Red Rose Cave and Pothole Club - Newsletter Vol 2 No 3 - Autumn 1964
SPELEOLOGICAL DICTIONARY - Part 2
By J. Eyre
ROPE
LADDER. Consists of two ‘Ropes’ with an occasional piece of
firewood attached here and there by such things as string, old nails, drawing
pins and in cases of extreme poverty, chewing gum, These pieces of wood generally slide
up and down the ropes, thereby causing a great deal of amusement on tedious trips.
See YOREDALE.
RUNNING
BELAY. A loud shout given on
the run.
RUN OFF. A
polite term given to ones ‘mates’ when one is de-laddering on one's own.
SAFETY LINE. An
imaginary lifeline which one has fastened round ones waist when one
peels off a ladder.
SAFETY HELMET. A miners
helmet, which is used as a receptacle for cigarettes, matches, chocolates,
toffees, maps, a ‘Pennine Underground’, candles and ones bonce. It can also be painted upon, written on, kicked, and stood on and with practice
can be made to accommodate at least six
different lights at once. Various other- uses include: Crash Helmet, Guzunda, Go Over, Wash Basin Flower Pot
and, with a little ingenuity, a lamp shade. A must for every potholer.
SAUSAGE.
A long
soft thing contained in a skin. ie. a potholer.
SATURATION Closing
time.
LEVEL.
SHAKHOLE. Depressions which potholers frequently
poke at, ie:- "This'll go’. See DUCK.
SHOW CAVE. A hole in the ground generally full of
prominent members of prominent clubs
SILT. Queer
brown stuff found in potholers boots.
SYPHON. A
dreaded word used to frighten young potholers.
SLING. A length
of Ma’s clothes line worn around the waist:— this denotes you are a potholer.
SOLE. Something
a potholer lacks.
SELEOLOGIST A potholer
who comes of a religious family.
SPLASH CUP. A
pint pot,
STALACTITE. Queer
pointed things you break with your bonce.
STALAGMITE. Ditto
which you sit on.
STANCE. The way
one stands at the bar.
SLOCKER. The
potholer who sups the most ale.
SPAGHETTI An
edible stalactite.
STALACTITE.
SHALE BED. A four poster owned by Mr.
& Mrs. Shale.
SPRINGS Curved
wires found in Mr. & Mrs. Shales
bed.
SQUEEZE A
form of endearment used to fondle your partner (not allowed in shale bed)
SUMP. The
first pool encountered down a hole.
SPELUNKING. An
American shaded by some rock.
STRIKE. Members refusing
to move.
TECTONIC. An unusual
word. A night school pick-me-up.
THERMAL SPRING Where the
water is not so icy.
TOADSTONE. Gall
stones in a toad.
TRAVERSE. One of
the reasons for the shortage
of potholers.
TRICOUNI. A
pointed boot nail ( always worn by somebody else. which
can cause grave damage to fingers, backsides and various other delicate places.
TACKLE. Stuff
which is always getting lost.
TRIPLE BOWLINE Granny knots
tied thrice with the magic word, also pronounced thrice.
TROGLOBITE. A rude
word from the classics.
TROGLODITE. Even ruder
word.
TURBARY. Where
genuine potholers are found.
TUFF. Anyone who can read this.
URALA. Something
wrongly smelt.
VADOSE CAVE. A
cave visited by uneducated cavers.
VEIN. Queer
little tubes which leak when they are cut.
VEIN STUFF. Queer
red stuff which leaks out of above. In potholers it a froth
WATER TABLE. A committee
meeting of teetotalers.
WHISTLE SIGNAL Anything from
‘Annie Laurie’ to ‘Knees up Mother Brown’.
WINCH. A
wench who won’t.
YOREDALES. An
ancient body of potholers who still use rope ladders
ZACHARIAS THE
END.. - Thank goodness.