Glossary

Revised Glossary (1098 – 1244)

The letters c and k (under c), i and j, and u and v have been combined. Readers should be aware that the writers of letters and even charters could be casual in their approach to orthography and the use of gender.

ATop ↑

abbas (m.) / abbatissa (f.)	Abbot, Abbess.
abbatia/abbacia/abbaye/abaye	(1) Religious community, often but not always Benedictine, defined by the fact that it is autonomous, although, unless exempt, subject to the diocesan bishop. (2) Village in northern Syria and Cilicia. The word may carry a meaning specific to the region. To a western historian it implies a property which was – or had been – subject to an abbey, or even, in Norman parlance, a parish.
acatepan / catepan	Originally a military title, it came to be used in the Byzantine empire with reference to a governor, although inferior to the dux.
accensor lampadarum	Lamp lighter.
acolitus	Acolyte.
ad ignem et focum hospitati	Settled inhabitants.
ad limina visitatio	Obligation of a bishop to report personally to the Holy See every four years.
ad seminandum et ad garetandum	Agricultural two-year rotation system, with half the land sown with cereals and half partly fallow [see garet] and partly sown with a nitrogenous crop.
ad usum et consuetudinem	According to legal practice.
advocatus/avocat	Lay protector of a church.
agareni	Muslims.
agger	Mound.
agricola	Farmer. Inhabitant of a casale. So possibly the equivalent to rusticus, villanus.
alberga/albergue/auberge	(1) Provisions owed to the lord as an element in feudal service. (2) Lodging in Acre for the central convent of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem.
albus	White.
amandles	Medicines.
amiratus	Admiral.
amitus	Worked silk.
anchoragia/ancoragi/anchoraticum/ancorandum	Harbour tax.
angaria	Labour services.
annona	Harvest.
ansiani	Ancients.
ἀνθρωπος λίζιος	Liegeman. Greek form of homo ligius.
apotheca	Shop selling merchandise. See ypotecarius.
appaltus	Lease
aquarium	Water trough.
ara	(1) Pigsty. (2) Unknown [in a reference to land ‘ubi rex facit aram’].
arabus/arabis/alarabus	Arab.
aratrum	Unit of land measurement; and see carrucata.
arbor morarius	Mulberry tree.
arc	Arch.
archer	Bowman.
archidiaconus	Archdeacon.
archiepiscopus/archipresul/archipraesul	Archbishop.
area/aire	Threshing floor.
armenius/ermine	Armenian.
armes	Weapons.
armiger et serviens	Armsbearing sergeant.
arnesium	Harness [armour and weapons].
arrière-ban	General conscription for the needs of defence.
arsena	Arsenal. See tarsana.
artificii actor	Artisan.
asinaria	Stables beyond the northern wall of Jerusalem, where the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem kept its donkeys and beasts of burden.
assasini/assasi/assessini/assidei	Assassins: members of a Shi‘ite sect.
assisia/assise/assize/assisius/ascisius	(1) Law promulgated in formal circumstances by a ruler. (2) Rent granted out of certain revenues [thus assidenda], often as a fief-rent.
assisium	Minor cathedral benefice.
assisius	Churchman holding an assisium.
assisus	Rent overseer.
atrium	Area immediately before the entrance to a church.
auctorixator	Authoriser of a charter.
auctor muneris	Donor.
aula	Palace.
aumonier	Almoner.
aureum	Commonly used of bisantius.
aurifaber/aurifex	Goldsmith.
auri librae	Pounds of gold.
austus aque	Water source, mouth of water pipe.
auxilium	Obligatory service of providing assistance.
avocat	Lawyer.
avunculus	Uncle.

BTop ↑

baculum	Staff often handed over formally in the exchange of property.
bafumaria	Disused mosque. See mahomeria.
bail en emphytéose	Emphyteutic rent.
baiulatio/baillage/bailulus	(1) Office of baiulus. (2) Wardship of minors.
baiulus/bajulus/bailli/baylivus/baliuus/bailitus/balius/bailo/baill/ bailliz/bau (m.) / bauilla (f.)	depended (1) Officer or agent. (2) Regent. (3) Lieutenant of absent ruler. (4). Officer in charge depended of a commandery of a military order.
balistarius	Crossbowman.
balneum/balnea	Bath house.
bambasi/banbacium/bombaxum	Cotton.
bancus/banca	Stall of money changer.
bannum	(1) Power of judicial enforcement. (2) Prohibition.
barbacana/berbacana/avantmurs	Barbican.
barbanus	Uncle.
barberius	Barber.
barbota	Type of ship.
barcha	Small boat.
baro	[pl. barones]/baron Baron.
beduinus/bedevinus	Bedouin.
beneficium	Grant, especially of property.
berquilium/berchile/bechile/barquile/barchilia	Arabic birqa. Cistern.
bibliotecarius	Librarian.
bisanciorum feudum	Money fief
bisantius/byzantius/besancius	(1) Besant. A gold coin, the weight, and worth, of which depended on the local mint. (2) Unit of weight.
bisantius/besantius albus/besan blanc	White besant. Cypriot currency, drawing on Byzantine traditions.
bisantius sarracenus/sarracenatus	Saracen besant. A gold besant modelled on earlier Fatimid coinage, although reformed in the middle of the 13th century to remove the Muslim elements in the inscription.
bisantius vetus	Gold Egyptian dinar.
bisantiata	A besant’s worth.
bivium	Crossroads.
bladum/bled	Wheat.
boni viri	Honest men, prud’hommes, often with reference to members of a court. See probi viri.
boquines	Goat skins, possibly.
bordellus	Small house, possibly a brothel.
bouteillerie	Office of butler with perquisites.
boveria/bovaria	Cattle sheds.
boves	Oxen.
brabantinus	Coin and unit of currency.
bucheria/bocherie/becaria	Meat market.
bunna	Boundary mark.
burgensis/borges/borgois	Burgess.
burgesia/borgesie/terra burgesie	Property held in burgess tenure.
burgus/bourg	Town.
busini	Candles.
buticularius/buteler/boutellier	Butler.
buza/bucce	Unit of measurement of liquid, especially wine.

