Terminology

  • Cap or Capping fee: A contribution to the upkeep of hounds paid by visitors and nonmembers for a day’s hunting (originally dropped into the outstretched cap of the field secretary)
  • Check: Stopping point between lines, to gather and count hounds, give them a short break and water, make sure everyone in fields is accounted for and ready to continue. This is the appropriate time to ask to retire or change fields. 
  • Couple: Two hounds for convenience of counting.
  • Field Master: The person designated by the MFHs to control the field in their absence.
  • Fixtures: The lands and properties on which HFH hunts
  • Fixture Card: The printed schedule of hunt meets, listing times and locations
  • Headland: Usually a command from the Field Master (“Headland, please!”) to stay to the edges of the field and off the crops or grass.
  • Hold Hard: The command to stop and stand still
  • Lark: To gallop and jump for pleasure or diversion even though hounds are not running
  • Line: Section of the hunt route.
  • Master: The “Master of Foxhounds” (MFH). The person in command of the hunt in the field and the kennels.
  • Ratcatcher: Informal hunting attire: customarily shirt, tie, tweed coat, and field boots
  • Stirrup cup: A liquid toast offered at fox hunting meets
  • Ware: A shortening of the word beware, i.e. ware hole, ware wire, etc. Should not be used to alert the field to passage of individuals. Instead use, “staff, please” or “huntsman, please,”  “hounds please”, etc.
  • Whipper-in: Assists the huntsman (extra eyes and ears) with hounds during the hunting day by going on point, viewing the quarry away, watching and correcting (if necessary) hounds, bringing on the tail hounds. If an amateur, he or she is referred to as an honorary whipper-in.