This Dictionary is Constantly Being Updated!

If you see this list and would like anything added to it or would like to make a correction (either ASL or SCA), please contact Nicasia Leontodes at 249551@members.eastkingdom.org.

SCA Arts & Sciences

• Arts & Sciences- crafts and skills of the Middle Ages/Renaissance which we research and practice in the SCA. Also referred to as “A & S”. 

  • ART/DESIGN/DRAW

  • CALLIGRAPHY - decorative handwriting or handwritten lettering, often seen on scrolls in court. 

  • DANCE

  • GLASS (material)

  • HISTORICAL RECREATION

  • (fs)HOBBY, or HOBBY (signed as 'enjoy')

  • "IT'S A PROJECT" (meaning you bled on it)

  • ILLUMINATION - the decorative art of embellishing handwritten text with vibrant colors, intricate illustrations, and often gold or silver leaf, essentially "lighting up" the page to enhance its visual appeal and highlight important sections of the text, usually seen in religious manuscripts created by monks; essentially, it means adding ornate decoration to a manuscript, making it visually striking and signifying its value and importance. 

  • JEWELRY (it would be suggested for you to mime the piece of jewelry you are showing, like this Byzantine breast chain, or this body chain)

  • METAL (there are several variations, one of which looks just like the sign for GLASS)

  • (fs)MOSAIC (explaining MOSAIC in ASL) - picture or pattern produced by arranging together small colored pieces of hard material, such as stone, tile, or glass.

  • MUSIC

  • PICTURE/IMAGE (different from TAKE A PICTURE)

  • PAINT

  • SCIENCE - in the SCA, the study of science includes learning about the tools, crafts, and technologies of pre-17th century cultures. SCAdians may study medicine, tools, martial arts, cooking, making clothes, and more. 

Garb

GARB - signed as CLOTHES -  clothing approximating that worn pre-17th century. Required at all events except some local meetings and activities. Some groups have garb available for newcomers (see “Gold Key”). 

• (fs)BROCADE, (fs)JACQUARD, (fs)DAMASK

  • All 3 are decorative, woven fabric that can be used in bedding, curtains, and garb. Definitions depend on who is talking.

    • Brocade is a heavier fabric with embossing or embroidered effect, often using metallic threads for shine. From "broccato" meaning "embossed cloth". Brocade is not reversible and has a raised pattern.

    • Jacquard uses ribbing to create patterns, and the pattern is an inherent part of the fabric, not added on top like brocade. 

    • Damask is flatter than brocade, woven using the satin weaving technique. It is reversible, with the opposite side presenting itself as a film negative.

  • There are some that say both brocade and damask is a type of jacquard fabric. 

• EMBROIDERY/NEEDLEPOINT - decorating with thread, sewing patterns into cloth with thread. 0 

• FABRIC/MATERIAL/(fs)TEXTILE

  • (fs)APRON

  • CLOAK/CAPE

  • COAT

  • DRESS

  • GOLD+KEY - a collection of garb and gear that newcomers can borrow. Contact the group’s Chatelain(e) to acquire such garments.

  • HAT

  • KNIT - making a garment by interlocking loops of wool or other yarn with knitting needles or on a machine. 

  • (fs)LACE - fine fabric typically made of cotton or silk created by looping, twisting, or knitting thread in patterns.

  • (fs)LINEN - cloth woven from flax

  • (fs)NEEDLE

  • PANTS

  • SANDALS

  • SHIRT/TUNIC (also means VOLUNTEER, APPLY)

  • SHOES, BOOTS

  • SOCKS

  • SURCOAT, could be signed as CLOTHING+PROTECT+(using Classifiers to put a tunic over yourself), essentially "the tunic you put over armor" - surcoat is typically defined as a loose robe worn over armor. 

    • Sideless surcoat, "gates of hell"

• PATTERN

  • Stripes

  • Spotted

  • BUTTONS

  • Fleur-de-lis - could be signed FLOWER, or FLOWER+(fs)LILY - a stylized lily composed of three petals bound together near their bases. It is especially known from the former royal arms of France, in which it appears in gold on a blue field. 

  • Parti-Colored - having different colors in different areas or patches. For example, a parti-colored dress has different colors in different parts.  

  • Quatrefoil - an ornamental design of four lobes or leaves as used in architectural tracery, resembling a flower or four-leaf clover.

  • Trefoil - an ornamental design of three rounded lobes like a clover leaf, used typically in architectural tracery. 

  • SEW (by hand), SEW (by machine)

    • THREAD (looks like "sewing by hand + spaghetti"

  • SILK

  • STITCH

  • (fs)VELVET

  • WOOD BLOCK PRINT - wood block printing is a traditional printing technique where an image is carved into a wooden block, leaving raised areas that are then inked and pressed onto paper or fabric, creating a print; essentially, it's a form of relief printing where only the carved parts of the block transfer ink to the surface, making it a method for reproducing designs or text by hand using carved wooden block. 

  • (fs)WOOL, or in context of sheep WOOL

• ARRIVE

• Porta-Castle/Privy, signed as BATHROOM - the portable chemical toilets found at outdoor events.

• BATTERY

  • RECHARGEABLE BATTERY

  • I need to charge my phone.

• BED

• BLANKET

• BUG BITE

• BUG SPRAY

• BURN

• CAMP, camping (similar to tent)

• CAMP+AREA, to signify a block for camping, such as Pennsic

• CHAIR

• CHORES (same sign as RESPONSIBILITY)

• COLD

• FIRST AID

• FLASHLIGHT

• HOT

• (fs)KILOMETER, KM

• LAUNDRY

• LEAVE (go-out, take-off, abandon, evacuate, flee)

• LIGHTER

• MATCH (to light a match)

• (fs)MILE

• MOSQUITO

• PACK

• PILLOW

• POTS/Pans, DEEP CYLINDRICAL POT (can show handles on side as well)

• REPELLANT (same sign as reject), 

• SET-UP/ESTABLISH

• SHOWER

• SITE (or PLACE or AREA or LOCATION). 

