abanico - "fan",
two-handed cape manoeuvre, usually to bring bull to picador
abono - season ticket for full season or series of bullfights in a feria
acero - "steel", another word for the matador's sword
acometida - swift charge of bull, rapid and violent movement
acoso - spilling young bulls in countyside with blunt lance
adorno - a pose, such as touching bulls horns after series of passes
afarolado - pass where the muleta is passed over man's head as bull charges
by
afeitar - "to shave", to illegally shorten bull's horns
aficion - the love of bullfighting, aficionados as a group
aficionado - fan of bullfighting
aficionado practico - a fan who also practices as an amateur torero
aguantar - to remain motionless before unexpected attack of the bull
ajustarse - to fight the bull very close.
alarde - showing off, turning back on bull, touching horns, etc
alegrar - to excite the bull to attack.
alegria - the seeming enjoyment of matador or bull
alguacillo - mounted constable at head of paseillo, also presents trophies
aliar - fighting with the muleta without adornment or artistic intent.
alternando - "alternating", matadors who are appearing on a cartel
alternativa - a ceremony in which a novillero graduates to matador de toros
alto, pase por - high right-handed muleta pass
andanada - upper floor of the gradas, the covered seating part of bullring
anillo - "ring", actual part of arena where bullfight takes place
an~ojo - yearling calf
apartado - separation of bulls prior to the bullfight into individual pens
apoderado - torero's manager
apodo - "nickname", such as "El Cordobes" - "The
Cordoban"
apuntillar - the act of administering the puntilla
aragonesa - pass like the gaonera but bull behind man rather than to one
side
arandela - metal ring on shaft of pica which stops it penetrating too far
arena - "sand", another term for bullring
areneros - men who smooth sand over prior to release of bull
armadura - "armour", the bull's horns
armamento - "armament", the bull's horns
arpon - "harpoon", the barb of metal on a banderilla
arranada - the attack of the bull
arrastre - the mules removing the dead bull from the ring
arrimarse - matador fighting with great courage and truly doing his best
arroba - about 25 pounds, an old method of estimating a bull's weight
arrucina - pass invented by Arruza, muleta held in right hand behind legs
asesor - technical advisor to the president of the bullring
asta - horn
astifino - thin, pointed horns
astigordo - thick horns
astillado - splintered horns
atravesada - sword thrust which enters at an angle
atropellado - trampled
aviso - warning given to the matador that he is taking too much time
ayudado - "helped", pass where muleta is helped with the sword
in other hand
azabache - shiny or velvety black
azteca - adjective term used to denote Mexican
bajo, pase por - low pass designed to keep bull's head down
bajonazo - a safe, unfair sword thrust low in bull's neck
banderilla - 75cm darts with vari-colored paper and a barbed harpoon
banderillas negras - (black banderillas) used when bull does not charge
horse
banderillero - matador's assistant who places the banderillas
barrenar - when picador "drills" or twists pica to deepen wound
barrera - fence encircling the bull ring, also first row of seats
becerrada - calf fight
becerrista - calf-fighter, pre-novillero
becerro - calf up to three years
bizco - "cross-eyed", one horn higher than the other
blando - soft bull
brindis - dedication by the matador of the bull to a person or the crowd
bos taurus ibericus - scientific name for the fighting bull
bota - wineskin
bramar - to bellow, considered cowardly in a bull
bravo - wild
brega, capote de - technical name for the magenta cape
brionesa - cape pass invented by Briones, same as pase de pecho with muleta
brocho - horns curved close together
bronca - strong demonstration of disapproval by the crowd
bruto, en - weight of bull before dressing - see en canal
bufido - snorting bull, again often considered cowardly
burladero - "fooler" wooden shield in front of barrerra opening
burriciego - bull with defective vision, can see distances but not close
up
buscar - (to look for) when bull is searching for the man behind the cloth
cabriola - when bull dips horns into sand and flips over
cacho, fuera del, - passing the bull but keeping away from the horns
caida - "fall" of the picador and/or horse
cajon - reinforced crate in which a bull is transported to the bullring