CTop ↑

caballaria	Unit of land measurement, relative to a knight’s fief or holding.
caban	Unknown. An element in the assessment of charges levied in the commercium of Antioch.
calamita	Unknown [in a reference to a house ‘ubi fiunt calamite’].
calcis fornax/calidus furnus	Lime kiln.
caldei	Chaldeans.
caliga ferrea	Chain mail.
cambiator/cambitor/campsor	Money changer.
camelarius	Camelteer.
camelinus	Surcoat.
camera	(1) Room, possibly also an apartment. (2) Private treasury: thus camera regia, holding the king’s private funds.
cameraria	Office and perquisites of camerarius.
camerarius/chambellan/chambrier	Chamberlain.
campus	(1) Field. (2) Town square.
cancellarius	Chancellor.
candela	Candle wax.
candelarius	Official in charge of candles in a church.
canna/canne	Unit of measurement of length.
cannamella/canimel/zalamellus	Sugar cane.
cannetum	Sugar cane plantation.
canonicus/chanoine	Canon of cathedral or member of an Augustinian community.
cantaria/quintaria/quintardi	Arabic qintar. Unit of measurement of quantity or weight.
cantaria et pondera et mensurae/cantarii, buzae et modii	Weights and measures.
cantor	(m) / cantatrix (f) Cathedral canon responsible for liturgical music. See precentor.
canuta/cavuta	Unknown.
canutus	Unknown.
capella	Chapel.
capellanus/chapellain	Chaplain .
capicerius	Presbyterium or chancel: in which the altar is placed.
capitagium/capitatio/capitale redditus	Poll tax. See chevagia.
capitaneus/chevetaine	Captain.
capitulum	Chapter of cathedral canons or of a religious community.
caprarius/cabrarius	Goatherd.
caput ecclesiae	Chancel.
carat	[pl. carates]/qiratum/carctus/karacta Arabic qirat (1) Coin and unit of currency, being, in the 13th century, a 24th of a besant. See carrubla. (2) Unit of measurement, based on the weight of a carat/carrubla. (3) Taxation by weight.
karavenier	Officer in charge of the caravanna.
caravanna/caravanus/karavane/ karavanna/garavanna	(1) Convoy by land and sea of animals or ships carrying goods and merchandise. See also passagium. (2) Department in the hospital of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem responsible for storing bedclothes and utensils. (3) Department in the marshalsy of the Knights Templar, where warhorses were stabled and their tack and saddlery were stored and repaired. (4) In the later 13th century land (or sea) based military expedition of the brother knights of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem.
carbo	Charcoal.
carcosium	Slaughterhouse.
carcubin	Precious cloth. Unknown.
cardinalis	Cardinal.
carnarium ad ossa mortuorum	Charnel pit.
carnifex	Butcher.
carpentarius	Carpenter.
carrage/karrage/carragium/cavages	Arabic kharaj. Muslim land tax maintained by the Latin settlers. See also terragium, terraticum. The form cavages brings to mind the Cypriot poll tax of chevagia [see below], but cavages is more likely to have been a land, not a capitation, tax.
carrubla/karubla/carouble/carrupla/quarrobla	Alternative word for carat.
carrucae propriae	Demesne land.
carrucata/carrucha/carruca terre/carruga/carratata/cartica/cartata Carrucate	a unit of land measurement, defined by the amount that can be ploughed by a pair of oxen. Translated into Venetian Italian as masi. See also aratrum.
cartica greca	Greek carrucate.
carrucatae franciae/francae/francesie/liberae Carrucates	freed from usual services.
cartula	Charter.
carubius/quarubius/caroblers/karoblers	Arabic kharub. Carob tree.
carublerium/carrobletum	carob tree plantation.
casale	[pl. casalia]/casella/chasel Village settlement inhabited usually, but not always, by indigenous peasants.
casatus	Rural tenant.
cassarium	Meat market, possibly.
castellanus/chastellain	Castellan.
castelletum	Fort.
castellum/castrum	Castle.
casula	(1) Hut. (2) Chasuble.
casula dalmatica	Dalmatic.
casula doxi	Gilded chasuble.
catepan,	see acapetan.
cathedra	Bishop’s throne.
cathena/catena/chatena/katena /chaine/chaene	(1) Urban district around a port. (2) Port office responsible for the taxation of ships and of imported and exported goods. (3) Court [cour de la chaine/cathene curia] responsible for minor maritime cases.
catholicus	Catholicos. The head of an independent church .
cathrans/catrans	Arabic qatran. Bitumen.
cava/cavea	(1) Cave. (2) Depression in the ground. (3) Valley.
cellarium	Cellar.
cellerarius/cellerier/sellarius	(m) / celleraria (f) Cellarar.
cementarius/cimentarius	Builder.
cenobium	Monastic community.
census/cense/censuels/censuales	(1) The rent due on all city properties and lands held by burgess tenure. (2) An annual payment made to the papacy by privileged religious orders. (3) Tax.
cereum	(1) Wax. (2) Candle.
charruée,	see carrucata.
chevagia/chevalia	Poll tax, originating in the Byzantine system, owed by peasants on Cyprus between the ages of 15 and 60.
chevagius	Person owing chevagia.
chevalerie	Knighthood.
chevalier	Knight.
cimeterium	Graveyard.
cingula/zona	Belt, cingula.
cisterna	Cistern.
civis	Citizen.
claperius	Monument.
claustrum	Cloistered enclosure in a religious community.
clericus/clers	Cleric.
clibanus	Bread oven.
clicha	Unit of quantity.
cliens	Dependant.
clientes belligeri	Armed dependants.
cocus/coqus	Cook.
cognatus	Relative.
cogones	Cogs: square rigged ships of northern European design.
collatio	Tax.
collis	Hill.
coloni	(1) Farmers. (2) Immigrants.
comes/conte (m.) / comitissa (f.)	Count, Countess.
comes palatinus	Count Palatine.
comitus	Sea captain.
commeatus vel semita	Lane.
commendator/commandeur	Commander. The title of an officer in the military orders, either (1) in a senior role in the central convent or (2) leading a local or ship-board community of brothers. See preceptor.
commercium/commertium/comercium/commerce/commerc	Byzantine komerkion. (1) A combined market and import tax, inherited from the Byzantine empire. (2) A general term for trade.
commodare	To pledge.
commune/communia/coumune	Commune.
communitas	Community.
conductus	Aqueduct or water channel.
confallonerius	Standard bearer.
confrater (m)	[pl. confratres] / consoror (f) [pl. consorores] Lay associate in a confraternal relationship with a religious order or community.
consanguineus	Relative.
consiliori	Counsellors.
constabularius/conestalle/constabilis/comestabulus/counestable	Constable.
consuetudo	[pl. consuetudines]/consuetudinaria/costuma Custom, the word being often applied to customary laws or taxes. See also usus.
consul/consele	Consul.
conventus	Religious community.
conventus publicus	Public meeting.
conversus	Lay brother in a religious community, who does not have the full chapter-rights of a choir monk.
corba	Unit of measurement of liquid.
cordoenarius/cordarius/coriparius	Cobbler.
corvei	Labour services.
corvesarius/curvesarius/corveser/corvesier/convoisier	Leatherworker, cordwainer.
costorer	Tailor.
cours des Syriens	Courts established to deal with minor cases between Suriani.
crocea	Cope.
crucesignatus	Crusader.
cubicularius	Chamberlain. See camerarius.
cudaria	Unit of measurement.
cuffrus	Coffer.
cultellus	Knife.
cuneus	Seal matrix.
cuppa	Cup.
curator ovium	Shepherd.
curba	Unknown. Type of settlement.
curia/cort	(1) Judicial court. (2) Courtyard or courtyard building.
curia generalis	A general assembly, usually consisting of the High Court and representatives of the burgesses, the church, the military orders and sometimes the Italian communes.
curia regalis/regis/curia regni Ierosolimitane	(1) royal court. (2) High Court.
curtile/curtille/cortillus/cortile/curtilia/curtilium/curtivum/curdivum	Rustic or urban farmhouse.
curtis	courtyard.
custos	(1) Guardian or warden, as in titles of office [custos asinarie, custos helemosine, custos pauperum, custos portus, custos egrorum, custos infirmorum, custos operis]. (2) Curtain.
cutocothroffium	Hospital.
cyrotheca	Liturgical gloves.
cyrurgicus	Surgeon.
cysternarius	Officer in charge of a cistern.