  • Barony is BARON+AREA

  • Kingdom is KING+AREA

• SLEEPING BAG

• SOCIETY - whole, global, may also be signed in a cluster movement with an "S" handshape 

• SOLAR (SUN)

  • SOLAR PANEL - panel laid out, sunlight beaming down on it, charge battery

• SPIDER

• SLEEP

• SUNSCREEN

• TABLE

• TENT

• WALK (see this image to show different classifiers for walking)

• WATER

This includes words that are commonly used on scrolls and commonly spoken during court.

• ALL EYES UP HERE

• APPLAUD/COMPLIMENT

• APPLAUSE

• AWARD/TROPHY

• BARONY/SHIRE ("shire" is also COUNTY and is similar to COUNTRY, just don't mistake any of these for CRACKER), BARONY (BARON+AREA) - types of SCA local chapters. Baronies are generally larger in size, and have a Baron and/or Baroness as their ceremonial heads. Sub-groups within a Barony’s territory are known as Cantons, or in some areas, Ridings or Strongholds. All these groups are officially recognized in the SCA and are administered by a slate of officers. 

• CHAMPION

• COME, come on up

• Court Signs video by Niko Phaistos of Caid

• COURAGE/BRAVERY/STRENGTH/RECOVER

• COURT, signed as COMING TOGETHER+CELEBRATION - court is a celebration, so we sign CELEBRATE for court

• EXPERIENCE

• EXPERT

• FEALTY (ASL sign for PROMISE)

• FINISH (add the mouth morpheme /fsh/ to emphasize)

• GIVING/GENEROUS - GIVE GIVE GIVE GIVE GIVE

• HERE

• HONOR

• HOUSEHOLD (HOUSE+CLUSTER would be appropriate for SCA context) -  a voluntary association of friends or people with a common interest. Can be organized under whatever rules the members jointly accept. Households have no formal standing in the SCA. 

• ILLUMINATION (ILLUMINATE+PICTURE)

• INTELLIGENT

• LEARN (LEARN+PERSONIFIER = STUDENT)

• MEDALLION (video showing GOLD MEDALLION)

• ORDER (ASL sign GROUP, CLUSTER), COMPANIONS may be signed with a C-handshape

• OYEZ (OH-yay!) - ATTENTION! EVERONE LOOK AT ME! - an attention-getting call, usually preceding an announcement, which means to stop talking and listen. 

• PEOPLE:

  • (fs)SCADIAN, member of the SCA

  • (fs)GENTLE, any person. The ASL sign for "gentleman" or "gentlewoman" is POLITE + MAN/WOMAN. GENTLES can be POLITE + PEOPLE. 

  • POPULACE, people present at an event or people that inhabit a kingdom/local group. Sign PEOPLE.

• SCROLL - similar to how diplomas are rolled up in the movies, we sign SCROLL the same way.

• SERVICE

• SIT-DOWN

• SKILL/TALENT

• STAND-UP

• TEACHER (TEACH+PERSONIFIER = TEACHER)

• THANK YOU

• THEIR MAJESTIES INVITE WHO? Rhetorical Question

  • Their majesties WELCOME, INVITE/CALL/SUMMON

  • Their majesties DEMAND, REQUIRE

• TODAY

• VIVAT - formerly signed as LIFE with a "V" or various wave movements or motions outward with a "V" which has been mistaken for smoking. The East Kingdom sign heralds are moving toward signing LIFE+CELEBRATE so that out-of-kingdom and non-SCAdians can understand the meaning behind what is being spoken. Other Kingdoms say "Huzzah!" which can also be signed as CELEBRATE. 

• WEAK

• WORDS

An important note about equestrian signing during court: oftentimes there are jokes that the horse did all of the work, or that the award is being given to two people. Be careful of wording of scrolls such as "two spirited," as this is not in reference to a person who embodies a feminine and masculine spirit as in Indigenous cultures. 

• ARCHERY

• ARROW or (fs)ARROW

• HORSE

• RIDE

• SADDLE or (fs)SADDLE

• (fs)JOUST "a combat between two mounted knights tilting against each other with blunted lances"

• (fs)LANCE "a long pointed rod used as a weapon"

• OBSTACLE COURSE

• (fs)QUINTAIN (the thing that spins)

• WOOD

  • SCA equestrian activities include mounted combat, jousting with opponents using foam or wooden lances, and games such as jousting at rings, hitting the quintain, obstacle courses, and archery from horseback. 

• CEREMONY

• Coronation, signed as CROWN+COURT - the event where the Crown Prince and Princess, heirs to a kingdom, are crowned. 

• CROWN+TOURNAMENT - the tournament held to determine the next heirs to the kingdom.

• ENTHRONED, ENTHRONE (give honor, incoming, sit on throne, crown king), THRONE

• INVESTITURE, - the event at which the new Prince and Princess of a principality (or the new Baron and Baroness of a barony) are installed.

• PENNSIC - signed like HOME but with a "P" handshape. Pennsic War is an annual, large-scale medieval and Renaissance camping event, typically a war between the East and Middle Kingdom. It is the largest SCA event, drawing over 10,000 attendees annually. The name is derived from the fact that the event is held in Pennsylvania. 

• SCHOLA/COLLEGIUM/UNIVERSITY/(fs)ITHRA - events where classes are taught on a variety of subjects.

• TWELFTH NIGHT (TWELVE+NIGHT) - an event celebrating the holiday of Epiphany (January 6), held at the beginning of January. Attendees wear their finest garb, and friends exchange gifts.

• WAR - A gathering at which the main activity is one or more battles for large groups of participants, involving the use of fields, woodlands, or other broken terrain. War events can also include other martial activities, along with classes, court, dancing, performances, and merchants.

• Rapier Combat Signs by Niko Phaistos of Caid

  • First Guard (Prima)

  • Second Guard (Secunda)

  • Third Guard (Terce)

  • Fourth Guard (Quarta)

  • Abrasive Restraint Armor

  • Advancing Step

  • Rapier Armor

  • Armor Inspection

  • Authorization (OK sport)

  • Baton (F-Classifier)

  • Blade (G-Classifier)

  • Buckler

  • Case of Swords (Florentine)

  • Cloak

  • Cork Screwing

  • Cut (D- or H-Classifier)

  • Dagger

  • Debole (Strong), the edge of the sword typically on the side of your knuckles

  • Disengage

  • Draw Cut

  • Eric (fighting arena)

  • False Edge, the edge of the sword typically facing your wrist.

