Encyclopedia of Terms/Euphemisms/Stuff
This is a work in progress of some of the terms Jane uses/knows to describe her world. They're here for reference and I will be adding more as I comb through the book. Some of them don't have descriptions yet, as I haven't really compiled anything coherent about it. When I do, they'll be added.
Last update: 3/26/2011
Commonplace Routines
Morning Assembly- Meeting every morning in which the community speaks about new events, old events and have a daily lesson to help them become better members of the Collective.
Give Feedback- When you get services from a place/person, you leave them feedback, which is recorded. People/places always strive for a high feedback rating
Going to Emerald City on the Night Train- Getting sent to Reboot.
Valise- Everyone has one of these. It’s illegal to open someone else’s valise, even on official searches. It’s even difficult to have it opened after the owner has died. People usually store illegal materials in them.
Spoons- Spoons are illegal to make now and people tend to keep their spoons on them, inscribed with their post code. They’re very valuable.
People
Chromatics- People who have a high enough colour rating from their Ishihara to be considered a colour. (Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, Purple, Orange)
Achromatics- Greys. People who do not have a high enough colour rating from their Ishihara to obtain a colour.
Prefects- Those who have score a 70% or higher on their colour rating can try for Prefect status in their colour. These are the leaders of the cities and towns.
Chromogentsia- Anyone whose perception level is above 50% is included in this category. They are given special privileges, including meeting times to discuss the state of the village.
Our Munsell- Albert Munsell. Inventor of the colour system they use and the man whose teachings they follow.
Colourman- An employee of National Colour who delivers the Ishihara. He also dictates whether or not a town or city can be on the Grid to receive colour from National Colour.
Riffraff- They're thought of as Barbarians by the people of the Collective. There are many stories about how they eat children.
The Previous- Anyone who came before the Something that Happened. The portraits that are around about them show that they have bigger pupils, a greater distinction in gender and were uneducated and selfish.
Apocryphal- People who are so outside the norms of society that even the Rules cannot explain them, so they do not exist.
The Extras - "Unlicensed supernumeraries." People who are damaged Nightloss (blind), Rebootees and generally anyone the Collective cannot acknowledge for one reason or another.
Swatchman- Basically a doctor. A swatchman uses swatches of colour to cure illnesses, ease pain, slow bleeding and can even use it to kill.
Places
Greyzone- The place where the Greys are allowed to live. It's set apart from the rest of the town and, while Chromatics are allowed to enter, they're not usually welcome.
East Carmine- A town on the Fringes, where the Rules are interpreted very loosely. Jane comes from East Carmine.
Rusty Hill- A town outside East Carmine where people were taken by the Mildew four years earlier. It's a ghost town, and most people stay away because of the quarantine and the talk of Riffraff and Pookas.
High Saffron- A mysterious place, also outside East Carmine, where many people have died while venturing to it. It has a giant Flak Tower of unknown use.
Jade-Under-Lime - A place in the Green sector, where Eddie and his father originally come from.
Emerald City - the Capital city of Chromatica, where you are supposedly sent for Reboot. One of many slightly inexplicable references to the Wizard of Oz.
Fringes - Places on the outer areas of Chromatica. They are known for being loose in enforcing the Rules.
Chromatica- The country which everyone lives in. Nobody ever makes reference to outside of it.
Everyday Terms
Most of these are self explanatory
"Everything turned brown"- A phrase to describe when something goes bad or wrong. (Most things related to brown or shades of brown are the same.)
"We have to do this before everything turns brown."
Flip - An approved curse.
"Oh, flip, I've lost my meritbook."
Tauped- An approved curse.
"She really tauped that up."
Beiging - An approved curse.
"I'll do what I beiging well please."
Jaundiced- Often used in expressions of mild disbelief
"Well I'll be jaundiced.
youknow- Euphemism for sex.
"Don't think you can get a bit of youknow out of this deal."
whatnots- ...figure it out
"She caught him looking at her whatnots."
Magic Word- Please/thank you...either one could work
"I won't do that because you didn't say the magic word."
