Common SCA Terms

As used in the Barony of Carolingia, in the Kingdom of the East.

Anno Societatis: Usually shortened to AS, this refers to a year in the period of time since the SCA was created. We are now in AS 35. The SCA celebrates a new year every May Day.

Arts and Sciences: Medieval crafts and skills researched and practiced by members of the SCA. This is sometimes shortened to A&S as in, "There's an A&S competition at this event."

Autocrat: The person in charge of an event. Though they may delegate specific aspects of the event (such as cooking the feast) to others, the Autocrat is highest authority at his/her event.

Award of Arms: Often shortened to AoA, this is usually the first award received by members of the SCA. People recomment members for this award by writing to the current King and Queen. The award is then bestowed at the next Royal Progress event that the member attends.

Bardic Circle: A gathering of people to tell stories and sing songs, usually at an event and in front of a fire. All are welcome to come and listen, and you are invited to share period material if you are comfortable doing so. Some Bardic Circles are more formal than others, where it is somewhat of a competition and participants are requested to sign up in advance.

Borough: A term used in the East Kingdom to denote college groups. These groups tend not to be officialy recognized by SCA Inc. and therefore have special status.

Chirurgeon: A person who can provide first-aid at events.

Chivalry: A collective term for people recognized by the society as possessing prowess in heavy weapons combat and chivalric virtues. The order of Chivalry contains two subgroups: Knights swear fealty to the Crown, while Masters-of-Arms do not.

Comet Ball: A game popular at outdoor events consisting of playing catch with a stuffed ball to which strips of fabric have been attached.

Council: Also known as Great Council, this is a meeting of all the officers of Carolingia on the first Monday of every month. Guild leaders give reports and announce upcoming meetings, Autocrats give updates on events they're running, and the policies and laws of the Barony are interpreted and applied. Boroughs are required to send representatives; this is usually the Provost.

Court: A gathering where the King and Queen, Prince and Princess, or Baron and Baroness make announcements and give awards. There is usually a Court of some kind at every event.

Dry/Damp/Wet Site: This is something you may see in event announcements. It indicates the alcoholic beverage policy. Dry sites allow no alcohol, Damp sites allow wine, beer and mead, but no hard liquor. Wet sites have no restrictions. Local laws regarding alcohol consumption must always be obeyed so we do not lose the opportunity to use the site in the future.

Duncharloch: The borough at Harvard University.

Exchequer: A treasurer for a group or organization.

Feast Gear: What people bring to eat with at a feast. This usually includes a plate, bowl, goblet, spoon and knife. The most common materials are wood and metal, though ceramics are also used.

Felding: The borough at Wellesley College. Traditionally, this borough holds an autumn event called Falling Leaves.

Fenmere: The borough at Brandeis University. The annual event of this borough is called May Day.

Garb: Clothing based on that worn during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Some attempt at garb is required at all events. There are resources available for lending garb to new members.

Gate: The check-in place at an event. If there is an event fee, this is where you pay or pick up your proof of pre-registration. This is also a useful place to get directions to different activities or to ask when specific things are happening.

Gentle: Any person, not gender specific.

Gold Key: The collection of loaner garb and feast gear provided by the Barony of Carolingia. All members of the barony are able to make use of this resource.

Guild: A group of people who gather together to do research on a period topic. Some examples include Cooks' Guild, Storytellers' Guild, and Calligraphers' Guild. Guilds which are officialy recognized by the barony have a vote on Council.

Heavy List: SCA armored combat. You must be authorized to participate.

Huntington Green: The borough at Northeastern University.

Hurling: A medieval sport that is somewhat similar to modern field hockey.

Ivory Keep: The borough at Tufts University. Traditionally this borough holds an event called Ivory Keep University every year.

Knight: A person recognized by the Society as one who possesses great skill at heavy list fighting and who has displayed great virtue. A Knight swears fealty to the crown. Knights claim the title "Sir," usually regardless of gender.

Laurel: A person recognized by the society for having mastered an art or science, and who has shown great virtue.

Liber Carolingia: Also known simply as The Liber, this is a directory of all the citizens in the Barony of Carolingia, including awards they have received and their current contact information. This is a very useful thing to have and can be purchased, usually for $1, at Council.

Marshal: A trained and authorized person who oversees combat activities such as heavy list, fencing, and thrown weapons.

Magistra: The office in Carolingia for assisting new members. The Magistra can provide information about practices and events, loaner garb and feast gear, and can help groups with recruitment efforts.

Master-of-Arms: A person recognized by the Society as one who possesses great skill at heavy list fighting and who also has displayed great virtue. Unlike a Knight, a Master-of-Arms does not swear fealty to the crown. Masters-of-Arms claim the title of "Sir," usually regardless of gender.

Mitgaard: The borough at MIT. Because of its central location and easy public transportation access, the barony holds many of its meetings and practices there.

Mundane: We use this word to refer to that which is modern. People sometimes refer to their "mundane life" when talking about their occupation, or their "mundane name" when introducing themselves.

Peer: A member of one of the three groups: Knight, Laurel, or Pelican. While some awards only count in the kingdom in which they were given, a Peer is recognized throughout the SCA world.

Pelican: A person recognized in the society for having performed great service, and also possessing of great virtue.

Pennsic: The largest annual event held by the SCA, recently drawing over 10,000 attendants. It is a two-week war in western Pennsylvania between the East and Middle kingdoms.

Period: The Middle Ages and Renaissance. This is mostly used as an adjective, as in, "Is this dress period?" It can also be used to denote a more specific time, as in, "What period is your persona from?"

Persona: The background and personality that a person uses during an event. Some people have more developed personas than others; some simply have a period name but no history to go along with it.

Post-Revel: This is a party held after an event, generally at the home of someone who lives nearby. It is not an officially sponsored SCA activity and people sometimes change out of garb before they attend.

Provost: The president of a borough.

Royal Peer: A Count, Countess, Duke or Duchess. These people have served once as King and Queen but no longer hold the throne.

Royal Progess: An event which is attended by the King, Queen, or both.

Scadian: A member of the SCA.

SCA Name: The name someone uses in the society, usually at least slightly different from their mundane name. No titles (such as Lord or Sir) are allowed unless granted by SCA royalty.

Seneschal: The legal representative of the SCA at baronial levels and higher.

Site: The place where an event takes place.

Site Fee: The cost of admission to an event, usually stated in the modern denomination and currency of the country in which the event is being held.

Southbanke: The borough Boston College.

Steward: The vice-president of a borough. This person represents the Provost in his/her absence. Felding's Steward is responsible for holding a demonstration at the beginning of the academic year and also takes care of the borough's loaner garb and feast gear.

Thrown Weapons: A martial art consisting of throwing weapons such as knives, axes, and spikes at a stationary target.