  • Fighter

  • Forte (Weak), end of sword

  • Gorget (COLLAR PROTECT)

  • Guard (Ward)

  • Heavy Rapier

  • Hold (to actually grasp the air, or STOP)

  • Lay on, continue on. commence, start

  • Legged fighter (fight+person affix+V-CL clawed moving down)

  • Light Rapier

  • Lunge

  • Marshal - supervisor

  • Measure

  • Parry (protect in an outward motion)

  • On Guard (ready)

  • Passing Step

  • Percussive Cut (like a flat snap)

  • Point (tip)

  • Pommel

  • Puncture Resistant Armor

  • Push Cut

  • Quillions (G-CL)

  • Rapier (Combat)

  • Retreating Step

  • Rigid

  • Salute (the sign itself, or with the sword using a D-CL)

  • Secondary Device (dagger, cloak, buckler, baton, etc)

  • Sloping Step

  • Tempo (time)

  • Thrust

  • Tip Cut 

  • Tournament (sport)

  • True Edge (of the sword), the edge of the sword typically on the side of your knuckles

  • Ward (Guard)

  • Ware Edge

  • Wound (hurt)

• ARMOR (protective clothing)

• AUTHORIZATION, or dominant hand in a fist like "stamp of approval" - the process that fighters and fencers go through to be allowed to participate in combat. 

• BATTLE/WAR/MELEE (same sign)

• BATTLE FIELD (or FIELD BATTLE)

• BRIDGE

• “Consort” is complicated

  • These are the notes I wrote into my lesson:

    • One version of CONSORT is to bring an A-handshape classifier together with both of your hands, shaking back and forth (like signing WITH but as if you treasure being with that person). Another version is signing 1 classifier with both your hands together the same way. The East Kingdom sign heralds have also conversed about using "FOLLOW-PERSON" and "INSPIRERER" as alternative signs for CONSORT.  Another way to express CONSORT is to express the person who is linked with the King (or the person in control). We'll talk about SCA signs more after the lesson portion!

      •  This is a perfect example of how a Silent Herald who may not know a sign can still express the gist of what is being said, perhaps expressing 'the person who is linked with a fighter' if they forgot or didn't know one of the various signs for CONSORT. You're not a licensed interpreter, as a beginner Sign Herald, you're just signing the meaning to get to the point!

• Broken Field

• COMBAT ARCHERY [people in the society do call it (fs)CA]

• CONTROL POINTS

• DEHYDRATION (body not enough water)

• (fs)DUCT/(fs)STRAPPING TAPE

• FIGHT (physical encounter, versus FIGHT as in argument or FIGHT as in struggle)

• FIT (also sign for healthy, resilient, courageous)

• GOOD

• Heavy Weapons - armored combat with rattan versions of swords, polearms, and spears.

• HIT/STRIKE (same sign)

• Hold!, signed as STOP - a cry meaning “Stop whatever you are doing and freeze in place until you see where the hazard is!” Normally used during combat, but it's been extended to cover all forms of activity. 

• KILL

• LIGHT (light hit, light vs heavy sword in rapier)

• LIST (sign in fighters, organise fighting rounds, keep track of wins and losses, assist with running tournaments).

• Light Weapons - in some kingdoms, this refers to rapier combat (fencing). 

• Lists/List Field, signed as LIST+FIGHT+AREA - the roped-off area for combat. Also called “the eric” in the West Kingdom. The LIST+TABLE is the location where competitors sign in and where the Minister of Lists (LIST+MANAGER) keeps track of the paperwork necessary to actually run the tournament. 

• List Tree, signed as LIST+PAPER+SAY+FIGHT+NEXT/TURN+WHO?, or LIST+TREE (who is set to fight next)

• LOSE

• Melee, signed as WAR - martial combat with many participants on each side. Context is key between War and Melee.

• ORANGE

• PICKLE

• RAPIER

• (fs)RATTAN

• REGICIDE (kill the king)

• RHINOCEROS (with tapping motion on nose using Y handshape, wiggling hand movement would translate to SILLY)

• SIEGE

• SHIELD (two-handed version uses same sign as PROTECT)

• STRONG (same sign as fierce, mighty powerful)

• TOURNAMENT/Tourney -  a competition in SCA fighting or fencing. Some styles of tournaments are: Pas d’Arms, Bearpit, Double-Elimination, Round-Robin, and Ransom tourneys. 

  • Pas d'Arms

  • Bearpit

  • Double-Elimination

  • Round-Robin

  • Ransom tourney

• WAR -  Some signers use the W handshape when saying the title of a war instead of showing the act of war itself. 

• WATER

• WEAK

• WIN

• WOODS

• 
  

• great weapon

• polearm

• two-weapon

• sword & board

• madu

• spear

• shield

• sword

• greatsword

• mace

• axe

• dane axe

• two-weapon

• buckler 

• fencing

• rapier

• cloak

• case (two sword)

• sword & dagger

• greatsword

• rigid parry (cane or candlestick)

• COLOR (Rule of Tincture):

  • Argent SILVER/WHITE

  • Or GOLD/YELLOW

  • Azure BLUE

  • Gules RED

  • Purpure PURPLE

  • Sable BLACK

  • Vert GREEN

• PATTERN

  • Ermine and erminois (Silver/gold with black spots)

    • SILVER WITH SPOT+++ BLACK

  • Counter ermine and pean (black with silver/gold spots)

    • BLACKWITH SPOT+++ SILVER/GOLD

  • Vair (and its variants), patterned/divided color and metal. (checkered, striped, wave, it's a classifier and visual description)

    • Examples:

      • PLAID

      • STRIPED (horizontal)

      • STRIPED (vertical)

• KINGDOM/PRINCIPALITY

• SCA Kingdom Signs Playlist, take particular note of Lochac, because American Sign Language is not used in those countries. 

  • ÆTHELMEARC 

    • USA: central/western Pennsylvania, western New York, and West Virginia 

  • AN TIR

    • USA: Oregon, Washington, the northern tip of Idaho

    • CANADA: most of British Columbia, Yukon 

  • ANSTEORRA

    • USA: Oklahoma, and Texas east of the Mountain time zone. 

