GLOSSARY - Foxhunting in Virginia



GENERAL TERMS	A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
"A" stands for	"AIEEEE!" -- a cry emitted upon discovering a large drop on the other side of a blind jump.
Account For	To kill or put a fox to ground.
Autum Hunting	The politically correct term for cub hunting
Away	The fox is in the open and/or hounds are on the line.



"B" stands for	"BLOODY HECK!" -- an expletive emitted when following someone saying "A" after his head disappears out of sight below the top of the jump.
Babble	When a hound gives tongue for anything other than a good fox scent.
Babbler	An unnecessarily noisy hound.
Barway	A fence section with sliding horizontal poles which can be jumped by the first flight or taken down for hilltoppers or tractors.
Billett	Fox droppings. Scat.
Bitch	Female hound.
Blank	Failure to find a fox in a covert is to draw blank. Failure to find a fox all day is to have a blank day.
Blind Country	Terrain so overgrown that jumps and footing can't be gauged.
Blooded	Hound or follower after their first kill. Applying a touch of fox blood to the forehead is no longer done due to rabies concerns.
Blue Ticked	Hound coloring, mostly white with dapples of black for a blue appearance.
Boo Hoo	When a hound is lost or frustrated and sings out.
Brace	Two game animals.
Breakfast	Meal served by a host after a hunt, either buffet or sit-down. For an informal breakfast, you should bring a covered dish or something.
Brush	Fox's tail.
Burning Scent	Scent so hot and strong that hounds tear along the line without hesitation. Screaming scent.
Burst	Hounds get away quickly on the fox, or a fast part of a run.
Button	The hunt button is a black or brass button with the hunt's distinctive logo engraved on it. This is worn only at the invitation of the Master.
Bye Day	An additional hunting day not on the fixture card.


"C" stands for	"COME ON!" -- a challenge to followers after saying "A", avoiding "T", and thinking "W".
Cap	Capping fee paid by non-members to ride with the field - usually limited to two or three visits before a membership application is expected. Also, a rider's hard hat.
Car Followers	Those who follow the hunt in vehicles, the third field or third flight.
Cast	When hounds search for a lost line. The Huntsman may take charge of the pack and help them, or hounds may cast themselves.
Catch Hold	To collect hounds and take them forward at a check or to a holloa.
Coffee Housing	Distracting field chit-chat while others are listening for hounds.
Challenges It	When a hound first speaks to a line.
Charles	Respectful name for the fox. Also, Charlie, gentleman Charles, Charles James, the old gentleman, Reynard, varmint, Uncle Remus.
Check	Hounds temporarily lose the line on a run. Followers stay quiet.
Cheer	Huntsman's encouragement to hounds.
Cold Line	Faint scent due to time or conditions.
Colors	Distinctive Hunt livery worn by members at the invitation of a Master. For Bull Run Hunt, this entails a Confederate-gray colar and BRH hunt buttons on a gentleman's scarlet coat or a lady's black or dark-blue coat.
'Coop	Chicken coop. An inviting, 3-foot high (or more), A-frame, roof-like jump.
Counter	Hounds on the line, but going in the opposite direction. Also, heel line.
Country	The Hunt's general territory as registered with the MFHA.
Couple	Two hounds. Hounds are numbered in couples, because it's easier to count them quickly in twos. Also, to attach two hounds together with couples.
Couples	A short connector between two collars, so a puppy can be paired-up with an experienced hound for training.
Covered Line	Line that an earlier hound has hunted and, therefore, interfered with.
Covert (cover)	Woods or dense growth where a fox may be found.
Cracker	The piece at the very end of a hunt whip which makes the cracking noise. Also, lash or popper.
Crop	The stick part of a hunting whip, not the whole assembly.
Cry	Sound of hounds speaking to a line. Also, voice, tongue, music.
Cub	A young fox born the past spring.
Cubbing	Pre-season hunting which teaches cubs to run from the pack and teaches puppies to hunt with the pack. Also, cub hunting and autumn hunting.
Cub Hunting	See Cubbing or Autumn Hunting.
Cur Dog	Canine not from the pack.


"D" stands for	"DANG!" -- an oath uttered after saying "B" and after hearing "C".
Den	An underground fox lair. Kennel.
Den Bark	Peculiar cry of hounds at an earth having put a fox to ground.
Den Dog	Hound particularly keen on worrying an earth and with a peculiar cry.
Dew Claw	False toe/claw on a hound's forelegs.
Dog	Male hound, male fox. Any non-hound canine.
Double Back	When a fox returns to the covert it left.
Draft	To remove hounds from a kennels or a pack.
Draft Hound	Hound removed from its regular pack.
Draw a Covert	Put hounds into a covert to find a fox.
Draw Blank	An unsuccessful draw.
Drive	The urge of a hound to get forward.
Dwell	The tendency of a hound to hunt without going forward. Lack of drive.


"E" stands for	"EASY!" -- a comment on the jump's difficulty after following the rider saying "C" and without encountering "T".
Early Cubbing	Informal cub hunting prior to open cubbing. Participation is by invitation of a Master.
Earth	Where a fox goes to ground for safety, usually a den or kennel.
Enter	To use a hound regularly for hunting.
Entered Hound	A hunting member of the pack.
Entry	Hounds to be entered this season.
Eye to Hounds	By waching hounds and listening, to be able to tell what the fox has done and about what they are gong to do.