callejon - a narrow passageway between the barrera and the spectators'
stands
cambiado - movement in a direction other than the natural one
cambio - "change" of direction of bull's charge/asking for change
of a tercio
canal, en - wight of a bull after being dressed by the butchers
capa - "cape", magenta and yellow/blue or reference to bull's
coat
capote - same as capa, sometimes called capote de brega
capote de paseo - special dress cape worn by toreros on foot in the paseillo
capea - free-for-all where amateurs are allowed to cape a bull
capilla - "chapel" at bullring where toreros offer prayers before
bullfight
cargar la suerte - matador's action/follow-through with bull's line of
charge
carpintero - bullring "carpenter" who repairs damage to wooden
barrier
cartel - poster advertising bullfight also term describing matador's prestige
Cemsl - to pass the bull very close
casta - the quality of breeding or strain of a bull
castaño - "chestnut" coloured bull
catedral - "cathedral", a very large bull
ceñirse - to pass the bull very close
chaquetilla - jacket of the suit of lights
charlotada - comic bullfight, usually with midgets
chicuelina - pass invented by Chicuelo, cape is pulled in tight against
body
chiquero - stall where bull awaits its entrance into the arena
cintas - red cloth wound around matador's sword
citar - to provoke the bull to attack
clavar - to place the banderillas
coger - to catch or to toss
cogida - a tossing
cojo - lame
cola - another word for bull's tail, also queue of people for tickets
coleta - torero's pigtail, nowadays artificial
concurso - "competition" bullfight between ganaderias to find
the best bull
confirmacion - the confirmation of an alternativa in Madrid or Mexico City
contrabarrera - the second row of seats in the bullring
cornada - a goring, a horn wound corniabierto - wide and open horns
corniadelatero - forward-set horns
cornicorto - short horns
corrida - bullfight where bulls are at least four years old
corral - enclosure at bullring where bulls are kept after arriving from
ranch
correr la mano - "to run the hand", prolonging a one-handed pass
cortar la coleta - "to cut the pigtail", to retire from bullfighting
cortas - short banderillas
coso - old term for bullring
cruz - the highest part of the bu]l's back or withers.
cuadrar - "to square" the bull's feet ready for the kill
cuadrilla - the matadors's team of three banderilleros and two picadors
cuna - "cradle" between the bull's horns where one is safer when
being tossed
cuarteo, al - the commonest method of placing banderillas
cuerno - horn
delanteras - front rows of tendidos and gradas
derechazo - a right-hand pass with the muleta
derribo - knocking over bulls in the wild with a blunt lance
derrote - an upward thrust of the bull's head
desafiar - "to defy", when bull paws the ground and backs up
before charging
desarmar - "to disarm", when bull tears the muleta out of the
matador's hand
descabellar - method of killing bull by stabbing it in the back of the
neck
descabello - straight sword with crosspiece near end of blade
desencajamiento, desencajonada - "uncrating" of the bulls at
the bullring
despedida - the farewell performance of a matador
desplante - a pose where the bull is being dared to gore the torero
diestro - another term for matador
director de lidia - the "combat director", the senior matador
on a cartel
divisa - rosette of ranch colours on bull when it enters the ring
division de opiniones - "division of opinions" of the crowd to
a performance
doctorarse - to take the alternativa, the doctorate of bullfighting
embestida - the bull's charge
embolado - bull's horns padded as in Portugal or knobbed
empresa - the organisation that promotes a bullfight
empresario - the manager of the organisation promoting a bullfight
encastado - a bull that is representaitive of its particular strain of
breed
encierro - running of the bulls through the streets as in Pamplona
encuentro, al - bull and man run to meet each other in the act of killing
enfermeria - the bullring infirmary, usually with operating table
entrada - term for a bullfight ticket
entrar a matar - to "enter for the kill"
eral - a two year old bull
espada - "sword", also another term for a matador
espontaneo - amateur who jumps into the ring to cape bull illegally
estatuario - statuesque muleta pass
estocada - the plunging of the estoque sword into the bull.