  • ARTEMISIA

    • USA: Montana, Utah, southern Idaho, and Western Wyoming (Evanston, Green River, and Rock Springs) 

  • ATENVELDT

    • USA: Arizona 

  • ATLANTIA

    • USA: Maryland, District of Columbia, North and South Carolina, Virginia, Augusta, Georgia. 

  • AVACAL - No sign yet! (at least according to the first Society Sign Herald's playlist, a sign herald from Avacal may have a video of their signed name on another page)

    • CANADA: Alberta, eastern British Columbia, Northwest Territory, Saskatchewan 

    • The Kingdom of Avacal began as a Crown Principality of the Kingdom of An Tir in A.S. 26. It became a full principality in August of A.S. 31, and was elevated to kingdom status in June of A.S. 50. 

  • CAID

    • USA: Southern California, Greater Las Vegas Area, and Hawaii 

  • CALONTIR

    • USA: Kansas, Missouri, most of Iowa, Nebraska, Northern Arkansas. 

  • DRACHENWALD

    • Europe, Africa, Middle East 

  • EALDORMERE

    • CANADA: Ontario (except for Essex County, and Northwestern Ontario around Thunder Bay.) 

  • EAST KINGDOM

    • USA: eastern Pennsylvania, eastern New York, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine.

    • CANADA: Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland. 

  • GLEANN ABHANN

    • USA: Mississippi, Louisiana, most of Arkansas, and the far western side of Tennessee. 

  • LOCHAC

    • Australia and New Zealand; parts of Antarctica 

  • MERIDIES

    • USA: Alabama, almost all of Georgia, a bit of the Florida panhandle, most of Tennessee, and parts of southern Kentucky (Allen, Barren, Calloway, Logan, Simpson, and Warren counties). 

  • MIDREALM

    • USA: Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, most of Kentucky, and some of Iowa (Scott County, eastern Muscatine County, most of Clinton County).

    • CANADA: Essex County and Windsor in Ontario. 

  • NORTHSHIELD

    • USA: North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

    • CANADA: Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. 

  • THE OUTLANDS

    • USA: New Mexico, Colorado, parts of Nebraska; Eastern Wyoming, and El Paso & Hudspeth counties in Texas. 

  • TRIMARIS

    • USA: Majority of Florida; lays claim to Panama. 

  • WEST KINGDOM

    • USA: Northern California, Nevada and Alaska;

    • ASIA: Japan, Korea, Thailand, and Pacific Rim 

• Kingdom, signed as KING+AREA - A Kingdom is a political subdivision in which the ceremonial heads are the King and Queen (together they form the Crown). Twice a year Crown Tournament is held, and the winner of the list and their consort becomes Prince and Princess, until Coronation in which they are invested as King and Queen. 

• Principality, signed as PRINCE+AREA - A principality is one type of region within a kingdom.

• Region, signed as LOCAL/REGION - A Region is an administrative subdivision of the Kingdom, containing several local territories. Regional deputies support the Kingdom officers and work with local officers. For example, the Crown Principality of Tir Mara is a ceremonial geographic subdivision within the East Kingdom comprising all areas with modern Canadian Postal Codes. Tir Mara does not have rights, obligations, authority, or responsibilities different from or greater than any other administrative region within the East Kingdom. All references to ‘Region’ in East Kingdom Law shall be read as including Tir Mara. All Tir Mara officers are regional deputies to the respective East Kingdom officers and serve at the pleasure of said officer. -East Kingdom Law VII.F

• Barony, signed as BARON+AREA - A Barony is a political subdivision in which the ceremonial heads are a Baron and/or Baroness. The Baron and Baroness are installed by the Crown after following Kingdom Law for selection. The Crown Province of Ostgardr is equivalent to a Barony in every way. (East Kingdom Law VII.G.)

• Province, signed as PROVINCE or PROVINCE - a political subdivision like a barony, but without the ceremonial head.

• Shire, fingerspelled or signed as COUNTY - a political subdivision of less than Baronial status which is independent of all Baronies.

• Canton, fingerspelled - a political subdivision within a single barony which encompasses a fractional part of the Barony.

• Riding, fingerspelled - is a political subdivision within a single province which encompasses a fractional part of the Province

• Hamlet, fingerspelled -  a small, informal group of members that is not a fully recognized administrative unit like a Shire or Barony, typically functioning within the boundaries of a larger group and often used as a way for smaller communities to gather and participate in SCA activities without the full administrative burden; essentially, a hamlet is a smaller, less structured group within the SCA, often focused on local gatherings and events.

• Queer Signs (really there's a lot of videos by Rogan Shannon)

• Signs for Pride Month

• Gender Neutral terms in ASL

• Clan Blue Feather, signed as CLAN+FEATHER+BLUE, or CLAN+BLUE+FEATHER. See more about Clan Blue Feather HERE. Feather may also be signed using an H-handshape Classifier, flicking an "H" handshape pointed behind the head to signify how the feathers are worn on hats - is a group within the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) that supports LGBTQIA2S+ members and their allies. The group's main goals are to educate and encourage research about LGBTQIA2S+ history in the Middle Ages and Renaissance.  Clan Blue Feather was founded in 1988 in the East Kingdom. Their group's name was chosen at Pennsic 18, in 1989. The can's Blue Feather Ball began at Pennsic in 1991 and their encampment at Pennsic began in 1992. 

  • Although the rumor persists that a blue feather was used by women in Renaissance Venice to denote their preference for other women, this has never been able to be documented and so therefore remains just a rumor. 

  • BLUE FEATHER GUILD (East Kingdom) - creating a Guild would enable Clan Blue Feather to meet goals of doing and presenting research into homosexuality in the Renaissance and Middle Ages. 

    • Clan members are united by common interest of one or more of the following: interest in homosexuality in the Middle Ages; those who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender+; family, friends, and supporters of the above; those who want to meet, camp with, or socialize with other members.

    • Guild members are the researchers within the Clan.

    • All Guild members are Clan members, but not all Clan members are Guild members. Membership to the Guild can be obtained HERE. 