DTop ↑

dacita	Tax, tribute.
dapifer	see senescalcus.
datio census	Tax, customs duty.
decanus	Dean.
decima	(1) Church tithe. (2) A land rent of one tenth of produce.
demanium	Domain, demesne. See dominium.
denarius/denier	Coin or unit of currency. It rated at 34 to the besant in Latakia.
derem/derame	see dirham.
de statis, rubis et de mensuris	Weights and measures.
diaconus	Deacon.
dimi/dymi	Levy, originating the Byzantine taxation, imposed on peasants in Antioch and Cyprus.
dinar	Muslim gold coin, the model for the besant.
dirham	Muslim coin, stemming from the Byzantine drachma.
dispensator	Official or agent in charge of a western agricultural settlement.
divisio	Boundary.
doctor	Teacher with a degree.
doctor clericorum	Master of a cathedral school. See magister clericorum; magister scholasticus.
doga	Ditch.
domesticus	Servant.
domicella	Maidservant.
domina/dame	Lady.
dominatio et ligietas	Liege lordship.
dominica in ramis palmarum	Palm Sunday.
dominium	(1) lordship. (2) Demesne land. See demanium.
dominus/domnus/dongnus/dognus	Lord.
domuncula/domumcula	Small house.
domus	(1) House. (2) Religious order. (3) Commandery of a military order.
domus convitii	Prison.
domus serice	Silk factory, possibly.
donné	(m) / donnée (f.) Donat, holding a type of confraternity.
dos/doarium	Dowry, marriage portion.
dotalicium	Dowry rights.
douane	see secrete.
drap	Unit of measurement of material.
draparia	Cloth.
drapperius/draperius/trapparius/drapier/draper	Conventual officer in a military order, responsible for issuing clothing and material.
drictura/dreiture/droiture	Rights.
drogomannus/durgumannus/drugemannus	Arabic tarjuman, meaning interpreter. The office may well descent from that held by a Muslim legal officer, the mutarjim. The drogomannus represented the lord in his dealings with the indigenous villagers, possibly with oversight of legal disputes.
droiture de l’apaut de laudene	Unknown.
droiture de la tonie Telonium	possibly.
drugmanagia/drogomanathgium/drugumanagium	Office of drogomannus, often held as a feudal sergeantry.
duana	(1) Muslim diwan. (2) Latin secrete.
duana secretorum protonotarius	Official in charge of the secrete in Cilician Armenia.
dunae	Sand dunes.
dux	Military provincial governor in the Byzantine empire. The office was still to be found in the principality of Antioch, where it was confined to urban localities and apparently only to civil responsibilities.