Lambada- A scandalous sort of dance between couples. Considered a precursor to youknow
"If you don't want youknow, I can offer you a lambada."
"Recreation"
Green Peeked- A phrase used when someone looks at Lime
Greening- Getting high. Usually off of Lime or Lincoln.
Greeners- People who regularly partake in the use of Lime, Lincoln or sweetdream
Chasing the Frog- A very dangerous way of Greening. Used when someone goes to the Green Room because their cortexes have been too fried for Lime or Lincoln.
Lime/Lincoln/Sweetdream- Shades of green that can induce a high in degrees. Lime is the lowest, sweetdream is the highest.
Products of the Collective
Very Racy Story- Approved reading
Spectrum- Where most people get their news
Spouse Mart- Where people read to find a suitable spouse of appropriate hue. It's strictly controlled by the Rules, but people find ways around it.
Night Terror/Night fear/Night panic- What most people get when they venture out at night or even when they are stuck in the dark in their house. They imagine things that will come to get them.
Mildew - A feared disease which causes quick, internal rotting, and externally displays as turning physically grey and withered from the extremities inwards. Believed to be highly contagious. Later, it's discovered not to be a disease at all, but a colour shown to the troublesome which induces disease.
Civil Obligation- Each person has 50 years Civil Obligation to the Collective. This is the amount of time that they are a productive member of the Collective. Before this time is up, loss of their life is considered a loss of resources for the Collective.
Pointless Task- often used for humility realignment, and are exactly as described. A pointless task - things like a chair census, which is generally considered one of the better options.
Previous/Mysteries
Floatie- Bits of metal that float up from the ground. They always seek the lowest point on land or water.
Around the Community
Crackletrap- A large structure in a town to attract lightning away from the citizens.
Radtalk- Using radiators to tap out Morse code to spread gossip around the community. Also used by some to tap out Leapbacked books.
Beigemarket- Selling things on the Beigemarket will earn cash merits, but since they are unofficially obtained, will not help one keep away from Reboot or obtain privileges in society.
The Green Room - A room which, essentially, is designed for assisted suicide. A Swatchman will offer you the option of the Green Room if diagnosed with the Mildew. It is filled with a green light which will induce immediate euphoria, unconsciousness within 12 minutes and death within 16.
Last update: 3/26/2011
Commonplace Routines
Morning Assembly- Meeting every morning in which the community speaks about new events, old events and have a daily lesson to help them become better members of the Collective.
Give Feedback- When you get services from a place/person, you leave them feedback, which is recorded. People/places always strive for a high feedback rating
Going to Emerald City on the Night Train- Getting sent to Reboot.
Valise- Everyone has one of these. It’s illegal to open someone else’s valise, even on official searches. It’s even difficult to have it opened after the owner has died. People usually store illegal materials in them.
Spoons- Spoons are illegal to make now and people tend to keep their spoons on them, inscribed with their post code. They’re very valuable.
People
Chromatics- People who have a high enough colour rating from their Ishihara to be considered a colour. (Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, Purple, Orange)
Achromatics- Greys. People who do not have a high enough colour rating from their Ishihara to obtain a colour.
Prefects- Those who have score a 70% or higher on their colour rating can try for Prefect status in their colour. These are the leaders of the cities and towns.
Chromogentsia- Anyone whose perception level is above 50% is included in this category. They are given special privileges, including meeting times to discuss the state of the village.
Our Munsell- Albert Munsell. Inventor of the colour system they use and the man whose teachings they follow.
Colourman- An employee of National Colour who delivers the Ishihara. He also dictates whether or not a town or city can be on the Grid to receive colour from National Colour.
Riffraff- They're thought of as Barbarians by the people of the Collective. There are many stories about how they eat children.
The Previous- Anyone who came before the Something that Happened. The portraits that are around about them show that they have bigger pupils, a greater distinction in gender and were uneducated and selfish.
Apocryphal- People who are so outside the norms of society that even the Rules cannot explain them, so they do not exist.
The Extras - "Unlicensed supernumeraries." People who are damaged Nightloss (blind), Rebootees and generally anyone the Collective cannot acknowledge for one reason or another.
