GLOSSARY
As certain Bull-fighting terms have no possible English equivalents, a short explanatory glossary is appended, but the Spanish terms will be used throughout the book.
Alguacil.—Policeman. In this case a kind of steward of the ring and master of the ceremonies.
La Alternativa.—Ceremony in the bull-ring by which a rising torero is recognised by his superiors as a finished matador, and henceforward he ranks with them as a master of his profession.
Aficion.—The sport, bull-fighting more especially. Ford and Sir Richard Burton translate this as "the fancy," the "fraternity."
Aficionados.—Devotees of the sport—amateurs—patrons.
Banderilla.—Darts stuck into the bull's neck.
Banderillero.—Man who fixes the darts into the bull.
Cuadrilla.—The matador's troupe, composed of two banderilleros, two picadors on horseback, three peons on foot, and one dagger man. The discipline is most severe, implicit obedience being exacted.
Capea.—A bull run consisting merely of dexterous cape play, in which no horses are employed, and the bull is not killed except at the owner's wish. The capeas on the Saints' day festivals in different villages are the practising grounds of young toreros.
Corrida.—Any sort of bull-fight, whether officially recognised, as in the large bull-rings, or merely the baiting of young bulls and calves at capeas.
Cogida.—Any sort of injury received during a bull-fight—literally "a catching."
Diestro, Torero, Espada, Matador.—Synonymous terms for the matador who kills the bulls with his rapier.
Fiesta.—Any popular holiday, whether of the Church or otherwise.
Olé.—Hurrah! Well done!
Novillo.—Young bull up to four years old.
Novillada.—Baiting of young bulls, as at the capeas.
Novillero.—The young toreros who bait the young bulls.
Picador.—A man on horseback who attacks the bull with a lance.
Transcriber's Note:
Obvious typographic errors have been corrected.
A Table of Contents has been added.