ETop ↑

ecclesia	Church.
ectulus	Perhaps a corruption of edulus [foodstuffs].
edus	Goat.
electus	Bishop-elect
elemosinarius/helemosinarius	Almoner.
engague	Taxes levied on Armenian peasants.
ensis	Sword.
episcopus	Bishop.
equitatio	Mounted raid.
equitaturi	Mounts.
equites	Knights.
esclavi	(1) Slaves. (2) Prisoners-of-war.
esgart/exguardus	Legal case creating a precedent.
estraconi/estracones/estacines	Shops. See statio.
établissement	Law resulting from a formal royal decision.
exactio	Taxation.
exactio curiae	Court fee.
expeditio	Military campaign.
excorticatio	Slaughterhouse.
exenia	Personal gifts from a peasant to the landlord, payable three times a year. See monet.

FTop ↑

faber	Smith.
fabricae in quibus sunt frena	Stables.
familia	Household.
familiares	Members of household.
famulus	Servant.
feodales	Feudal rights.
feodatores/feodati	Vassals.
feodum/feudum/fié	Fief.
feodum militis	Knight’s fief.
feodum villanie	Form of villeinage tenure.
ferrarius	Blacksmith.
fidelis	Subject.
fidelitas	Fealty.
filius	Son.
fiscus	Collective term for royal or seigneurial resources.
flumen/flumaria/fluvius	River.
foagium	Hearth tax.
focay	Beer.
focus	Hearth.
fons/fontana	Spring, well.
forbitor	Armourer.
foresterius	Forester.
forifactus	Criminal offence.
forner/fornerius/furnier/furner	(1) Oven guardian (2) Baker.
forum	(1) Judicial court. See curia. (2) A market place. See funda.
fossa/fossatum	Ditch, moat.
fovea	Tomb.
francicia/franchisia	Freedom.
francus [	pl. franci]/francigena (1) Term used to describe anyone in the East of western European origin. (2) Used with particular reference to a subject of France.
frater	Brother.
frater cliens	(1) Confrater. (2). Brother sergeant of a military order.
fratres cutellorum	see assasini.
frater miles	Brother knight of a military order.
fructus	Produce.
frustrum	[actually frustum] terre A unit of land measurement.
funda/fonde/fondicum/fondacum/fundum/funditia/fundicium/fonticum/fontigo/fontego/fundus, foncium	(1) An enclosed market. (2) A group of such markets. (3) An office administering and collecting taxes from the markets. (4) A court [cour de la fonde], judging minor commercial cases.
fonde del vin	Wine market.
furnus	Oven.

GTop ↑

gabelles	Tax [but only to be found in early modern inventories].
galea	(1) Galley [ship]. (2) Armour.
galea armata	Armed galley.
galeator	Galley captain or owner.
galio	[pl. galiones] Small galley.
garde	Warden, guardian. See custos.
garet/garitus	Fallow land, partly sown with a nitrogenous crop. Translated by the Venetians as mazatica/mazadica/macatica/terra frata.
gastina/guastina/vastina/quastina	(1) Deserted casale. (2) Wasteland.
gastinula	Small gastina.
gener	Relative.
gens/gentes	People or peoples in general.
gentiles	Non-Christians.
gentilis	[adj] Gentle [as in gentleman].
georgiani	Georgians.
giraudellus	Candelabra, girandole.
gladius	Sword.
glenatores	Gleanings after harvest.
gradus	Staircase.
granerium/grenier	Granary.
grangia	Farm owned by a monastic community.
granum	Wheat.
grant parlement	see curia generalis.
grecus/graecus/grifon	Greek.
grippus	Boat.
guantus	Glove.
gubernator	Governor.

HTop ↑

habitatio	Residence
habitator	Inhabitant.
habitus	Dress of the member of a religious community.
hallah	Dedicated bread in Jewish ritual.
harnesium militare	Military equipment.
haute cort	High Court.
helemosina	Alms.
helemosinarius	Almoner.
herbae	Herbs.
hereditas	Heritable property.
herema loca	Waste land.
heremita	Hermit.
hominium/homagium	Homage.
hominium facere	To pay homage.
hominium ligium	Liege homage.
homo/home	(1) Man. (2) Vassal.
homo ligius/homlige/homolige	(1) Liegeman. (2) Peasant [homlige] residing in the Venetian third of the lordship of Tyre.
homo peculiaris	Villein.
honor	(1) Honour. (2) Distinction. (3) Fief.
hortolanus	Gardener with a heritable holding.
hospitalarius/hospitalier	Hospitaller.
hospitale	Hospital.
hospitatio	Lodging.
hospites	Lodgers.
hospitium/hostel	(1) Hospice. (2) Lodging.
hostes Crucis Christi	Muslims [enemies of Christ’s cross].
hostiarius	(1) Door keeper or porter. (2) Chamberlain.

