This is a list of terminology used in the fictional ''Dune'' universe created by

Frank Herbert Franklin Patrick Herbert Jr. (October 8, 1920February 11, 1986) was an American science-fiction author, best known for his 1965 novel Dune (novel), ''Dune'' and its five sequels. He also wrote short stories and worked as a newspaper journalist, ...

, the primary source being "Terminology of the Imperium", the glossary contained in the novel ''

Dune A dune is a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill. An area with dunes is called a dune system or a dune complex. A large dune complex is called a dune field, while broad, flat ...

'' (1965). ''Dune'' word construction could be classified into three domains of vocabulary, each marked with its own

neology Neology ("study of new hings) was the name given to the rationalist theology of Germany or the rationalisation of the Christian religion. It was preceded by slightly less radical Wolffism. ''Chambers English Dictionary'' of 1872 adds the appli ...

: the names and terms related to the politics and culture of the Imperium, the names and terms characteristic of the mystic sodality of the Bene Gesserit, and the barely displaced Arabic of the

Fremen The Fremen are a group of people in the fictional Dune (franchise), ''Dune'' universe created by Frank Herbert. First appearing in the 1965 novel ''Dune (novel), Dune'', the Fremen inhabit the desert planet Arrakis (also known as Dune), which ...

language. Fremen share vocabulary for Arrakeen phenomena with the Empire, but use completely different vocabulary for Bene Gesserit-implanted messianic religion. Due to the similarities between some of Herbert's terms and ideas and actual words and concepts in the

Arabic Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...

and

Hebrew language Hebrew (; ''ʿÎbrit'') is a Northwest Semitic language within the Afroasiatic language family. A regional dialect of the Canaanite languages, it was natively spoken by the Israelites and remained in regular use as a first language unti ...

s as well as the series' "

Islam Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...

ic undertones" and themes a

Middle East The Middle East (term originally coined in English language) is a geopolitical region encompassing the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and Iraq. The term came into widespread usage by the United Kingdom and western Eur ...

ern influence on Herbert's works has been noted repeatedly. There are over eighty terms used of Arabic origin, several other loanwords from

Indo-European languages The Indo-European languages are a language family native to the northern Indian subcontinent, most of Europe, and the Iranian plateau with additional native branches found in regions such as Sri Lanka, the Maldives, parts of Central Asia (e. ...

such as German and Persian, and words from the North American Na-Dene language Navajo.

A

* Aba – A loose, usually black robe worn by

women and Bene Gesserit sisters. * Abomination – Bene Gesserit term for one who is pre-born and thus susceptible to being taken over by the ancestral personalities in Other Memory.Herbert, Frank (1965). ''Dune''. * Ajidamal (or Amal) – Disastrously-flawed synthetic melange created by the Tleilaxu Project Amal before the process of producing spice in

axlotl tank Technology is a key aspect of the fictional setting of the Dune (franchise), ''Dune'' series of science fiction novels written by Frank Herbert, and derivative works. Herbert's concepts and inventions have been analyzed and deconstructed in at lea ...

s is perfected. Herbert, Brian and Anderson, Kevin J. (1999-2001). ''

Prelude to Dune The ''Dune'' prequel series is a sequence of novel trilogy, trilogies written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. Set in the Dune (franchise), ''Dune'' universe created by Frank Herbert, the novels take place in various time periods before and ...

''. * Akarso – "Plant native to Sikun (of 70 Ophiuchi A) characterized by almost oblong leaves. Its green and white stripes indicate the constant multiple, condition of parallel active and dormant

chlorophyll Chlorophyll is any of several related green pigments found in cyanobacteria and in the chloroplasts of algae and plants. Its name is derived from the Greek words (, "pale green") and (, "leaf"). Chlorophyll allows plants to absorb energy ...

regions." * Arafel – The "cloud-darkness of holy judgment"Herbert, Frank (1981). ''

God Emperor of Dune ''God Emperor of Dune'' is a science fiction novel by American writer Frank Herbert, published in 1981. The fourth in his ''Dune'' series of six novels, it was ranked as the No. 11 hardcover fiction best seller of 1981 by ''Publishers Weekly''. ...

''. or "cloud darkness at the end of the universe;"Herbert, Frank (1984). ''

Heretics of Dune ''Heretics of Dune'' is a 1984 science fiction novel by Frank Herbert, the fifth in his Dune (franchise), ''Dune'' series of six novels. Set 1,500 years after the events of ''God Emperor of Dune'' (1981), the novel finds humanity on the path se ...

''. the end of mankind (as it was) averted by Leto II's Golden Path. *

Axlotl tank Technology is a key aspect of the fictional setting of the Dune (franchise), ''Dune'' series of science fiction novels written by Frank Herbert, and derivative works. Herbert's concepts and inventions have been analyzed and deconstructed in at lea ...

– Biological tank in which

ghola Technology is a key aspect of the fictional setting of the Dune (franchise), ''Dune'' series of science fiction novels written by Frank Herbert, and derivative works. Herbert's concepts and inventions have been analyzed and deconstructed in at lea ...

s and melange may be produced.Herbert, Frank (1969). '' Dune Messiah''. * Assassin's Handbook – "Third-century compilation of poisons commonly used in a War of Assassins. Later expanded to include those deadly devices permitted under the

Guild A guild ( ) is an association of artisans and merchants who oversee the practice of their craft/trade in a particular territory. The earliest types of guild formed as organizations of tradespeople belonging to a professional association. They so ...