  • CHARTER FOR THE BLUE FEATHER in Caid - this Charter was fostered to meet requirements for listing in the Kingdom Newsletter because "clan" implies the existence of a chieftan/chieftess, of which there is none in Clan Blue Feather. 

• ADVOCATE

• AGENDER

• ALLY

• (fs)ANDROGYNE/ANDROGYNOUS 

• ASEXUAL

• BALL (dance)

• (fs) BINARY

• BISEXUAL, or (fs)BI

• CISGENDER (first sign in the video), or lexicalized spelling (fs)CIS.

• CLOSETED/IN THE CLOSET

• COMING OUT

• DRAG (+KING/QUEEN), essentially showing BIG HAIR+KING/QUEEN

• EAST KINGDOM, signed as EAST+KING+AREA

• FOUNDED/SET-UP/ESTABLISH/BASE

• (fs)GAY

  • Why we do not sign GAY. 

• (fs)GENDER FLUID

• GENDER IDENITY, (fs)GENDER+IDENTITY

• (fs)GENDERQUEER, or (fs)GQ

• GENDER NONCONFORMING

• HETERONORMATIVITY

• HETEROSEXUAL (STRAIGHT)

• HETEROSEXUAL PRIVILEGE

• (fs)HOMOPHOBIA

• (fs)HOMOSEXUAL

• INTERSEX

  • This sign begins with I in mind and ends with X over heart, showing it connects the mind and heart in one's gender identity/identities. 

• LESBIAN

• LGBT+, can be signed fingerspelling everything plus +, or beginning with L then gesturing all of the other letters that follow

• (fs)NONBINARY

• (fs)PANGENDER

• (fs)PANSEXUAL

• PASSING (not as in passing by someone)

• PENNSIC, signed as HOME using a 'P' handshape.

• (fs)PRONOUN

• (fs)QUEER

• RIGHTS (legal, vs RIGHT correct)

• (fs)SEX - either of the two main categories (male and female) into which humans and most other living things are divided on the basis of their reproductive functions.

• (fs)SEXUAL FLUIDITY

• SEXUAL IDENTITY, (fs)SEXUAL+IDENTITY

• (fs)SEXUAL ORIENTATION

• STRAIGHT/HETEROSEXUAL 

• THIRD GENDER, THIRD+(fs)GENDER

• TRANSGENDER, or lexicalized fingerspelling (fs)TRANS

• TRANSITION

• TWO SPIRIT, TWO+(fs)SPIRIT

  • Sign Heralds have come across scrolls for equestrians referring to a two-spirited nature of the award, context is key, the scroll was referring to the horse and the rider. In this case, the sign listed above for two spirit would not be appropriate for this scroll. 

While the following words do not specifically pertain to the LGBTQIA2S+ communities, they are listed here as they are common relationship practices found within the SCA. 

• BOYFRIEND

• DATE/DATING

• FRIEND

• GIRLFRIEND

• HUSBAND

• MARRIED

• MONOGAMOUS - involving a relationship to one person at a time.

• PAIR/COUPLE

• PLATONIC, signed as "RELATIONSHIP, where THE-TWO NONE PHYSICALLY-INTIMATE."

• POLYAMOROUS, signed as LOVE+LINK+LINK+LINK+FEW - characterized by or involved in the practice of engaging in multiple romantic (and physically intimate) relationships, with the knowledge and consent of all people involved.

• METAMOUR - a partner of a polyamorous partner, and someone you are not directly romantically involved with. For example, your partner's boyfriend or girlfriend is your metamour. 

  • There is no single, widely recognized sign specifically for "metamour." However, to convey the concept, you would likely need to use a combination of signs, such as "partner's partner' by signing "partner" twice, then adding a clarifying gesture or facial expression to indicate that you are talking about someone your partner is involved with romantically, but not you. Context is key!

• RELATIONSHIP

• ROMANCE

• SPOUSE, the couple married, together name (fs)SPOUSE

• SWEETHEART

• WIFE

• MINISTER OF ARTS AND SCIENCE, signed as MANAGER+ART+SCIENCE

• Archery Minister (Marshal?), signed as ARCHERY+MANAGER

• AUTOCRAT/EVENT STEWARD, signed as HAPPEN+TAKE-CARE+PERSON. Also seen is HAPPEN+MANAGER - person in charge of an event. 

• Chancellor Minor/Minister of Youth/Page School Chancellor, signed as KID+TAKE-CARE+PERSON -  person in charge of children's activities. 

• Chamberlain, signed as INVENTORY+PERSON - person in charge of inventory/maintaining/storing SCA chapter's property.

• CHATELAIN(E)/Hospitaller, signed as WELCOME+PERSON - person who helps new members learn about the SCA. 

• CHRONICLER, signed as RECORD+PERSON - the editor of a group's newsletter. 

  • There are two ways to be a chronicler in the SCA

    • HISTORY+PERSON

    • WRITER+PERSON

• COLLEGE OF ARMS

• COLLEGE OF SCRIBES

  • ILLUMINATION

  • CALLIGRAPHY

• CONSTABLE, signed as COP/POLICE - the person that ensures entry gates are manned, ensure SCA and modern laws are followed, take care of "Lost & Found" etc. 

• Earl Marshal, signed as (fs)EARL+MANAGER - acts as advisor in all matters pertaining to martial activities within the Kingdom to the Crown and subjects of the Kingdom. Ensures that the Rules of the Lists are followed and oversees all fighting in the Crown Lists. Sets and enforces Weapon and Armor Standards, as approved by the Sovereign. 

• EXCHEQUER (Chancellor of the Exchequer), signed as MONEY+EXCHANGE+PERSON. Also seen is MONEY+MANAGER - person serving as treasurer for group or kingdom. 

• FEAST STEWARD, signed as FEAST+TAKECAREOF+PERSON - person in charge of the feast at an event. 

• HERALD, signed as ANNOUNCE+PERSON - person who helps SCAdians with names and armory; or the official or makes announcements on the field, or is the Master of Ceremonies for court. 

  • Local group heralds are called Pursuivants.

