List of Terms
This page is a list of common Mountain Man terms
that sound like Greek to the Flatlander!
- Atlatl - Bar for throwing spear.
- Billet - Elk antler used for knaping stone for points
- Birch Bark - Bark of the birch tree used for dwellings, boats
and boxes.
- Bone awl - Sharpened bone for leather hole punching.
- Breast plate - Bone or bead rows tied in rows hung from neck.
- Breech clout - Strip of cloth or leather worn between legs
in place of pants.
- Buckskin - Tanned hides of deer or elk.
- Calico - Small flower-patterned cotton material.
- Capote - Wool coat used by Mountain Men.
- Chevron bead - Striped glass bead.
- Dew cloth - Liner of Tipi essential to draw air/smoke out
of Tipi.
- Flatlander - Someone from the valley below(city dweller.)
- Free Trapper - A Mountain Man that traps for himself, not
for a company (e.g., American Fur Company.)
- Hawk - This is the abbreviation of Tomahawk.
- Horn - A steer horn that has been hollowed out and capped,
so that it will hold Black powder.
- Lance - A Spear.
- Lacing Pins - Wooden pegs to hold the Tipi together.
- Leggings - Pants without the seat requiring a Breech clout.
- Lodge - This usually is used in reference to a Tipi, but
it can be used when referring to a Wall Tent, Pyramid, Wedge,
etc.
- Parfleche - Containers made out of Rawhide.
- Pitch - Pine tree sap.
- Plew - The cured pelt from a Beaver.
- Quillwork - Decoration made from porcupine quills.
- Rawhide - The hide of an animal that has been cleaned, but
not tanned (softened).
- Sinew - Tendons of animals used for sewing and wrapping.
- Strike-a-lite - Container (usually leather) made to hold
flint and steel.
- Willow back rest - A mat made of willow branches formed into
a tripod (made for sitting on).
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