This glossary includes many of the words found in documents written in Alta California before 1848 and defines such words as they were used at that time. Note that although accent marks (diacritical marks) are used in this list, such marks were sometimes omitted in the handwritten documents.

A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X   Y   Z

The following rules/explanations should be kept in mind.

--  Spanish words ending with   a   are feminine, with   o   are masculine.
--  The initial   h   may be omitted.
--  The following letter pairs are interchangeable:     b  =  v       i  =  y       x  =  j       s  =  z       f  =  ph       ze  =  ce
--  The letter   ñ   is a separate letter of the alphabet which follows   n  .
--  At one time   ch   and   ll   were also separate letters of the alphabet, but we are using the modern Spanish alphabet for this list.

A Back to Top abajo/a = under, below, lower abilitado - see habilitado abordo = aboard abuelo/a = grandparent abuelos maternos = mother's parents abuelos paternos = father's parents adoptivo/a  = adoptive, adopted afinidad = relationship, usually a relationship by marriage or an illicit sexual relationship which required a dispensation to be married agregado = gathered together, included ahorcado (orcado)= hanged ajusticiado = executed alajas = valuables a la mañanita = at day break al anochecer = at nightfall alamito = small cottonwood álamo = cottonwood albañil = mason, usually a stonemason alcalde = official of a community; head of the local council, having both executive and judicial, as well as some legislative powers. Appointed or elected for one year. alférez = lowest rank of army officer, corresponding to ensign in the U.S. Navy, or second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Not to be confused with the Spanish term "teniente", which was a much higher rank alférez de defensores = public defender, defense attorney aliso = alder tree, the native alder is the white alder alto/a = high, tall; upper Alta California = "Upper" California, roughly what is now the current states of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona north of the Gila river. amansebados (amancebados) = living in concubinage; unmarried ambos = both anclado = anchored antes = before Antigua California = Baja California Antigua España = Spain (in Europe) año = year armada = navy arreglo = government regulation arribo/a = above, higher arriero = muleteer articulo de la muerte = at the point of death asesor = a legally trained person who served as a consultant to a lay judge, governor, or a legislative body. (California had very few of these) asistencia = a chapel in an outlying area where services were held by mission priests at irregular intervals aspirante = candidate for military or public office avecinado = residing averiguación = investigation ayudante = assistant, aide ayuntamiento = governing body, usually the city council of a pueblo

B Back to Top baile = dance, ball Baja California = "Lower" California, the peninsula comprising the current Mexican states of Baja California and Baja California Sur. In this time period, the religious, military, and civil center was Loreto. balazo = gunshot bandido = bandit, outlaw bastante = sufficient bautismo = baptism bautizar = to baptize bautize = I baptized boca = mouth. In placenames, the mouth of a stream or river. bolsa = pocket, neck of land between water or swamp borregas = lambs brea = tar, used as a roofing material buque = ship

C Back to Top c.c. (casado con) = married to cemo. (cementerio) = cemetery comande. (comandante) = commandant comde. (comandante) = commandant compa. (compañía) = company corl. (coronel) = colonel caballería = cavalry caballero = cavalryman, gentleman cabo = corporal (military) cadete = cadet (military) cajón = box canyon, place boxed in by hills calesa = two or four wheeled carriage calofate del buque = ship's caulker Californiano = a resident of either Alta or Baja California Californias = term referring to both Alta and Baja California. In earlier documents, Nueva and Antigua California. Californio = a resident of either Alta or Baja California. Neophytes from Baja were referred to as Californios. Cámara de Diputados = Mexican House of Representatives, in Mexico City Campo Santo = holy ground, a cemetery consecrated by the Catholic Church canales (Canales) = canals, the name of a presidio in Durango; channels, the Santa Barbara area (Channel Islands). Sometimes the Santa Barbara presidio was called Presidio de Canales. cantero = stonecutter cañada = glen or dale capellán = chaplain capitán = captain, a high military rank, approximately equal to colonel in the U.S. Army. Also used to refer to the Indian chief of a ranchería. carnal = closely related by blood carta = letter, chart, document casado con (c.c.) = married to casta = a term referring to non "Españoles" Catalonian Volunteers = see Voluntarios de Cataluña Cataluña, Cathaluña = Catalonia Spain cementerio (cemo., zemo.) = cemetery cepo (zepo) = stocks cerca = near cerrito = small hill  chanter = (an English word) one who chants. In this period, one who chanted Gregorian chants, which was a prominent part of Catholic masses; also one who led the padre into the church at the beginning of mass. chico/a = small chiquito/a = very small ciego = blind ciénega = marsh, swamp cinco = five cirujano = surgeon cocina = kitchen cocinero = cook comandante (comande.,  comde.) = commandant comisionado = those empowered by the government to perform some official function. Comisionado de Policia = police inspector. Usually the head of a civil body charged with enforcing the laws. como = about, approximately compañía (compa.) = company complir con = comply with conjuges = married couple conquistadores = conquerors; the very early Spanish soldiers in New Spain. For services  to church and crown, they and their descendents were given special privileges. consanguinidad = relationship by blood consorte = husband/wife, spouse conste lo firme = that it be so, I signed it contramaestre = boatswain contrayento = betrothed convinado = belonging coronel (corl.) = colonel costura = seamstress coyote = a person of mixed race: Español, Indian, and Negro criado = manservant cual = which cuatro = four cundado/a = sister/brother in law