I & JTop ↑

jacobitae/iacobini/jacobins	Members of the Jacobite church.
janitor	Janitor, gate-keeper.
jardinum	Garden.
jarra/jarre/jarta	Arabic jarah. Unit of measurement of liquid.
jornata terre	A unit of land measurement.
incisor	Carpenter.
incola	(1) Agricultural settler. (2) Inhabitant.
infidelis	Non-Christian.
insula domorum	Block of houses.
internuntius	Emissary.
interpres	see drogomannus.
introitus	Entry charges.
judaeus/judeus/jude	Jew.
judex	[pl. judices] Judge in the context of burgenses.
judge delegate	Representative appointed by the papacy to hear an ecclesiastical case locally.
judicia	Case law.
jugera	Unit of land measurement, possible linked to the carrucata.
iumentum	Packhorse.
juratus	Jurat of a burgess court.
jurisdictio/juriditio	Jurisdiction.
jus	[pl. jura] Right, privilege.
jus plateaticus	Right to take market taxes.
justa	Unit of measurement of wine.
iusticiarius	Justiciar.
justitia de sangue	Justice of blood, the imposing of capital sentences.

LTop ↑

lacus	Lake.
laine	Wool.
lampades	Lamps.
lancea	Lance.
latini	Members of the Latin Church.
laycus conversus	see conversus.
legalitatis et justitie exsecutores	Members of a court.
legati a latere	Legates sent by the pope with specific tasks.
legatus	Emissary with plenipotential powers.
legis peritus	Learned in law.
lengle	Language, nation.
leugua/leuga	League: unit of distance.
levita	Priest.
libera	Free.
libertas	Freedom.
libra/livre	(1) Unit of measurement of weight: a pound. (2) Unit of currency.
ligesse	Liege homage.
ligietas/liggiancia/ligiantia	Liege lordship.
lignum	Boat.
lingua arabica/saracena	The Arabic language. See sarracenice.
litra/littra/listra	Unit of measurement of liquid.
litterae patentes	Deeds.
locum tenens	Lieutenant.
locus	(1) A place. (2) Type of property.
logia/loge	Large building, with a colonnade.
longobardi	Lombards. A term used of the imperial forces in 13th-century Palestine and Cyprus.
lorica	Breastplate.
lunae	Lunettes.

MTop ↑

macellarius	Butcher.
macellum	Meat market.
macera/mazara	Press, as for grinding sugar cane.
magister/maistre	Master. (1) Head of a religious order (2) A man with an advanced degree. (3) A leading technician. (4) A provincial or local officer in a religious order.
magister castelli	Castellan.
magister clientium S. Sepulcri	Canon responsible for the dependants of the Holy Sepulchre.
magister puerorum	Tutor to children.
magister scholasticus/magister scole/magister scholarum/magister clericorum	Master of a cathedral school. See also doctor clericorum.
magister secrete	Executive officer in charge [under the seneschal] of the royal treasury.
magister theologus	Master of theology.
magisterium	Mastership.
magnus preceptor/generalis praeceptor	Grand Commander in a military order.
mahnée	Household.
mahomeria/mahumeria/machomeria	Deserted mosque. See bafumaria.
maior/maire	Mayor.
maison	(1) House. (2) Commandery of a military order.
maitre de monnoye	Officer in charge of a mint.
manipulus	Unit of measurement of quantity.
mansio	(1) House (2) Unit of landholding.
mansio domorum	Block of houses.
mapa	Altar cloth.
marbutinus/marabuttinus	Coin. Unit of currency.
marcata	Unit of quantity.
marcha/marca	(1) Mark: coin and unit of currency. (2) Unit of weight.
marcha argenti/marc d’argent	Silver mark.
marcha auri	Gold mark, valued in 1207 at the equivalent of 56 besants.
marchio/marchisus	Marquess.
marciban/marcibanus/marzapanus	(1) Coin and unit of currency. (2) Unit of weight.
marescalcus/mareschallus/maresqualcus/maurescalcus/manesclcus/mareschaudus	Marshal.
maroniti/maronidae	Members of the Maronite church.
masarium/masera	Sugar press.
massa	Staff.
massaratici	Furniture.
matesep	Arabic muhtasib. Official with jurisdiction in commercial matters and having the duty of collecting licence fees from shopkeepers, craftsmen and others. He had police responsibilities in Cyprus and may have had the same in the kingdom of Jerusalem.
mecuchia	Unit of measurement of quantity.
medicus	Doctor.
medii	Medes.
medietas	Land rent of half produce.
mella	Syrup extracted from sugar cane.
mensae nummulariorum	Tables of money changers.
mensurae	Measures.
mensurator ville	Official in charge of weights and measures.
mercator	Merchant.
mercatura	Market tax.
merces/mercimonia	Merchandise.
messis	Harvest.
meta	Boundary mark.
metitus	Unit of measurement of quantity.
metra/mitreta/metreta	Unit of measurement, as of liquid.
mezuzah	Parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah.
mezzina	Unit of measurement of quantity.
miege	Doctor.
miles	[pl. milites] Knight.
miles frater	Brother knight of a military order.
miliarius	Unit of measurement of distance.
militia/milicia	(1) knighthood. (2) A body of knights.
milites feodati	Fief-holding knights.
milites leprosi	Leper knights.
milites stipendarii	Mercenary knights.
minister	Senior officer, administrator.
ministerium	Office.
mirtus	Myrtle.
moabita	Muslim.
modius/muid	Unit of measurement of quantity.
moiture	Milling.
mola	Millstone.
molendinarius	Miller.
molendinum/molin	Mill.
molendinum aque	Water-powered mill.
molendinum equorum/equi	Horse-powered mill.
molendinum olivarum	Olive mill.
monachus/monacus	Monk.
monasterium	Monastery.
monet	Arabic munaʻ. Personal gift from a peasant to the landlord, payable 3 times a year. See exenia.
monticulum	Hillock.
mortidatio	Murder.
morus	Mulberry tree. See also arbor morarius.
morvellarii	Mulberry trees, possibly.
mossarins	Muslims.
mulanus	Official (mullah) in charge of the diwan al-mal, the treasury in a Muslim state.
mulier	Woman.
municipium	Castle.
murus	Wall.
must	Grape juice.