  • Voice Herald - people who announcements, proclaim who is fighting on the field, and act as the voice of nobility in court. Signed VOICE+ANNOUNCE+PERSON. 

  • Sign Herald/Silent Herald - a volunteer who uses sign language to translate and relay information during events, particularly in court settings, for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, essentially acting as a "voice herald" through visual communication; they are not professional sign language interpreters but rather individuals who facilitate accessibility within the SCA community. Signed SIGN or SILENT +ANNOUNCE+PERSON. 

  • Book Herald - people who research period naming and armorial practices for registration of names and armory for the populace. Signed as BOOK+ANNOUNCE+PERSON.

  • Protocol Herald, signed as PROTOCOL+ANNOUNCE+PERSON - people who record awards and honors bestowed, draft ceremonies, and determine precedence and other period legal niceties in all sorts of situations.

• Knight Marshal - KNIGHT+MANAGER, hold office in a local group. 

• Marshal - a trained person who oversees martial activities for safety purposes. Also run archery, youth combat, and other martial activities. Signed as MARSHAL MARSHAL MARSHAL (control/manager/referee + agent person),

• Minister of Lists - CONTROLLER+LIST+PERSON.

• Quartermaster, signed as STUFF+MANAGER - an officer who manages and distributes supplies to the group.

• Rapier Marshal, signed as FENCING+MANAGER

• Regnum – in some kingdoms: a listing of Society branches or a listing of officers. 

• SENESCHAL, signed as PRESIDENT - the person that serves as "president" of a local group or kingdom. Acts as group administrator and legal representative of the SCA. 

• Thrown Weapons Marshal, signed as THROW+MANAGER. 

• Web Minister, signed as INTERNET+MANAGER - is responsible for maintaining a recognized website for the Kingdom and supervises all recognized websites within the Kingdom. 

• Anno Societatis (abbreviated “A.S.”) – The dating system we use in the SCA (translates to “In the Year of the Society”). May 1, 1966 was the first day of the year A.S. I, and May 1st is “New Year’s Day” for each Society year. The years are usually depicted in Roman numerals. May 1 2025 C.E. (or A.D.) to April 30 2026 C.E. (or A.D.) corresponds to A.S. LX (60). 

• Arms (or device), signed as SYMBOL – the heraldic emblem that identifies a person or entity. 

• BARDIC CIRCLE - informal gathering of bards for singing and storytelling. (I may sign MUSIC+CLUSTER unless another Silent Herald has a better alternative) - an informal gathering for singing and storytelling. Anyone who attends is welcome to perform appropriate material, but you can just sit and listen if you prefer. A bard is a person who sings, tells stories, recites poetry, etc. 

  • PERFORMING ART (perform, act, theater, and behave are all signed the same way)

  • SING/MUSIC/SONG

  • STORYTELLING (STORY, NARRATOR = STORY+PERSON)

• BLUE+CARD -  an SCA membership card printed on blue cardstock, indicating that the card holder has a signed waiver on file at the SCA offices. 

• COUNCIL

• COURT - one way to sign COURT is everyone coming together, though as mentioned earlier, court is also a CELEBRATION of the accomplishments of the populace

• Crash Space -  informal lodgings with members of the group holding an event. 

• Dayboard, signed as LUNCH -  lunch, served at some events. 

• Demo, signed as SHOW -  a demonstration of the activities in the SCA. SCA participants will usually perform martial activities as well as arts and sciences for the public. 

• DRY/DAMP/WET SITE - alcoholic beverage policies. Dry sites allow no alcohol. Damp sites permit wine, beer, and mead, but no hard liquor. Wet sites do not restrict alcohol. “DISCREETLY" (essentially CAREFUL)” damp or wet means that the site is normally dry, but the owners will permit alcohol as long as the labeled containers are kept out of sight and are removed at the end of the event. At any site, local laws regarding alcohol consumption must be followed. 

  • Damp Site, signed as BEER+WINE+(fs)MEAD+ALLOW.

  • Dry Site, signed as ALCOHOL+NOT ALLOWED/FORBIDDEN.

  • Wet Site, signed as ALCOHOL+ALLOW.

• Event, signed as HAPPEN) - any Society gathering. You are welcome to attend any events listed on the kingdom calendar. You can take part in the activities, although some martial arts require special equipment, training, and authorization by a marshal. 

• Farspeaker, signed as PHONE- slang sometimes used for "telephone"

• FEAST, signed as EAT EAT EAT - an elaborate meal, usually served in the evening, sometimes accompanied by entertainment.

  • Feast Gear, signed as FEAST+EQUIPMENT/THINGS- a place setting for a feast: at least a plate, bowl, goblet, spoon, and knife. You can also include a napkin, fork, tablecloth, candles, etc. Assume you'll need to bring basic feast gear for any feast unless the announcement says they will be provided.

  • Removes, signed as PLATE PLATE PLATE in a left to right direction – sometimes used as a synonym for “courses” at a feast. (“Remove” is actually a post-period term for a dish served during a course that is later removed and replaced by a new one.) 

•  GATE - the place to check in or buy at-the-door admission to an event. 

• Halflings, signed as CHILDREN or KIDS - children (or sometimes, “smalls”). These terms come from modern fictional works; using the word “Children” is fine.

• Mundane, signed as MODERN -  used to mean “non-SCA”, “everyday”, “in real life”. We encourage the use of the word “modern” instead, as we’re aware that “mundane” can sound disrespectful. 

• Non-Member Registration (NMR) - an additional $5 (US or Canadian) paid by adult event attendees who are not paid members of the SCA. 

• On-Board - attending an event and eating the feast provided by the sponsors. The “on-board” price includes the site fee. (Assume you’ll need to bring other meals unless the notice promises them.) 

• Off-Board – offered in some groups: attending an event and bringing your own dinner. The “offboard” price includes the site fee and a seat at a table  

• Period -  of the time period studied in the SCA (pre-17th-century); also used to mean “authentic”

• Post-revel – a get-together after the event (“revel”), for socializing and unwinding, usually held in someone’s home. Save the D&D and computer talk for this time. 

• Precedence - Kingdoms a hierarchical list of its awards in the order of rank bestowed. It includes Society awards, awards received from any Kingdom, and armigerous awards from the local level. 