estoque - curved sword used for killing
estribo - the small step or platform jutting out from the barrera
faena - all the work done with the muleta in the last part of the bullfight
faja - torero's sash
farol - two-handed cape pass where it is flipped over and round man's head
fiesta brava - the "wild feast", another term for the bullfight
fijar - to fix bull's attention or to place it in a spot
firma, pase de la - pass of Granero where muleta is snatched from bull's
face
flamear - to shake or wave cape to attract bull's attention
flojo - "weak", a bull without much power
forcado - member of a Portuguese team which wrestle with bull
fracaso - calamity or failure, used to refer to a flop performance
franela - "flannel", another name for the muleta
frente por detras, de - pass where cape is brought forward from behind
back
fundon - large leather case containing matador's swords and muleta sticks
ganaderia - bull breeding ranch
ganadero - the owner of a bull breeding ranch
gaonera - pass where cape is held to one side behind matador's back
garrocha - blunt lance used on ranches
garrocha, salto de - seldom used stunt where torero pole vaults over the
bull
gitano - "gypsy" torero
golpe - a blow or knock received by a torero
gradas - covered seats in upper part of bullring
grave - grave or serious wound
herida - injury
hierro - the brand given to a bull to designate its ranch
hombreras - the epaulets on a matador's jacket
hora de verdad - "the moment of truth", when entering for the
kill
huido - a bull with little desire to fight, especially against picador
igualar - to place bull in best position for the kill
indulto - "pardon" granted to a bull for exceptional bravery
ingle - groin, common place for horn wounds
kikiriki - muleta swirled in front of bull's face in a figure of eight
lance - any cape pass, but generally a veronica
larga - a pass where the cape is gathered in one hand and then thrown out
larga cambiada - a cape pass usually done while kneeling
lidia - "combat", everything done with the bull from start to
finish
llamar - to call the bull to charge
llenazo - a full bullring, a complete sell-out
maestro - used to describe an experienced matador
mandar - to dominate the bull
mano a mano - "hand to hand", two matadors perform, competing
with each other
manoletina - muleta is held behind one's back and lifted over bull's head
manso - a bull which refuses to fight to some degree
mariposa - "butterfly", a spectacular pass with cape held behind
one's back
matador de toros - "killer of bulls"
mayoral - ranch foreman who usually accompanies the bulls to the ring
media estocada - when the sword enters the bull with only half the blade
media veronica - pass where the cape is gathered up on the hip, ending
series
querencia - area of the ring chosen by the bull where it feels secure
medios, los - the centre part of the ring
metisaca - where the sword is thrust into the bull and pulled out again
mirando al publico - cape or muleta pass performed while looking at the
crowd
molinete - muleta pass where matador spins round after the horns have passed
mona - picador's leg armour
monsabios - costumed ring servants who assist picadors and drag out dead
bull
montera - hat worn by matadors and banderilleros
morillo - hump of muscle on top of bull's neck
mozo de espadas - matador's sword-handler
muerte, pase de la - "pass of death", matador stands motionless,
muleta high
muleta - red flannel cloth with stick inserted, used during faena
muletazo - a muleta pass
mulillas - team of mules used to drag dead bull from the ring
natural - usually refers to left-handed muleta pass without sword being
used
novillada - a bullfight where the bulls are only three years old
novillero - an apprentice matador who has not received the alternativa
novillo - a three year old bull fought in novilladas
ojo de perdiz - "partridge-eyed", a bull with rings around its
eyes
ole - bravo !
oreja - bull's ear
padrino - "godfather", matador who gives the alternativa to a
novillero
palco - a box in the bullring similar to one in a theatre with several
seats
paletazo - a blow struck with the flat of the horn
palos - "sticks", another word for banderillas
palmas - "palms" of hands, hand claps
panuelo - "handkerchief" used to petition trophies and by President
to signal
parar - "to stop", to stand motionless as bull charges by
parte facultivo - medical bulletin on the condition of an injured torero
pase - a cape or muleta pass
paseillo - when the toreros parade into the ring at start of the bullfight
paseo - as paseillo
pasodble - style of music played by bullring bands
pata - bull's hoof no longer awarded as a trophy
patio de caballos - horse yard at the bullring
pecho, pase de - "chest pass", muleta at chest height as bull
passes
pendulo - "pendulum" pass, muleta held behind back and moved
back and forth
peon - another word for banderillero
peon de confianza - the senior member of a matador's team
percance - an accident or mishap
perfilarse - "to profile", to position oneself for the kill
perpendicular - a sword thrust which penetrates at a near 90 degree angle
peso - the weight of the bull
peto - mattress-like protection worn since 1928 by picador's horse
pica - picador's lance
picar - to wound the bull with the lance
picador - lancer whose job it is to weaken bull's neck muscles
pinchazo - "prick", an unsuccessful sword thrust
piton - the point of a bulls horn
pitos - whistles, signifies a crowd's displeasure
plaza de toros - the bullring plaza
partida - bullring divided in half with different fights in each half