NTop ↑

navalis exactio	Tax on shipping. See nol.
navis/nef/navigium	Ship.
nazarite	Jew bound by vow to be set apart for the service of God.
negociatores	Merchants.
nepos	Nephew.
nerçi	[or verçi]. A type of dye, possibly.
nestoriani/nestorins/nestorini/nestorienses/nestoriti	Members of the Nestorian Church.
nobilis	Noble.
nol	Tax on shipping. See navalis exactio.
notarius	Notary.
noval lands	Lands that were previously uncultivated.
novenarius/novesimus	Property sales tax.
nummularius	Money changer.
nummus	Coin.
nuntius	Emissary.

OTop ↑

obedientia	Dependency of religious community or order.
obulus/obolis Obole	: coin and unit of currency.
obulus aureus	Gold obole.
octonarius	Tax on mill production.
oleum fossimani	Unkown.
olfrizium	Decoration on episcopal mitre.
olivetus	Olive grove.
opera lana	Cloth.
opera lini	Linen.
optimas	Magnate.
ordo	Religious order.
ortus/hortus	Garden.
outremer	(1) Europe, when viewed from the Levant. (2) The Levant when viewed from Europe.

PTop ↑

pactio	Agreement.
pactonarius/pauctonarius/pautonarius	Official in the principality of Antioch, possibly responsible for guarding bridges and levying charges.
pactum	Taxation.
paganus	Non-Christian, normally Muslim.
pais	Peace.
palatium/palacium	Palace.
palea	(1) Beds. (2) Gleanings.
palia	Wooden stakes.
pallium	(1) Stole of particular shape and manufacture presented by the popes to archbishops. (2) Altar covering. (3) Mantle.
palma	Unit of measurement of length.
panis	Bread.
panitarius/panetarius	Baker.
panni	Cloth.
panssions	Rents.
papuliones	Tents.
paramentum Parament	: decorated robe.
paramentum altaris	Altar frontal.
paria boum	Pair of oxen.
paries	Wall.
pariliata	see jugera.
parmentarius/palmentirs	Tailor, clothier.
parrochia	Parish.
pars	[pl. partes] terre (1) Share of property (2) Unit of land measurement.
partes ultramarinae/transmarinae	The Levant.
parthus	Parthian.
particula terre	Small piece of land.
passagium/passage	(1) Time of sailing to the Levant from the West, in spring and autumn. (2) Taxation on goods passing through a region.
pastor	Parish priest.
pastura	Pasture.
patriarcha	Patriarch.
patrones	Patrons.
pauper	Poor person.
pecten	Liturgical comb.
pedites	Footsoldiers.
peire	(1) Stone. (2) Millstone.
pelliparius	Furrier.
pellitia	Fur coat.
peregrinus	(1) Pilgrim. (2) Crusader.
persae/persi	Persians.
persona	Parson: rector, parish priest.
pertica	Unit of measurement of land.
pertinentia	Dependency.
pertusis vulpis	Fox hole.
petia/pecia/pettius/pièce	Unit of land measurement.
phisicus/physicus	Physician.
pincerna	Wine steward. See buticularius.
pincernatus	Office of butler and the revenues attached to it.
pinula	Unknown. Possibly a pine cone.
piscaria/pischaria/piscatoria/piscatio/pescherie/pecherie	Fishery.
piscator	Fisherman.
pistrinum	Bakery.
pix	Pitch.
plaga	Urban district.
planeta	Chasuble.
planicies terrae	Flat land.
platearius/placearius/plazarius	Civic judicial officer, whose duties related to the platea.
platea/place	Open space in a city, similar to a piazza.
platea telarum/place de toiles	Cloth market.
plateaticum	Market dues.
plebanus	Parish priest.
plebs	People.
plus dreit heir aparant	Most rightful heir present in the East.
pomerium/pomarium	Apple orchard.
pondera	Weights.
pons	Bridge.
pontifex	Archbishop.
populus	People.
porcharia	piggery.
porta	Gate.
porta magistra	Main Gate.
portator	Gatekeeper, porter.
porticalis	Portal.
portus	Port.
posterula/poterne	Postern.
poteria	Pottery.
potestas	Power.
prastia/prestrie/prestia/prestria	Small village.
pratum	Meadow
prebenda	Prebend.
precentor/praecentor (m.) / precentrix (f.)	Precentor. See cantor.
preceptor	The title of an officer in the military orders, either (1) holding a senior position in the central convent or (2) leading a local community of brothers. See commendator.
preceptor magnus	Grand commander in a military order.
predium	Estate.
preemption	Right of first refusal on sale.
prelatus	(1) Bishop. (2) Venetian official in charge of a third of Tyre.
premium	Additional tax.
prepositus/praepositus/preposicius/prevost	(1) Provost. (2) A leader of a religious community. (3) Village headman.
prepositus ultramarinus	Grand Commander in Europe of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem.
presbiter/presbyter	Priest. See sacerdos.
presbyter Iohannes	Prester John.
pressorius/pressoir Press	: for sugar or wine.
presul	Bishop.
pretium	Price.
primicherius	Senior canon in a cathedral chapter.
princeps (m.) / principissa (f.)	Prince, Princess.
prior	(m) / priorissa (f) (1) Leader of religious community, especially a priory. (2) Chief priest in a community of brothers of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem. (3) Lay brother holding office of provincial in the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem.
privignus/privingnus	Stepson.
privilegium	Charter.
probi viri/probi homines/viri prudentes/proceres	see boni viri.
procurator	(m) / procuratrix (f) (1) Senior officer or administrator. (2) Legal representative.
procurator operis	Master of works.
procuration	Right to provisions on an episcopal visitation.
proditor	Traitor.
proria	Type of property.
provision	Devolution to the pope or senior churchman of the right to choose an incumbent for a benefice.
provisor	Overseer.
pullani/poulains	Second generation Latin settlers.
purification	Religious rite for women after childbirth.
puteus	Well.

