Commonly
Used Terms
Wadsworth, William P M.F.H. “Riding
to Hounds in America
– An Introduction for Fox Hunters.”
AWAY – A fox has “gone away” when
he has left covert. Hounds are “away” when they
have left covert on the line of a fox.
BABBLE – To give tongue on scent
other than fox, on no scent at all, or on a scent too faint
to follow.
BRUSH – A fox’s tail is always
called a brush.
CAP – 1. (n) The headgear reserved
for the MFH and staff 2. (v or n) To “pass the hat” amongst
the field. Visitors may be “capped” or asked to
pay a “capping fee.” A hunt may have a “cap” for
some particular purpose, such a paneling, charity, etc.
CAST – (n) A planned move in searching
for a line (trail) or (v) to make a cast. Hounds may cast themselves,
or the Huntsman may cast them.
CHECK – (n) An interruption of the
run caused by hounds losing the line. Iv) Hounds check when
they lose the line temporarly
COLORS – 1. The distinctive colors
which distinguish the uniform of one hunt from another. Usually
a distinctive color of collar on a scarlet coat. (some hunts
have coats other than scarlet.) 2. To be awarded or given the
colors is to be given the right to wear them and the hunt button.
COUPLE – 1. (n) Two hounds, (any
sex), for convenience in counting. 2. (n) A device for keeping
two hounds attached to each other for convenience in control
or training. 3. (v) To attach two hounds together by use of
couples.
COVERT – (pronounced “cover “) – A
patch of woods or brush where a fox might be found.
CRY – (n) The sound given by hounds
when hunting. e.g. “The pack, in full cry.”
CUB – A young fox.
CUBHUNTING – Early hunting before
the formal season. Hounds are encouraged to stay in covert,
foxes that go away being permitted to do so in peace, if practical.
This gets cubs in the habit of running straight, rather than
circling in covert.
DOUBLE – (v) To “double the
horn” is to blow a series of short sharp notes. Signifies
a fox is afoot The “gone away” note is a form of “doubling
the horn.”
DRAW – (v) To search for a fox in
a certain area.
EARTH – Any place where a fox goes
to ground for protection, but usually a place where foxes live
regularly – a fox den.
FEATHER – A hound “feathers” when
he indicates, by actions rather than ‘voice, that he
is on a line or near it. The stern is waved, and activity is
concentrated and intensified.
FIELD – The group of people riding
to hounds, excluding the MFH and staff.
FIELD MASTER – The person designated
by the MFH to control the field.
FIXTURE – The time and place of the
meet, or assembly of the hunt
GROUND – “ go to ground.” To
take shelter (usually underground) e.g. “The fox went
to ground in the main earth east of the swamp?
HEAD – (v) To head a fox is to cause
it to turn from its planned direction of travel. This usually
causes a check, and is not recommended.
HEEL – (adv) Backwards. Hounds following
the line the wrong way are running “heel” (also
called “counter.”)
HOLD HARD –”Stop please.” If
used twice to the same individual, it probably means “Stop
please, damn you.”
HONOR – A hound “honors” when
he gives tongue on a line which another hound has been hunting.
HOUNDS–Hounds are hounds, not dogs.
Hounds are for convenience counted in couples regardless of
sex (or friendship). A male hound is known as a dog hound or
dog. A dog which is not a hound is known as a cur dog, even
if his pedigree goes back to 900 A.D. or further. Likewise
a female hound, no matter how exemplary is known as a bitch.
LARK – Jump fences unnecessarily
when hounds are not running, or on non–hunting days.
LINE – The trail of the fox.
MARK – (To ground) a hound marks
when he indicates that a fox has gone to ground.
MASTER – The MFH. The person in command
of the hunt in field and kennels.
MEET – The assembling of the hunt
for a day’s sport. e.g. “The meet tomorrow is at.
. . or “Hounds meet tomorrow at...”
OPEN – A hound is said to “open” when
he first gives tongue on a line.
PANEL – (1) The portion of any jumpable
fence between two posts. (2) A jumpable portion built into
a wire fence.
POINT – (1) The straight line distance
made good in a run e.g. “That was a six mile point, but
twelve miles as hounds ran.” (2) The location to which
a Whipper–In is sent to watch for a fox to go away.
RATCATCHER – Inforrnal hunting attire.
Correct for cubbing.
RIOT – Anything that hounds might
hunt that they shouldn’t.
RUN – (n) A period during which hounds
are actually hunting on the line of a fox. Usually implies
a gallop for the field, as opposed to a “hunt in covert
after a twisting fox.”)
SPEAK – To give tongue. (Usually
of a single hound, e.g. “I heard old Homer open, and
he spoke for some time before the others got to him.”)
STAFF – The Huntsman and Whippers–In.
STERN – Tail of a hound.
TONGUE – I. (n) Cry. A hound “gives
tongue” when he proclaims with his voice that he is on
a line. 2. (v) To give tongue.
VIEW – (v or n) See (or sight ofl
the fox.
VIEW HOLLOA –The cry given by a staff
member on viewing a fox.
WALK – Puppies are “sent out
at walk” in the summer and fall of their first year,
preferably on farms where they learn about chickens, etc.
WARE – A caution (1) To riders, e.g. “Ware
wire.” (2) To hounds, e.g. “Ware riot.” Usually
pronounced “war.” An abbreviation of beware.
WHELP – 1. (n) A young puppy, 2.
(v) To bear puppies, e.g. “That hound was whelped 3/6/59.”
WHIPPER–IN–A staff member who
assists the Huntsman in the control of hounds.
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