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A GLOSSARY OF BULLFIGHT TERMS
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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