QTop ↑

quartus	Land rent of a quarter of the produce.
quinquagesimus	Levy on merchants.
quintalia/quintala/quintarium/quintardus/quintaus/quinta/kyntal/kintau	Unit of measurement.
quintus	Land rent of one fifth of the produce.
quondam	(1) Deceased (2) Former.

RTop ↑

raboinus/rabuinus/robuinus	Arabic rabi’. Coin and unit of currency. Rated at a quarter of a besant in 1183.
racemi	Grapes.
raitabiles villani Villani	subject to a rais.
rais/raiz/raicius/rays	Arabic ra’is. (1) Headman of an indigenous village community, translated by the Venetians as gastaldio. (2) President of a cour des Syriens.
raisagium	Office of a rais.
rama	Wood.
rapina	Pillage
raptus/rat	Rape.
ravina	Ravine.
rectitudines	Rights.
rector	(1) Parish priest (2) Governor.
redditus	(1) Revenues. (2) Taxation.
regalis moneta	Royal coinage.
regie maiestatis auctoritas	Royal authority.
regina	Queen.
regulus	see rais.
residentia	House.
restor/restitutio	Replacement of horse.
retrais	Supplements to the Rule of the Knights Templar.
rex	(1) King. (2) Rais.
riviera/riberia/riparia	Coast.
rivulum aque	Canal.
robba/rodda	Unit of weight.
rota	Wheel of water mill
rotulum/rotum/rotutum/ritulum/rotula/rote/rota	Unit of measurement.
rubinus	Ruby.
ruella	Small street, passageway or lane.
ruga/ruiga/rua/rue	Street.
ruissel	Watercourse.
rusticus	see villanus.

STop ↑

sacchi	Units of measurement of quantity.
sacerdos	Priest. See presbiter.
sacramentum calumpniae	Oath before testimony in a church court.
sacrista/sacristanus	Sacristan.
sagitarius	Bowman.
saisina	Possession.
salandrus	Fast galley-like ship.
salina	Salt pans.
salma	Unit of weight and measurement of liquid. The equivalent of two Venetian biguncidii.
salvaticus	(1) Bush. (2) Hunter.
samaritanus/samaritan	Samaritan.
samitum	Samite.
sancte crucis vexillum	Relic of the True Cross.
sanctimonialis	Nun.
saracenus/sarracenus/sarrasin	Muslim.
sarracenice	A word expressed in Arabic.
sartus	Building.
satrapus	Satrap.
savonerie/savoneria	Soapworks.
scapuli	Swordsmen.
scaranni	Bandits employed by Christians against Muslims.
scriba	(1) Scribe. (2) Official, descendant of the Muslim katib, in a revenue-bearing department, such as a city gate, cathena, funda. (3) Official responsible for the collection of revenues and for drawing land boundaries in the countryside.
scribanus	A scriba [in category 3] holding office as a sergeantry in feudal tenure.
scribania/scribanagium	Office of a scribanus.
scriptor	Scribe, charter writer.
scutifer	Shield bearer, squire.
scutum	Shield.
secatores segetum	Threshings after harvest.
secretarius/secrétaire	(1) Confidential assistant. (2) Official in the secrete.
secrete	Central or local treasury and accounting office.
sella	Saddle.
sellarius	Saddler.
sendatum	Silk cloth.
senescalcus	Seneschal. See dapifer.
septa	Urban district.
sepulcrarius	Canon in a cathedral chapter responsible for burials.
sera	Lock.
serica/seta	Silk.
serventus	Servant.
servicium/servitium	(1) Service in general. (2) The obligation of service under contract, feudal or otherwise.
servicium dominium	Feudal service.
serviens	[pl. servientes] (1) Servant. (2) Sergeant, as in brother sergeant of a military order.
servitus	Obligation, such as payment of rent.
servus/serf	(1) Slave. (2) Serf. Rarely, if at all, used of a villanus in Palestine and Syria.
sigillum	Seal.
sindicus	Syndic.
sine precio vel munere	Freed from payment of duty.
sire	Lord.
skifatus	Unit of currency.
socer	Father-in-law.
societas	Company.
socius	Companion.
solarium	(1) Upper chamber. (2) Upper storey.
solidarius	Mercenary.
solidus/sou	Unit of currency. On third of a raboinus in 1254.
somarii/summerii/sommiers	Pack animals.
soma/saoma	Unit of quantity, as in the load carried by a pack animal.
sororius	Brother-in-Law.
soudoyer	Mercenary.
spacium	Area of land.
spina	Wall.
spolia	(1) Booty. (2) Element in parish revenue.
stabulae/stabularia/stabulum	Stables.
stacionarius	Shopkeeper.
stagium	Residential obligation of Cypriot peasants.
stagnum	Water reservoir.
statera	Scales.
statera, pensae, modia et mensurae	Weights and measures.
statio	[pl. stationes] / stacio Shop.
stipendarius	(1) Wage earner. (2) Mercenary.
strata	Street.
studia scholastica	Education.
sub-cantor	Sub-cantor.
sub-diaconus	Subdeacon.
subditus	Subject.
sub-prior/supprior	Sub-prior.
sub-thesaurarius	Sub-treasurer
succentor/subcentor	Succentor.
surianus/	sirius/syrus/syrius/syrianus/surien/suliani/syriacus Indigenous Orthodox Christian who follows an Arabic liturgy.
sutor	Cobbler.

