Language – Chosen of StarClan

General Terms

Crowfood – A dead prey animal that has begun to rot.

Cutter – A veterinarian.

Food-nest – A bird feeder. Hunting near them is considered depending on humans and only done in the most desperate of times.

Fresh-kill – A dead prey animal caught for the purpose of consumption.

Gathering – The monthly meeting of the Clans held at Fourtrees.

Halfbridge – A boat dock.

Horseplace – A stable.

Hunting Patrol – A group of cats that hunt together to bring back Fresh-kill for their clan.

Kittypet – A cat that lives with humans.

Loner – A cat that lives away from humans and is not considered a threat by the clan.

Monster – A vehicle operated by humans that they ride within. Examples include cars, trucks, and vans.

Monster, Little – Refers to the sort of vehicle that humans ride on rather than within. Examples include ATVs, snowmobiles, and tractors

Moonstone – The place in the Forest where medicine cats and leaders share tongues with StarClan.

Mothermouth – The opening to the cave where the Moonstone is located.

Nursemother – Adoptive mother. A she-cat who adopts a kitten is considered its ‘nurse mother’.

Rogue – A cat that lives away from humans and is considered a threat by the clan.

Sharing Tongues – Cats grooming each other while sharing the latest gossip.

Silverpelt – A thick band of stars in the sky considered to be the physical representation of StarClan.

Thunderpath – An asphalted road.

Twoleg – A human.

Twoleg kit – A human child.

Twoleg nest – A human’s house.

Twolegplace – A town or village belonging to humans.

Time Terms

Newleaf – The season of spring.

Greenleaf – The season of summer.

Leaf-bare – The season of winter.

Leaf-fall – The season of autumn.

Moon – The time between one full moon and the next, spanning 29 days.

Moonhigh – The point during the night when the moon is highest in the sky; “midnight”.

Half-Moon – 14 days.

Quarter-Moon – 7 days.

Sunhigh – The point during the day when the sun is highest in the sky; “noon”.

Season – Usually 3 moons. Occasionally 4, depending on the placement of the blue moon in the year by the Medicine Cats.

Distance Terms

Fox-length – About the length of a fox; approximately a yard.

Kittenstep – Less than an inch.

Tail-length – About the length of a cat’s tail; approximately a foot.

Rabbit-hop – About a foot and a half away.

Mouse-tail – About an inch.

Mouse-length – About two or three inches.

Pawprint – About the length of a cat’s paw; approximately three and a half inches

Pawstep – About the length of a cat’s step, roughly six inches.

Living Spaces

Camp – The place where a Clan makes their home.

Leader’s Den – The den in camp that belongs to the Clan leader.

Medicine Cat’s Den – The den in camp that belongs to the Clan’s medicine cat. Sometimes referred to as the Medicine Den.

Warriors’ Den – The den in camp that is shared between the warriors of that Clan.

Apprentices’ Den – The den in camp that is shared between the apprentices of that Clan.

Elders’ Den – The den in camp that is shared between the elders of that Clan.

Nursery – The den in camp that is shared by the queens and kits of that Clan.

Dirtplace – The place near, but not in the camp, where the cats go to the bathroom.

Fresh-kill pile – The place that prey is stored.

Clan Ranks

Kit – A kitten six moons or younger that is not yet training for warriorship.

Apprentice – A cat at least six moons old, and training to be a warrior.

Mentor – A fully-grown (usually experienced) cat who is currently training an apprentice.

Warrior – A mature cat who has completed their warrior training. A she-cat is considered a warrior when she does not have kits.

Queen – A she-cat currently nursing kits, or too heavily pregnant to serve as a warrior.

Elder – Cats who have retired from active duty.

Medicine Cat – The healer and priest to the clan.

Deputy – The second in command of a clan, who will inherent the position of leader when the current one dies.

Leader – The cat who posses nine lives and the responsibility to lead the clan.

The vernacular of the Clans is highly specific and specialized, with a number of sayings and idioms that don’t transfer directly into English falling into their usage. This document is intended to cover as many of those words and phrases as possible. If you don’t see something in the contents list, try using CTRL+F to find and search this page for the word, phrase, or keyword you are looking for, as it might be considered a variation rather than something that stands on its own.