"F" stands for	"FINE" -- a mumbled response to bystanders after a "T" without losing consciousness.
Fall	An optional piece of leather between the thong and lash of a hunting whip which helps make a more reliable cracking sound.
Feathering	A hound indicates, other than by giving tongue, that it's hunting a line; a waving stern. Uncertain.
Field	Mounted followers other than Master and staff. Usually divided into two or more fields: first flight, non-jumpers, hilltoppers, car/foot-followers.
Field Master	Individual in charge of mounted followers.
Field Secretary	Individual who collects the capping fees from non-members.
Find	When hounds first detect a fox's scent.
First Flight	Riders who plan to jump everything necessary and to stay close to the action.
Fixture	Time and place of a meet. Also, a regular location for a meet.
Fixture Card	Card sent to members and individuals invited to hunt. Lists dates, places, and times of meets.
Flighty	Undependable or changeable hounds or scent.
Foil	A smell that obliterates or disguises a fox's scent trail.
Fox, Gray	Canis Urocyon cinereoargenteus.
Fox, Red	Canis Vulpes vulpes fulva (US). See Charles.
Fresh Line	Newly-laid scent trail.
Full Cry	Sound of many hounds hunting hot & heavy as a pack.


"G" stands for	"GO ON!" -- a challenge to those in front of you after hearing "C" but not in a position to utter "B".
Give Tongue	When a hound cries out or speaks.
Gone Away	Fox has left the covert, the chase is on.
Go to Ground	When the fox escapes into an earth.


"H" stands for	"Huh?" -- inevitable first utterance to bystanders after a "T" and loss of consciousness.
Halloo	(holler) Huntsman's or staff's holler that the fox was viewed. Also, Holloa, View Halloo.
Head a Fox	To turn a fox from its own route. Bad result of riders away from the field.
Headed to Death	Fox unfairly killed by being headed.
Heads Up	Hounds raise their heads and lose the scent. A sin if caused by riders.
Heel Line	Hounds on the line, but going in the opposite direction. Also, counter.
Hilltoppers	Riders who do not plan to jump but move at a walk or trot to strategic viewing spots.
Honest Hound	Trustworthy, dependable hound.
Horn Hook	The gate-opening tool at the end of a hunt whip.
Honor the Line	A hound gives tongue on a line which another hound was hunting.
Hound	Canine used for hunting by scent.
Hound Exercise	Taking hounds and puppies for a road or field walk to give them exercise and to train the puppies to the pack.
Hound Music	The sound made when hounds are in full cry.
Hunt	Fox-hunting club. Also, a day's hunting.
Hunting Whip	The complete assembly of crop (the stick, horn hook, & tab), thong (braided part), fall, and lash (popper/cracker) used for making a loud noise or (more rarely) for inducing a sting to control hounds. It's an alert, warning, or punishment as well as a badge of authority to hounds. The whip is carried by staff and those field riders who can carry it safely -- in case they are called-upon to temporarily help control hounds, to discourage a hound from going under a horse, or to lend to a staff member who's broken or lost theirs.
Hunt Saboteur (see also: Sab)	Misguided individual intent on spoiling foxhunters' sport by interferience with hounds, fox, horses, scent line, etc. or by violence and intimidation against participants, bystanders, staff, and facilities; and they often break the law in doing so. Sabs range from self-righteous animal-rights activists to paid thugs who commit atrocities in the name of anti-foxhunting. (Note: these animals hunt in packs, since they are cowardly by nature; and their leadership are often politically motivated.)
Huntsman	Individual who hunts the hounds.


"I" stands for	*"I DON'T THINK* SO!" --** a comment made by the first rider to refuse the challenge, "C".


"J" stands for	"JUNIOR" -- the age category of the only riders who do not use the terms "A", "B", "D", "F", "H", or "I" above.
Joint Masters	Two or more Masters who share responsibilities for hunt operations in one hunting club.


"K" stands for	"KISS" -- what your horse probably deserves after "V".
Keeper	The leather piece at the end of a hunting whip's crop to which the thong is attached. Also, tab.
Kennel	Underground fox lair. Den.
Kennels	Home for the hounds.
Kill, the	When the fox is killed by the pack.
Kit	Young fox, cub, pup. Not to be confused with the species, Kit Fox.


"L" stands for	"LUCK" -- the true source of one's apparent skill which prompted the challenge, "C".
Lair	Fox's daytime bed.
Larking	Jumping fences unnecessarily when hounds are not running.
Lash	The piece at the very end of a hunting whip which makes the cracking noise. Also, cracker or popper.
Lead Hound	The hound up front while the pack is on a line.
Lift	To pick hounds up while hunting and move them forward on the line.
Line	Fox's scent trail, his route across the ground.
Line Breeding	Offspring from parents having common ancestry.
Litter	Group of hound whelps or fox cubs born to one mother at one time.
Livery	Attire of the professional staff. Usually particular to a hunt.

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