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Lapine Glossary

Lapine is the name of the wild rabbits' language.  For the most part, they speak English, save a few of their own words, which are listed below.  This glossary can also be found in the back of almost any Watership Down copy.


Bob-stones: A traditonal game among rabbits. A "cast" of stones is on the ground, and covered with a forepaw. The opponent must hazard some sort of guess about its nature

Crixa, the: (The Cross) The center of Efrafa, at the crossing point of two bridle paths.

Efrafa: The name of the warren founded by General Woundwort.

El-ahrairah: The rabbit folk hero. See Lapine Mythology for more information.

Elil: Enemies of rabbits. U Hrair is used to denote all enemies of rabbits at once, meaning "The Thousand".

Embleer: Stinking, as in the smell of a fox. Embleer Frith! is a curse meaning "stinking Frith!", the same as the english "God damn!".

Flay: Common food, as in grass.

Flayrah: Unusually good food, such as lettuce or carrots.

Frith: The sun, personified as a god by rabbits. See Lapine Mythology for more information.

Fu Inlé: After moonrise.

Hlao: Any dimple or depression formed in the grass, such as that formed by a daisy plant or a thistle, which can hold moisture.

Hlao-roo: 'Little Hlao'. An affectionate diminutive of the name Hlao.

Hlessi: A rabbit living above ground, without a regular hole or warren. A wandering rabbit. Plural: hlessil.

Homba: A fox. Plural: hombil.

Hrair: A great many; an uncountable number. Any number over four.

Hrairoo: 'Little Thousand'. the name of Fiver in Lapine. See Rabbits of Note for more information.

Hraka: Droppings, excereta.

Hrududu: A motor vehicle such as a car or tractor. Plural: hrududil.

Hyzenthlay: 'Shine-dew-fur' = Fur shining like dew. Name of an Efrafan doe.

Inlé: Literally the moon or moonrise. But a second meaning carries the idea of darkness, fear and death.

Lendri: A badger

Marli: A doe, or mother rabbit

M'saion: 'We meet them'

Narn: Pleasant or nice to eat

Ni-Frith: Noon ('High sun')

Nildro-hain: "Blackbird's Song". The name of a doe.

Owsla: The strongest rabbits in a warren, the ruling clique. Commonly made of physically powerful rabbits of at least 2 years age, although some Owlsa also hold especially intelligent or crafty rabbits as well.

Owslafa: Council Police.

Pfeffa: A cat.

-Rah: A prince, ruler or chief rabbit. Suffix used to denote something beyond the ordinary.

-Roo: A suffix used to denote a diminutive.

Sayn: Groundsel.

Silf: Outside, that is, not underground.

Silflay: To go above ground to feed. Also used as a noun

Tharn: Stupefied, distraught, hypnotized with fear. Depending on context, it can also mean 'looking foolish' or 'heartbroken' or 'forlorn'.

Thethuthinnang: "Movement of Leaves". Name of a doe.

Thlay: Fur or hair

Thlayli: "Fur-head", used as a nickname.

Threar: A rowan tree or mountian ash.

Vair: To excrete, pass droppings.

Yona: A hedgehog. Plural: yonil.

Zorn: Destroyed, murdered. Denotes a catastrophe.

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