poder a poder - style of placing banderillas, meeting bull almost head
on
presidente - controller of the bullfight, usually a town official
pundonor - point of honour, depth of feeling of a matador
puntazo - a light horn puncture wound or scratch
puntilla - small dagger used by banderilleros to kill a downed bull
puntillero - the banderillero who uses the puntilla
puya - the point of a picador's lance
puyazo - the wound given by the puya
quiebro, al - "on the dodge" style of placing banderillas at
last moment
quite - pass to turn attention of bull or passes following a pic
rabo - bull's tail
raya - chalk lines around the ring
recibiendo - "receiving", bull's charge is provoked when killing
recorte - any pass where the bull is turned so sharply it comes to a stop
redondel - "circle", another word for the arena
redondo, en - to pass the bull all around in a circle
reglamento - official "rule" of bullfighting set by government
rejon de castigo - lance used by rejoneador, top breaks off after placing
rejon de muerte - lance used by rejoneador for the kill
rejoneador - one who fights the bull from horseback, Portuguese-style
rejoneo - a bullfight where the bull is fought from horseback
remate - a finishing pass to a series of passes
res - animal, beast
revolera - a swirling remate pass with the cape
revendadores - ticket touts or scalpers
revista - a review or a review magazine
rodillas, de - a pass done while kneeling
ruedo - the ring
salida - entrance of bull into the ring or exit of bull from a pass
salida en hombros - leaving the bullring on the shoulders of the crowd
saltillo - when the bull jumps out of the ring
semental - bull used for stud
sen~al - ear-mark given to bull to distinguish its ranch
sentado - "seated", pass given or banderillas placed while seated
in a chair
sentido - "sensed", the way the bull learns quickly during the
fight
serio - "serious", a bull witha stern face and good set of horns
serpentina - "serpentine", a swirling cape pass
sesgo, al - entering bull's terrrain to place banderillas
sin verguenza - "without shame", describes a cynical performance
by a matador
sitio - "place", emplacement of bull
sobrero - substitute bull after a bull is rejected
sobresaliente - substitute matador in case one retires injured
sol - "sun", the sunny less expensive side of the arena
sombra - "shade", the shaded more expensive side of the arena
sorteo - the drawing of lots to choose bulls by matadors' representatives
soso - "dull", the perfomance of either bull or matador
suave - "smooth", an ideal bull that charges clean amd straight
subalterno - a member of a matador's team
suerte - refers to either "luck" or an act of the bullfight
suerte contraria - exiting from the kill towards the middle of the ring
suerte natural - exiting from the kill nearer towards the fence
tablas - "boards", the outer rim of the ring
taleguilla - torero's trousers
tanda - a set or series of passes
tantear - "to test", the first passes of a faena to see how the
bull charges
taurino - pertaining to bullfighting
tauromaquia - the science of bullfighting
telefono - a pose where the matador rest his elbow on the bull's forehead
temeroso - a timid bull unwilling to charge
templar - "to moderate", to move the cape or muleta very slowly/smoothly
temple - usimg smoothness and rhythm
temporada - the bullfighting season (March to October in Spain)
tendidos - section of seats directly behind the barrera/contrabarrera seats
tentadero - the testing of calves for bravery (also tienta)
tercio - "a third", the divisions of the arena or the three acts
of the fight
terreno - "terrain", both of the bull and the man
testigo - the matador who acts as a witness at an alternativa
testuz - bull's forehead
tiempo, a un - matador and bull move forward at same time during the kill
tienta - the testing of calves (also tentadero)
tope - wooden shaft at base of puya, wrapped in cord
toreador - archaic name for torero, not used these days
torear - to bullfight
toreo - art/style of bullfighting
toreo de salon - "bullfighting in the living room", practising
with no bull
torero - a generic term for bullfighter
toril - the place from where the bull comes into the ring
toro - the bull, Bos Taurus Ibericus
toros, los - Spanish term for bullfight or bullfighting
traje de luces - "suit of lights", the costume of the torero
trapio - the general physical aspect of the bull, how smart looking it
is
trasera - "rear", a sword thrust too far back in the bull
trastos - "tools", the implements for killing, the muleta and
sword
tremendismo - almost foolhardy brave style which gets the spectators excited
tremendista - a matador or novillero who uses tremendismo
trincherazo - right-handed muleta pass trofeo - "trophy" such
as the ears or tail of the bull
trotar - to trot tuerto - "one-eyed", a bull with defective vision
tumbo - a fall taken by a picador
utrero - a bull between two and three years old
vaca - cow
valiente - "valiant", very brave
vaquero - herdsman
vara - picador's lance
varetazo - a blow with horn but not a wound
veronica - the fundamental two-handed cape pass named after St.Veronica
viento - "wind", the torero's worst enemy after the bull
volapie - "flying feet", man runs toward the bull with sword
to kill it
volcandose - throwing oneself over the horns to kill the bull
voltereta - when the bull tosses a torero through the air
vuelta - a lap of the ring by the matador or dead bull
zapatillas - torero's shoes
Glossary version 1.1 by Tim Hardman (April 1996) with acknowledgement to "Barnaby Conrad's Encyclopedia of Bullfighting" (1962)
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