Glossary
The Morris has a vocabulary of it’s own. This brief guide aim to help you through it
- Adderbury –
- Ale – A Morris Men gathering organised by a Morris Side. A private gathering which usually involves many other Morris Sides, and lots of drinking and dancing. Most sides organise one Ale a year.
- Baconary – An affectionate term for Lionel bacon’s 1975 “Handbook of Morris Dances”, which gave forumlas and music for traditional dances, called by some “The Morris Bible”. The manuscript books are held in the archives of the Cambridge Morris Men
- Bagman – The treasurer of a Morris Side
- Bampton – A Village in Oxford where Morris dances were collected. The famous Morris Fiddler, William “Jinky” Wells was a Bampton man.
- Border Morris –
- Caper –
- Cecil Sharp –
- Chorus –
- Cotswold Morris – Morris dancers of the style collected in the Cotswold villages by Cecil Sharp and others. This is exemplified by the Morris Dancers wearing whites and Bells. The Cambridge Morris Men are a Cotswold Morris Side.
- Double Step – One of the stepping styles of Cotswold Morris following the pattern “Right, Left, Right Right | Left, Right, Left Left” used in many traditions including Adderbury and Field Town. A Paradiddle.
- Feast – The prestigious annual dinner held by the Cambridge Morris Men
- Field Town –
- Figure –
- Foreman –
- Full Gip –
- Half Gip –
- Headington –
- Hey –
- Hey, Adderbury –
- Hey, Lichfield –
- Kit –
- Lichfield –
- Molly Dance –
- Morris Dance –
- “Once to Yourself” – The introductory bars of music played by the musician before the dance starts
- Plough Monday –
- Ring Meeting –
- Rounds –
- Set –
- Side – a Morris Side. A Team of Morris Men. The Cambridge Morris Men is a Morris Side
- Single Step – Stepping style associated with Bampton amongst others following the pattern “Right hop | Left hop”.
- Squire – The manager of a Morris side.
- Tradition –
- Whitsun Act – The long rivalry between Morris Men and Bell Ringers is well documented, and this cumulated in the early days of the revival at Whitsun 1924 on Southwold Beach when a meeting of six Morris Sides and their followers clashed violently with a visiting party of Bell Ringers. Although 4 arrests were made, no formal charges were brought, but a bylaw – known colloquially as “The Whitsun Act” – was introduced in Southwold to prevent Morris Dancers and Bellringers having their meetings in the seaside town at the same time during public holidays. This bylaw has never been repealed and is still in place today.