• Proof of SCA Membership – a photocopy of your membership card or letter from the Member Portal (members.sca.org) 

• Site, signed as PLACE or AREA - the place the event is being held.

• Site Fee, signed as ADMISSION+FEE - the cost of admission to an event. Does not usually include the cost of the feast. 

• Troll Booth, signed as ENTER+BOOTH/DESK -  the place to check in or buy at-the-door admission to an event. Staffed by the “troll”. Also see “Gate”. 

• Waiver, signed as PAPER+RELINQUISH+RESPONSIBILITY - a release of liability form signed when you purchase SCA membership. Non-members must sign waivers at events and martial practices. 

• PEER, member of the Chivalry, MoD, Laurel, Pelican, and/or Rose orders.

  • Fighters, signed as FIGHT+PERSON:

    • CHIVALRY - Armored Combat Peers recognized for their great skill on the tourney field, as well as for qualities of courtesy and grace. Companions of the Chivalry are the Knights, who swear fealty to the Crown, and Masters-of-Arms, who do not.

      • KNIGHT, MASTER OF ARMS (in the context of the SCA, can also be signed like the signed English MESSIAH with an M to A transition from shoulder to hip, see reference here) 

      • (fs)SIR/(fs)DAME, title for a knight. 

      • WHITE, BELT, SASH (baldric), CHAIN, WEIGHT, GOLD, (fs)SPURS, CLOAK.

        • "By the WEIGHT of the chain" indicates RESPONSIBILITY.

      • (fs)CHESS, DANCE, VIRTUE (also means pious, righteous, goody-two-shoes), SERVICE, ART, PROWESS (essentially signed "amazing skill continued"). 

      • SQUIRE, student in a formal relationship with a Knight/MOA. This version of the sign uses an S for Squire, but may also be signed with an R to reverence the Red Belt. RED, SILVER. 

      • MAN/WOMAN-AT-ARMS. BLUE. - Man-at-arms is a term used in some SCA kingdoms and households to indicate a student of a squire (the relationship is similar to that between a squire and a knight, but taken down a step). In other kingdoms, knights may take a man-at-arms directly, often as a preliminary stage before squirehood. Not every Kingdom has an official blue belt to recognize a person-at-arms, with some knights instead providing an informal BLACK belt to their pupil as a symbol of the beginning of their student-teacher relationship.

  • LAUREL, a Peer recognized for mastery of an art or science as well as for qualities of courtesy and grace. 

    • APPRENTICE, student in formal student-teacher relationship with a Master/Mistress of the Laurel. Apprentices wear a GREEN belt.

  • MASTER/MISTRESS/MINISTER, title used by companions of the Orders of the Laurel, Pelican, Master of Defense, and Masters-of-Arms. Also used in some office names, such as "Mistress of the Lists" or "Master of Arts & Sciences." Minister is the gender-neutral version of Mistress/Master for office names. 

  • MASTER/MISTRESS OF DEFENSE, (fs)MOD -  Peer recognized for their great skill at rapier and/or cut-and-thrust combat, for qualities of courtesy and grace, for their willingness to teach others, and for service to the kingdom. 

    • (fs)MOD, COLLAR, WHITE

    •  WHITE SCARF - Award for Excellence in Rapier

    • There are many modifications to sign DEFENSE in ASL.

      • Handshape variation can be D, G, P, but is usually an S.

    • (fs)CADET/(fs)PROVOST, showing RED+SCARF ON ARM. Also signed as FENCING+STUDENT - student in a formal student-teacher relationship with a Master/Mistress of Defense.

  • PELICAN,  a Peer recognized for great service to their Kingdom and the SCA as well as for qualities of courtesy and grace. 

    • PROTÉGÉ, a student in a formal student-teacher relationship with a Master/Mistress of the Pelican. Protégés wear a YELLOW belt.

  • ROSE

• ROYAL PEER

  • KING and QUEEN (no need to indicate gender as the sign already shows that difference with K and Q). PRINCE/PRINCESS (you DO need to indicate male/female before signing). This is not like male/female cousin because both Prince and Princess are signed from start to finish the exact same way, you need the gender identifier before you sign the royal sign. The following words share the same gendered requirement as Prince/Princess: COUNT/COUNTESS (served as King/Queen of a kingdom once), DUKE/DUCHESS (served as King/Queen of a kingdom more than once), LORD/LADY, VISCOUNT/VISCOUNTESS (served as Prince/Princess of a Principality), His/Her MAJESTY, and His/Her HIGHNESS, the ROYALS. Depending on the Silent Herald, they may not indicate the gender for the male version but only the female version. Some may sign for either. The Sign Heralds of the East Kingdom are moving away from using gendering of these words, but keeping these words in a group of similarly-made signs. His/Her EXCELLENCY. 

  • LADY may also be signed as WOMAN.

  • BARON/BARONESS, signed in a similar sash motion to KING from non dominant shoulder to dominant hip with the B handshape - he ceremonial leaders of a specific geographical region within the SCA called a "Barony," essentially acting as the King and Queen's representatives within that area, responsible for upholding royal authority, representing the Barony at events, and overseeing its affairs. Historically, Baron and Baroness has been signed BARON/BARONESS, but many of the d/Deaf SCAdian population has requested the change over to the sash motion. 

• Thrown Weapons Order, CLUSTER+THROW - …. Order of the Mark. Some signers use 4 fingers instead of 2 for throwing.

• You may have heard of Sign Names. Sign Names are a unique sign given to a person based on their appearance or personality. Sign names are typically created by someone from the Deaf community. Do NOT create a name sign for yourself. Why would I say that? You don't know enough ASL. I once read a funny example in a book that a nosy student named Peter tried to name himself after his nosiness using the first letter of his name and ended up accidentally calling himself by the sign for a typically-male appendage. Do NOT create a sign name yourself. 

• (fs)SCA+NAME - the name someone uses in the Society.

• Persona, signed as PERSONIFICATION - the person that you are acting as in the SCA. Your persona can be detailed or simple – starting with the time period and country you are from, all the way to knowing the details of your persona’s place in society or your family history. 