TTop ↑

taberna	Tavern.
tablagium	Probably a levy on money-changing.
tabulae cambii	Booths of money changers.
talenta	Money.
tallia/talia	Tax.
taneria/teneria/tanarie/tanerie	Tannery.
tanerius	Tanner.
tarida	Merchant and passenger ship, propelled by both oars and sails.
tarsana	Arsenal [in Acre]. See arsena.
tartari	Mongols.
teloneum/thelonaria/tholoneum	Tax.
tenementum	Tenement.
tentoria	(1) Tents. (2) Dye works.
teneuri	Tenures.
tercia	Third of produce paid by Greek peasants on Cyprus.
terciaria/tersiaria/tertianaria/tercenaria	Tax on a ship’s passengers and crew.
terra candida	Chalk
terra cannamelae	Sugar cane plantation.
terragium	see carrage.
terrarius	Landowner.
terraticum	see carrage.
terre ultramarina	The Levant.
testaria	Brick kiln.
texarini	Dye workers.
texta	Gospel books.
textor inscriptionis	Charter writer.
theatrum	Roman theatre.
theoricus	Physician.
thesaurarius/tessaurarius/tesaurarius	Treasurer.
thesaurus	Treasury.
tithes	Church tax of one-tenth of the produce, paid annually.
tolum	Rotunda.
torcular	Wine press.
tornator	Carpenter.
toron/turonium/turon/torronum	Hill.
traditio mortis	Death sentence.
trebucheta	Trebuchet.
treve	Truce.
tributalis consuetudo	Customary tax.
tributus	(1) Tax. (2) Tribute.
trivia	Town square.
tuazo	Tax on pork butchers in Tyre.
tuctor	Guardian.
tuguria	Castle.
tumba	Memorial.
turcopolus/tricopulus/turcopler/turroplus	Turcopole.
turcus	Turk.
turnonenses	Pounds tournois.
turribalum	Thurible.
turris	Tower.
turris perforata	Gate tower.

U & VTop ↑

vadimonia	Pledges.
vadum	Ford.
vallet	Squire.
vassellus/vassallus/vasa/vaisellus	Ship.
vastina	see gastina.
vavassor	Vassal.
vectigale	Carriage, tax.
venator	Huntsman.
venella	Alleyway.
vetulus Assideorum/vetus dominus Assyriorum/vetus de Monte/vetulus Montanus/vetus de mussa	Leader of the sect of the Assassins.
vexillum	Banner.
vexillum Balzanum	Banner of the Knights Templar.
vexillum beati Petri	Papal banner.
via	Road, street.
via publica	Public way.
via regia	Royal way.
viator	Traveller.
vicarius	Vicar: an ecclesiastical or lay person holding office at will of appointer.
vicaria	Office of vicar.
vice-cancellarius	Vice-chancellor .
vicecomes/vicomte (m.) / vicecomitissa (f.)	Viscount, Viscountess.
vicecomitia	Viscounty.
viculus	Lane.
vicus	(1) A street (2) Urban quarter.
vidimus	Confirmation of a charter after a visual inspection.
villa	Village.
villania	Villeinage tenure.
villanus/vilain/villain (m.) / villaine	(f) Villein.
vindemia	Vintage, wine harvest.
vineola	Small vineyard.
vinum cervese	Beer.
vir	Man.
virgultum	(1) Woodland, plantation. (2) Unit of land measurement.
viri militares	Knights.
viridarium/verger	Fruit or vegetable garden.
vir religiosus	Member of a religious community.
vitrarius	Glass maker.
vitricus	Lay church official.
vitrum/vitreum	Glass.
uncia	Unit of measurement of weight.
volta/vauta/arvoltus	(1) Vault, undercroft. (2) Warehouse.
volta scura	Closed vault.
vrequinnus ad racemos decalcandos	Wine press.
usances	Customs.
usaticum	Customary tax.
usus et consuetudines	(1) Customary dues and obligations. (2) Customary laws.
usus et institutiones	Custom and practice.