D Back to Top d. (día) = day dfto/a. (difunto/a) = deceased person dho/a. (dicho/a) = aforesaid Dn. (Don) = mister, sir Dna. (Doña) = lady de la mañana = in the morning de la tarde = in the afternoon desfiliado/a = neophyte removed from the rolls of a mission desgraciado = unfortunate día (d.) = day día antecedente = the day before día anterior = the day before diablo = devil días tras días = day after day dicho/a (dho/a.) = aforesaid Diegueños = early Spanish name for San Diego Indian tribes, now called Kumya'ay diez = ten difunto/a (dfto/a.) = deceased person diligencias matrimonial - see informaciones diputación = council, usually elected diseño = map, sketch attached to land claims di sepultura eclesiática = gave ecclesiastical burial doce = twelve domiciliados = residing Domingo de Ramos = Palm Sunday (used as a name) Don (Dn.) = mister, sir doncella = young lady, unmarried Doña (Dna.) = lady duda = doubt

E Back to Top ECN (en casu necessitatis) = in case of necessity EPM (en peligro de muerte, en periculo mortis) = in peril of death ebrio = drunk, inebriated edad = age ejército = army encargado de justicia = a judge similar to juez de paz en casu necessitatis (ECN) = in case of necessity encinitos = small live oaks encinos = live oaks, evergreen as opposed to "robles" which were deciduous oaks enfermero = nurse en la mar = at sea en peligro de muerte (EPM) = in peril of death en periculo mortis (EPM) = in peril of death entonce = formerly, then entrada = entrance, entry enyervado = poisoned errero see herrero escándalo = scandal escolta = the squad of soldiers assigned to protect a mission or a pueblo (normally 5 soldiers and one corporal) escuadra = squadron (military) español = a person of primarily Spanish ancestry. In practice in California, sometimes applied to anyone who had fully assimilated into the Hispanic culture including Indian, mestizo, mulatto and coyote. esperanza = hope espiritual = related spiritually through the godparent relationship esposo/a = spouse estero = tidal creek, salt marsh expósito/a = foundling, abandoned child

F Back to Top falleció = died feligrés = parishioner fiscal = prosecuting attorney, specially appointed to handle a particular case on behalf of the public interest fondo piadoso = the Pious Fund, a benevolent fund of the Catholic Church to promulgate the faith and care for the needy fragata = frigate

G Back to Top gobr. (gobernador)  = governor govr. (gobernador) = governor gemelo/a = twin gente de razón = "people of reason", non-Indian; a member of the established Christian community. This sometimes included second generation Indians, as well as some neophytes who had assimilated into the community gentile = in this period, applied to Indians who had not been baptized gobernador (gobr., govr.)  = governor golpe = a blow Guatmotal = placename, probably near Capistrano

H Back to Top h.l. (hijo/a legitimo/a) = legitimate child habilitado = paymaster, quartermaster hacienda = large home hechar el agua = sprinkle water (baptize) hermano/a = sister/brother herrero = blacksmith hijo/a = son, daughter hijo/a espurio = illegitimate children of parents who could not marry, where one or both parents were currently married to someone else. The term appears infrequently, when the padre was annoyed with one or both of the parents. hijo/a legitimo/a (h.l.) = legitimate child hijo/a natural = properly, illegitimate son or daughter of parents who could marry. Actually used generally for illegitimate children. hoy (oi) = today huérfano/a = orphan huerta = garden, orchard huesos = bones

I Back to Top indio/a = Indian informaciones = documents establishing that a couple were eligible to marry under the rules set up by the Council of Trent. They were required for all marriages. ingle = groin inominado/a = unnamed in periculo mortis = in peril of death inválido = retired soldier item = ditto

J Back to Top jacalón = hut made of branches jarazo = wound with a dart juez de campo = acted as judge and jury at a rodeo to decide the ownership of disputed animals. His decision was final. juez de paz = justice of the peace, who handled local disputes, primarily civil junta = a group joined together to pursue a cause. Sometimes applied to governing councils.