  • 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 CENTURY

  • (fs)ANDALUSIAN - relating to Andalusia in southern Peninsular Spain.

  • (fs)ANGLIAN - relating to the ancient Angles, Germanic invaders who came from the Danish-German border and conquered most of Roman Britannia, giving the country its later name, England (Angle land), and dividing it up into seven kingdoms.

  • (fs)BORDER REIVER - raiders and bandits who operated along the Anglo-Scottish border from the late 13th century to the early 17th century.

  • (fs)BRETON - an ethnic group native to Brittany (one of the six Celtic nations), north-western France, that emigrated from Southwestern Great Britain between the 3rd to 9th century to Armorica. They were the most prominent of the non-Norman forces in the Norman conquest of England.

  • (fs)BURGUNDIAN - a Germanic people who originated in Scandinavia and established kingdoms in the Roman Empire and Burgundy. 

  • BYZANTINE - the medieval Empire that lasted from 330 - 1453, beginning when Emperor Constantine split the Roman Empire into a western and eastern half and ending when the Ottoman Turks captured Constantinople, at its largest extent during the reign of Emperor Justinian I between 527and 565 AD. The term used to refer to "Byzantines" was chosen to distinguish the Eastern Roman Empire with the Western Roman Empire by modern historians, choosing the name "Byzantium" because its capital city, Constantinople, was built on the site of an ancient Greek settlement called Byzantium. The Byzantines would have called themselves Roman. See also: Roman, Greek, Varangian.

  • (fs)CELTIC

  • CENTURY, (fs)CENTURY, 1-HUNDRED-YEAR

  • CHINESE

  • (fs)CLASSICAL PERIOD/ERA

  • (fs)CORNISH

  • Courtesans - sign as this, if there are any preferred descriptions for Courtesans in the SCA, please make this known so that an edit may be made.

  • EARLY MIDDLE AGES - a period in European history that lasted from 476 to 1000 AD. Key moments of this time period include the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the establishment of The Holy Roman Empire in northern Europe, the rise of Islam, the spread of Christianity beyond the Roman Empire's borders, the Slavs emerging and expanding, and cultural development around the Irish Sea. It is known for a decline in population in urban areas, a lack of trade, an increase in immigration, a lack of reading and writing skills among common people, a loss of scientific knowledge, and the institution of Latin Christianity. 

  • (fs)FLEMISH

  • DANISH

  • DUTCH

  • ENGLISH 

  • FLORENTINE

  • FRENCH

  • GERMAN

  • GREEK - Medieval Greece, also known as Byzantine Greece, was marked by the dominance of the Byzantine Empire over the region, characterized by the blend of Greek and Roman influences. 

  • (fs)HUNGARIAN

  • (fs)ICELANDIC

  • INDIAN (from India)

  • IRISH

  • ITALIAN

  • JAPANESE

  • JEWISH

  • (fs)JURCHEN - a group of people who lived in Manchuria, now part of northeast China. They were a non-Chinese ethnic group who spoke a Tungusic language, known for establishing the Jin dynasty in northern China.

  • (fs)KIEV RUS - Kievan Rus' was a medieval state that existed in the 9th century and centered around present-day Kyiv, Ukraine. Ukraine is a modern country that is a semi-presidential republic. The state was conquered by the Mongols in the 13th century. The state's southwestern territories were conquered by Poland and Lithuania in the early 14th century. 

  • (fs)MANX - the inhabitants of the Isle of Man during the medieval period. The Isle of Man is a British Crown Dependency in the Irish Sea. The Manx people are an ethnic group with mixed Germanic and Celtic origins. 

  • MEDIEVAL 

  • MIDDLE EASTERN

  • MONGOLIAN

  • (fs)NORSE

  • (fs)NORMAN/(fs)NORSEMEN

  • PERSIAN

  • (fs)PICTISH - referring to the people, language, and art of the Picts, an ancient Scottish tribe having live in northern and eastern Scotland during the late antiquity and early Middle Ages. 

  • POLISH

  • PORTUGUESE

  • ROMAN

  • RUSSIAN

  • (fs)SAXON - a person of a Germanic people that inhabited parts of central and northern Germany from Roman times, many of whom conquered and settled in southern England in the 5th–6th centuries continuing their dominance into the 11th century. 

  • SCANDINAVIAN

  • SCOTTISH

  • (fs)SLAVIC - relating to or denoting the branch of the Indo-European language family that includes Russian, Ukrainian, and Belorussian ( East Slavic ), Polish, Czech, Slovak, and Sorbian ( West Slavic ), and Bulgarian, Serbian, Croatian, Macedonian, and Slovene ( South Slavic ). 

  • SPANISH

  • SWISS

  • TURKISH

  • UKRAINIAN

  • (fs)VARANGIAN - any of the Scandinavian and Slavic mercenaries who traveled by land and up rivers into Russia in the 9th and 10th centuries AD, establishing the Rurik dynasty and gaining great influence in the Byzantine Empire. From the 10th to 14th centuries, there was a group of Viking warrior who served as bodyguards and soldiers for the Byzantine Empire as the Varangian Guard. The name comes from the Norse word varengi, which means "someone bound by an oath." See also: Byzantine, Slavic, Scandinavian, Ukrainian.

  • VENETIAN (regarding the sign: like you're rowing a gondola)

  • VIKING (regarding the sign: miming two horns on head)

  • WELSH

• BRING (directional verb)

• CAN

• CARRY

• DIRECT (sign also means control, administer, manage)

• FINISH (add the mouth morpheme /fsh/ to emphasize)

• HELP (directional verb)

• INSTRUCT (explain)

• MUST (need, should)

• PLEASE

• SAINT

• SERVE

• SOLVE (or resolve)

• TELL (ORDER)

• THANK YOU

• VOLUNTEER

• WILL

• The following are similar signs using two-handed P-handshape that relate to things volunteers do (which can all be seen all together in this video!):

  • BORROW (movement inward to self)

  • CAREFUL

  • FIGURE OUT

  • KEEP (MANAGE)

  • LEND (movement outward from self to the person lending the item, opposite direction from borrow)

  • SUPERVISE, alternative SUPERVISE (oversee, oversight)

  • TAKE CARE OF