If you wish to suggest additions please make the suggestions at the bottom of the page. You do not need to submit a completed entry, and every little idea can be considered for inclusion.

Table of Contents

Bees in your brain

Variations: Bees in his/her brainI

ndicates confusion on the part of the cat being talked about or to, sometimes emphasizing stupidity as a source of the confusion.

It’s like he’s got bees in his brain.

The code changes for no cat

Variations: A cat can’t change the code

Indicates that the subject that is being discussed is something completely unchangeable.

Geez, the Code changes for no cat. That’s just the way things are.

Curiosity killed the apprentice

Variations: Curiosity killed the kit, Curiosity killed the Queen, Curiosity killed the Warrior, Curiosity killed the Elder, Curiosity killed the Deputy, Curiosity killed the Leader

A way of telling someone to not snoop and wait patiently to find something out.

Curiosity killed the apprentice, Foxpaw.

Foxdung

Variation: Mousedung, Otterdung, Catdirt

Can replace most negative verbs that implies someone or something is discussing or distasteful in some way.

That’s Foxdung.

Mousebrain

Variation: Shrewbrain, Molebrain, Birdbrain, Beetlebrain, Mouse-for-brains, Shrew-for-brains, Mole-for-brains, Bird-for-brains, Beetle-for-brains

Stupid. Typically used when someone does something stupid, or when talking about someone whose intelligence is being questioned.

That Bloodstar is a mousebrained murderer.

Mouseheart

Variations: Mouseheart, Voleheart, Shrewheart, Rabbitheart

An accusation of cowardice.

That mousehearted Cloverleaf is responsible for Slateshadow’s death.

Not the sharpest claw on the paw

Variations: Not the sharpest tooth in the jaw, Not the brightest star in the sky, Not the sharpest thorn on the bush

Used to indicate that the cat in question is not the most intelligent when compared to other cats.

That Robinpaw… She’s not exactly the sharpest claw on the paw

Pair of Sparrows, a

Variations: a pair of sparrows, a bush full of sparrows, a flock of sparrows

Indicates arguing or argumentativeness, frequently between two cats, but sometimes between larger groups.

Those two were like an old pair of nesting sparrows.

The three warriors were squabling like sparrows.

Pass the mouse

Variations: None

Used in the way a human uses ‘pass the torch’.

She’s going to have to pass the mouse someday. She can’t be the Medicine Cat forever.

StarClan!

Variations: StarClan Forbid, StarClan Shine on XXX

The idea of using the word “StarClan” as an explanation or expletive.

StarClan! You startled me!

StarClan shine on your hunting.

Sheath your claws

Variations: None
Antonym: Un-sheath your claws

An instruction to stop acting aggressive and/or calm down.

You should sheath your claws when dealing with your apprentice.

Sheath your claws! I was only trying to give some advice.

Stick your tail in a wasp’s nest

Variations: Stick your tail in a bee’s nest, stuck my/their tail in a wasp’s nest, stuck my/their tail in a bee’s nest, Stick your nose in a bee’s nest, stick your nose in a wasp’s nest, stuck my/their nose in a wasp’s next, stuck my/their nose in a bee’s nest

Telling someone to go stick their tail in a wasp’s nest is akin to telling them to go away or leave you alone. Claiming than you or another cat has ‘stuck your/their tail in a bee’s nest’ is to say that they have gotten themselves involved in something that was not their affair.

Go stick your tail in a wasp’s nest, Foxkit

I really stuck my nose in a bee’s nest.”

Tail-dragger

Variations: Dragged his/her tail

Used in reference to an individual considered stupid or brutish.

Tortoisenight is such a tail-dragging simpleton.

Foxbright really dragged his tail when he decided to do that.

Weaselheart

Variations: Foxheart, Skunkheart, Otterheart

An accusation of backstabbing or double-agenting. Also a slight or suggestion that the loyalty of the cat being referred to should be questioned.

He’s rogue-blooded and nothing but a weaselhearted fool.

Clan Terminology