K Back to Top

L Back to Top leguas = leagues (about 3.5 miles) legitimate = make legitimate by subsequent marriage previous hijos naturales. Theoretically hijos espurios could not be legitimatized, however, it is clear that this occurred. Libro de Bautizados = Book of Baptisms, where all baptisms were recorded, includes the full names of both parents, sometimes with all grandparents, occupation of the father, and always the padrinos. Libro de Confirmaciones = Book of Confirmations, where all confirmations were recorded, included the name of the confirmed, parents of children, madrino or padrino, and sometimes the age. (Boys had padrinos, girls madrinas, which is helpful to determine the sex of the child.) Libro de Difuntos = Book of Deaths, where all deaths were recorded, usually the parents were named, or spouse for adults, and sometimes the baptismal number for Indian deaths. Libro de Matrimonios = Book of Marriages, where all marriages were recorded, included the names of bride and groom, whether they were single, widow or widower, usually the names of their parents, dispensations if any, and the names of witnesses. line = one twelfth of an inch llamada = named lugar = place

M Back to Top M-R (Monte-Rey) = Monterey Misn. = Mission madre = mother madrina = godmother madrugada = dawn maestre = mate of a merchant ship maestro = master, highly skilled artisan mala vida = "bad life", a euphemism for prostitute; also applied to women of notoriously bad moral character mallorquín = of or from Majorca mañana = tomorrow, later, never; morning marido/a = spouse marinero = mariner, sailor mayordomo = steward, overseer media- = half- (as media hermana = half-sister) media noche = midnight medio día = noon mes = month mestizo = of mixed Spanish-Indian blood mismo = same modo = manner monte = mountain, hill; back country Monte-Rey (M-R) = Monterey morador = resident morba = disease mozo = young man, man-servant, bachelor mucho/a = much, many muchacho/a = girl/boy muger = wife, woman mulato/a = person of mixed Black and European ancestry

N Back to Top n. = no name n.n. (notario nombrado) = notary N.S. (Nuestra Señora) = Our Lady natl. (natural) = native of no. (nuevo) = new nacer = to be born nacido/a = born natural (natl.) = native of neofito/a = local Indian, baptized, but not fully assimilated into the Hispanic society, a neophyte nieto/a = grandchild nino/a = girl/boy notario nombrado (n.n.) = notary noche = night noche antes = the night before novio/a = fiancée, fiancé, sweetheart nuevo/a (no.) = new Nueva California = Alta California nueve = nine Nuestra Señora (N.S.) = Our Lady nutria = otter

O Back to Top ocho = eight oi - see hoy once = eleven orcado - see ahorcado orejano = unbranded calf or colt of uncertain parentage originario = originally a resident of orilla = edge, shore

P Back to Top p. (padre) = father; priest p.n.c. (padre no conocido) = father unknown pdo = presidio pps. (padres) = parentsbr> privadmte. (privadmente)  = privately prova. (provincia) = province padrasto = step-father padre (p.) = father; priest padre no conocido (p.n.c.) = father unknown padres (pps.) = parents padrino = godfather padrinos = godparents, with the obligation to ensure the proper spiritual upbringing of a child and also to provide support and care in case of death or disability of the parents. Also, the sponsor at confirmation. padrón = census, also the ongoing record of all Indian neophytes and families belonging to a mission palo = tree playa = beach paquebot = packet (ship) párroco (parroquia) = parish parto = childbirth párvulo/a = young child perteneciente = pertaining, belonging pila = font (baptismal) piquete = picket, a small body of troops plantar = establish, settle plaza = place, position pluma = quill, writer, scribe poblador = settler. Usually applied to the first settlers of a pueblo. poco = little, few poniendome = placing on me por la tarde = in the afternoon por necesidad = of necessity prefect = local official pregunta = question presbitero = priest presidario = convict, prisoner presidio = garrisoned fort. There were 5 in the Californias: Loreto, San Diego, Monterey, San Francisco, and Santa Barbara. A fully manned garrison was 55,  including officers, although it was frequently less, from which the escoltas were drawn for each mission and pueblo. preso = prisoner primo/a = cousin primer (o) = first, chief, leading privadmente (privadmte.)  = privately propio = proper, one's own provincia (prova.) = province pueblo = specifically, chartered town, i.e., San Jose, Los Angeles, and Branciforte. After secularization, there were others puente = bridge puerto = seaport punta = point of land