Swatchman- Basically a doctor. A swatchman uses swatches of colour to cure illnesses, ease pain, slow bleeding and can even use it to kill.
Places
Greyzone- The place where the Greys are allowed to live. It's set apart from the rest of the town and, while Chromatics are allowed to enter, they're not usually welcome.
East Carmine- A town on the Fringes, where the Rules are interpreted very loosely. Jane comes from East Carmine.
Rusty Hill- A town outside East Carmine where people were taken by the Mildew four years earlier. It's a ghost town, and most people stay away because of the quarantine and the talk of Riffraff and Pookas.
High Saffron- A mysterious place, also outside East Carmine, where many people have died while venturing to it. It has a giant Flak Tower of unknown use.
Jade-Under-Lime - A place in the Green sector, where Eddie and his father originally come from.
Emerald City - the Capital city of Chromatica, where you are supposedly sent for Reboot. One of many slightly inexplicable references to the Wizard of Oz.
Fringes - Places on the outer areas of Chromatica. They are known for being loose in enforcing the Rules.
Chromatica- The country which everyone lives in. Nobody ever makes reference to outside of it.
Everyday Terms
Most of these are self explanatory
"Everything turned brown"- A phrase to describe when something goes bad or wrong. (Most things related to brown or shades of brown are the same.)
"We have to do this before everything turns brown."
Flip - An approved curse.
"Oh, flip, I've lost my meritbook."
Tauped- An approved curse.
"She really tauped that up."
Beiging - An approved curse.
"I'll do what I beiging well please."
Jaundiced- Often used in expressions of mild disbelief
"Well I'll be jaundiced.
youknow- Euphemism for sex.
"Don't think you can get a bit of youknow out of this deal."
whatnots- ...figure it out
"She caught him looking at her whatnots."
Magic Word- Please/thank you...either one could work
"I won't do that because you didn't say the magic word."
Lambada- A scandalous sort of dance between couples. Considered a precursor to youknow
"If you don't want youknow, I can offer you a lambada."
"Recreation"
Green Peeked- A phrase used when someone looks at Lime
Greening- Getting high. Usually off of Lime or Lincoln.
Greeners- People who regularly partake in the use of Lime, Lincoln or sweetdream
Chasing the Frog- A very dangerous way of Greening. Used when someone goes to the Green Room because their cortexes have been too fried for Lime or Lincoln.
Lime/Lincoln/Sweetdream- Shades of green that can induce a high in degrees. Lime is the lowest, sweetdream is the highest.
Products of the Collective
Very Racy Story- Approved reading
Spectrum- Where most people get their news
Spouse Mart- Where people read to find a suitable spouse of appropriate hue. It's strictly controlled by the Rules, but people find ways around it.
Night Terror/Night fear/Night panic- What most people get when they venture out at night or even when they are stuck in the dark in their house. They imagine things that will come to get them.
Mildew - A feared disease which causes quick, internal rotting, and externally displays as turning physically grey and withered from the extremities inwards. Believed to be highly contagious. Later, it's discovered not to be a disease at all, but a colour shown to the troublesome which induces disease.
Civil Obligation- Each person has 50 years Civil Obligation to the Collective. This is the amount of time that they are a productive member of the Collective. Before this time is up, loss of their life is considered a loss of resources for the Collective.
Pointless Task- often used for humility realignment, and are exactly as described. A pointless task - things like a chair census, which is generally considered one of the better options.
Previous/Mysteries
Floatie- Bits of metal that float up from the ground. They always seek the lowest point on land or water.
Around the Community
Crackletrap- A large structure in a town to attract lightning away from the citizens.
Radtalk- Using radiators to tap out Morse code to spread gossip around the community. Also used by some to tap out Leapbacked books.
Beigemarket- Selling things on the Beigemarket will earn cash merits, but since they are unofficially obtained, will not help one keep away from Reboot or obtain privileges in society.
The Green Room - A room which, essentially, is designed for assisted suicide. A Swatchman will offer you the option of the Green Room if diagnosed with the Mildew. It is filled with a green light which will induce immediate euphoria, unconsciousness within 12 minutes and death within 16.