑ Revealed in Forest of Secrets, page 44
  62. ↑ Revealed in Fading Echoes, page 162
  63. ↑ Revealed in Crookedstar's Promise, page 268
  64. ↑ Revealed in The Darkest Hour, page 276
  65. ↑ Revealed in Midnight, page 227
  66. ↑ Revealed in The Sun Trail, page 68
  67. ↑ Revealed in The Sun Trail, page 73
  68. ↑ Revealed in Thunder and Shadow, page 101
  69. ↑ Revealed in Outcast, page 7
  70. ↑ Revealed in Midnight, page 15
  71. ↑ Revealed in Eclipse, page 146
  72. ↑ Revealed in the Warriors App
  73. ↑ Revealed in Thunder Rising, page 51
  74. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 152
  75. ↑ Revealed in Moth Flight's Vision, chapter 2
  76. ↑ Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 301
  77. ↑ Revealed in Beyond the Code, page 16
  78. ↑ Revealed in The Darkest Hour, page 137
  79. ↑ Revealed in Eclipse, page 116
  80. ↑ Revealed in Sign of the Moon, page 117
  81. ↑ Revealed in Sign of the Moon, page 121
  82. ↑ Revealed in The Sun Trail, chapter 6
  83. ↑ Revealed in Forest of Secrets, page 94
  84. ↑ Revealed in The Sun Trail, page 108
  85. ↑ Revealed in Forest of Secrets, page 111
  86. ↑ Revealed in The Sight, page 54
  87. ↑ Revealed in Moonrise, page 25
  88. ↑ 88.0 88.1 Revealed in Into the Wild, page 84
  89. ↑ Revealed in Moth Flight's Vision, page 18
  90. ↑ Revealed in A Dangerous Path, page 94
  91. ↑ Revealed in Forest of Secrets, page 33
  92. ↑ Revealed in Mistystar's Omen, page 12
  93. ↑ Revealed in Yellowfang's Secret, page 353
  94. ↑ Revealed in Mistystar's Omen, chapter 6
  95. ↑ Revealed in Forest of Secrets, page 104
  96. ↑ Revealed in Forest of Secrets, page 34
  97. ↑ Revealed in Night Whispers, page 19
  98. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 35
  99. ↑ Revealed in Rising Storm, page 107
  100. ↑ Revealed in SkyClan's Destiny, page 332
  101. ↑ Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 38
  102. ↑ Revealed in The Sun Trail, page 147
  103. ↑ Revealed in Crookedstar's Promise, page 489
  104. ↑ Revealed in Night Whispers, page 67
  105. ↑ Revealed in Long Shadows, page 259
  106. ↑ Revealed in Fading Echoes, page 22
  107. ↑ Revealed in The Forgotten Warrior, page 130
  108. ↑ Revealed in The Apprentice's Quest, page 42
  109. ↑ Revealed in A Dangerous Path, page 74
  110. ↑ Revealed in The Forgotten Warrior, page 296
  111. ↑ Revealed in Forest of Secrets, page 77
  112. ↑ Revealed in Night Whispers, page 244
  113. ↑ Revealed in The Darkest Hour, page 171
  114. ↑ Revealed in Sign of the Moon, page 148
  115. ↑ Revealed in Crookedstar's Promise, page 11
  116. ↑ Revealed in Yellowfang's Secret, page 7
  117. ↑ Revealed in Tallstar's Revenge, page 58
  118. ↑ Revealed in Mapleshade's Vengeance, chapter 4
  119. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 29
  120. ↑ 120.0 120.1 Revealed in Into the Wild, page 48
  121. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, pages 104-105
  122. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 105
  123. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 53
  124. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 115
  125. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 15
  126. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 37
  127. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 272
  128. ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, allegiances
  129. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 99
  130. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 153
  131. ↑ Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 170
  132. ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 111
  133. ↑ Revealed in Starlight, page 244
  134. ↑ Revealed in The Sight, page 303
  135. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 65
  136. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, pages 4-5
  137. ↑ 137.0 137.1 Revealed in Into the Wild, page 41
  138. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 50
  139. ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 116
  140. ↑ Revealed in A Dangerous Path, page 54
  141. ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 317
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