Q Back to Top quince = fifteen

R Back to Top r.n. (recién nacido) = recently born rancha. (ranchería) = Indian village rl. (real) = royal rn (recién nacido) = recently born rana = frog ranchería (rancha.) = Indian village rancho = large land holding with cattle real (rl.) = royal reales = Spanish coins, 1/8 of a peso, about 12.5 cents, a "bit" recién nacido (r.n./rn) = recently born refugio (Refugio) = refuge. (Also, a given name.) regidor = councilman (lower than alcalde) reino = kingdom repentimente = suddenly respuesta = reply, answer retirado = retired rey (rei) = king rico = rich rincón = nook, small piece of land rodeo = round up of stock

S Back to Top s. (soldado) = soldier s.c. (soldado de cuera) = leather jacket soldier s.v. (soldado voluntario = volunteer soldier, Catalonian volunteer sargto. (sargento) = sergeant (military) sirvte. (sirviente) = servant, employee Sn., S. = San (as in San Carlos) sacó de pila = to stand sponsor, to be godparent sangrador = bloodletter.  sanja (Zanja Santiago!) = war-cry of the Spanish, used also as the starting signal for a horse race santo = holy sarampión = measles sargento (sargto.) = sergeant (military) secularización = secularization; the conversion of all Mission properties to civilian use, begun in the 1830s seguridad = security, certainty sentó plaza = enlisted sien = temple, head seis = six semana = week serbiente = servant. Frequently also applied to artisan employees siete = seven síndico = town attorney concerned with pueblo ordinances, permits for dances, fairs, etc. However, it has a broader meaning of trustee, receiver, overseeing officials of some sort or another. sirviente (sirvte.) = servant, employee sitio = small farm sobre = about . sobrino/a = niece/nephew soldado (s.) = soldier soldado de cuera (s.c.) = leather jacket soldier. The common soldier of the Southwest, usually mounted. The jacket was a knee length coat of seven layers of deer hide, effective against arrows, but not bullets. soldado distinguido = soldier given extra privileges, usually due to belonging to a ranking family, i.e. he did not perform K.P. or latrine duty soldado voluntero (s.v.) = volunteer soldier, Catalonian volunteer soltero/a = single person, never married sordo = deaf sor (sur) = south supercargo = (an English word) a ship's officer in charge of cargo. Usually responsible for sales and purchase of hides and tallow.

T Back to Top t. (téstigo) = witness tene. (teniente) = lieutenant (military) thene. (teniente) = lieutenant (military) tt. (téstigos) = witnesses también = also teja = roof tile.  teniente (tene., thene.) = lieutenant (military) téstigo (t.) = witness téstigos (tt.) = witnesses téstigos de asista = witnesses to marriage ceremony téstigos prior = those who testified to the marriageability of the couple tiempo = time tonelero = cooper trajo (traxo) = brought trece = thirteen tres = three tule = tule, reed, rush tutor = teacher, guardian of a minor

U Back to Top uno = one

V Back to Top v. (voluntario) = volunteer (military), usually used for the Catalonian volunteers vol. (voluntario) = volunteer (military), usually used for the Catalonian volunteers vara = measure of length about a yard voluntario (v., vol.) = volunteer (military) usually used for the Catalonian volunteers valle = valley vecindad = vicinity, inhabitants of a place vecino (s) = resident (s), neighbor (s) velación = literally, the blessing of a marriage. Although couples could be married at any time, the velación could not be performed during certain periods such as Lent and Advent, so that this final sacrament of marriage could occur considerably after the marriage. Normally both ceremonies were performed together. víbora = rattlesnake viejo/a = old person vigilante = member of a vigilance committee, an unauthorized committee organized for the maintenance of order and summary punishment of crime in the absence of regular or efficient courts. visitador general = ecclesiastical inspector of missions and parishes vino = came viruelas = smallpox viudo/a = widow/widower vocal = member of a committee or governing body voluntario (v., vol.) = volunteer (military), usually used for the Catalonian volunteers Voluntarios de Cataluña = Catalonian Volunteers, a group of about 100 soldiers recruited in Catalonia Spain in the late 1700s for service on the frontier of New Spain. As time passed, recruits came from Mexico, but their ancestry were supposed to be from Catalonia.

W Back to Top

X Back to Top

Y Back to Top yerna/o = daughter/son-in-law ygla. (yglesia) = church yglesia (ygla.) = church

Z Back to Top zemo. (zementerio) = cemetery zaguán = entrance zanja = ditch Zanja Santiago! - see sanja zementerio (zemo.) = cemetery zepo (cepo) = stocks