Hunting Terms. Huntsman’s Language.

Hunting Terms. Huntsman’s Language.

Hunting terms are difficult to write, because they are often rather sung than said. I shall take as my authority one of the best sportsmen of his day, Mr. Thomas Smith, author of the Diary of a Huntsman, a book which has only one fault, it is too short; and give some explanations of my own.

On throwing off. Cover hoick! i. e. Hark into cover!

Also Eloo in!

Over the fence. Yoi over!

To make hounds draw. Edawick!

Also Yoi, wind him! Yoi, rouse him, my boys!

And to a particular hound Hoick, Rector! Hoick, Bonny Lass!

The variety of Tally-ho’s I have given in another place.

To call the rest when some hounds have gone away. Elope forward, aw-ay-woy!

If they have hit off the scent. Forrid, hoick!

When hounds have overrun the scent, or he wants them to come back to him. Yo-geote!

When the hounds are near their fox. Eloo, at him!

Billet. The excrement of a fox.

Burst. The first part of a run.

Burning scent. When hounds go so fast, from the goodness of the scent, they have no breath to spare, and run almost mute.

Breast high. When hounds do not stoop their heads, but go a racing pace.

Capping. To wave your cap to bring on the hounds. Also to subscribe for the huntsman, by dropping into a cap after a good run with fox-hounds. At watering places, before a run with harriers.