Peace and Great Convention."

B

* Baliset – "Nine-stringed musical instrument, lineal descendant of the zithra, tuned to the Chusuk scale and played by strumming. Favorite instrument of Imperial troubadours." Gurney Halleck is a master at playing the baliset in the series. In

David Lynch David Keith Lynch (January 20, 1946 – January 16, 2025) was an American filmmaker, visual artist, musician, and actor. Widely considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Lynch was often called a "visionary" and received acclaim f ...

's 1984 adaptation of ''Dune'', a cosmetically altered Chapman Stick was used to portray the instrument. In the miniseries '' Frank Herbert's Dune'', the baliset resembles a renaissance-era

lute A lute ( or ) is any plucked string instrument with a neck (music), neck and a deep round back enclosing a hollow cavity, usually with a sound hole or opening in the body. It may be either fretted or unfretted. More specifically, the term "lu ...

, with the pegbox bent back almost 90°. A real-world version of the baliset has been created, divided into two sections, the treble played with the right hand, and the bass the left. Unlike a guitar, each hand can play either chords or separate notes. * Bashar – Military rank, slightly above a traditional

Colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

and primarily used for military leader of a planetary subdistrict; alternately, Colonel Bashar, or Supreme Bashar for a military's most senior commander. * Bene Gesserit – Secretive and powerful

matriarchal Matriarchy is a social system in which positions of power and privilege are held by women. In a broader sense it can also extend to moral authority, social privilege, and control of property. While those definitions apply in general English, ...

order whose members possess extraordinary physical and mental powers. * Bene Tleilax (or Tleilaxu) – Secretive and powerful

patriarchal Patriarchy is a social system in which positions of authority are primarily held by men. The term ''patriarchy'' is used both in anthropology to describe a family or clan controlled by the father or eldest male or group of males, and in fem ...

race known for their genetic manipulation technologies. * Buddislam – Term for those religions derived from a syncretic fusion of denominations of

Buddhism Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...

and

. * Burseg – Military general. * Butlerian Jihad – Mankind's "crusade against

computer A computer is a machine that can be Computer programming, programmed to automatically Execution (computing), carry out sequences of arithmetic or logical operations (''computation''). Modern digital electronic computers can perform generic set ...

s, thinking machines, and conscious

robot A robot is a machine—especially one Computer program, programmable by a computer—capable of carrying out a complex series of actions Automation, automatically. A robot can be guided by an external control device, or the robot control, co ...

s." The term

jihad ''Jihad'' (; ) is an Arabic word that means "exerting", "striving", or "struggling", particularly with a praiseworthy aim. In an Islamic context, it encompasses almost any effort to make personal and social life conform with God in Islam, God ...

is of Arabic origin.

C

* Caid – "Sardaukar officer rank given to a military official whose duties call mostly for dealings with civilians; A military governorship over a full planetary district; Above the rank of Bashar but not equal to a Burseg." * Caladan – Ancestral homeworld of House Atreides. A lush, oceanic planet with a wet,

temperate In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (approximately 23.5° to 66.5° N/S of the Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ran ...

climate, Caladan had served as the Atreides’ home for at least twenty-six generations at the time of the

first novel A debut novel is the first novel a novelist publishes. Debut novels are often the author's first opportunity to make an impact on the publishing industry, and thus the success or failure of a debut novel can affect the ability of the author to p ...

. * Carryall – Aircraft used on Arrakis to "transport large

spice In the culinary arts, a spice is any seed, fruit, root, Bark (botany), bark, or other plant substance in a form primarily used for flavoring or coloring food. Spices are distinguished from herbs, which are the leaves, flowers, or stems of pl ...

mining, hunting and refining equipment." * Chairdogs – Living and partially sentient creatures created by the Tleilaxu, which are used for seating and possess the ability to shape themselves to fit their occupant. * Chakobsa – Language on Arrakis, used by the

for rituals and other purposes, inspired by the Caucasian hunting language of the same name. The language was further developed by David J. Peterson and Jessie Peterson for the films ''

'' (2021) and '' Dune: Part Two'' (2024). * Chaumas (or Aumas) – "Poison in solid food as distinguished from poison administered in some other way." * Chaumurky (or Musky) – "Poison administered in a drink." * CHOAM (Combine Honnete Ober Advancer Mercantiles) – the "universal development

corporation A corporation or body corporate is an individual or a group of people, such as an association or company, that has been authorized by the State (polity), state to act as a single entity (a legal entity recognized by private and public law as ...

controlled by the

Emperor The word ''emperor'' (from , via ) can mean the male ruler of an empire. ''Empress'', the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), mother/grandmother (empress dowager/grand empress dowager), or a woman who rules ...

and Great Houses with the

and Bene Gesserit as silent partners." This corporation essentially controls the economy of the known universe, with

shares In financial markets, a share (sometimes referred to as stock or equity) is a unit of equity ownership in the capital stock of a corporation. It can refer to units of mutual funds, limited partnerships, and real estate investment trusts. Sha ...

and directorships determining each House's income and financial leverage. * Cogitor – One of several ancient philosophers whose brains are transplanted into fluid-filled canisters so that they can analyze the universe indefinitely.Herbert, Brian and Anderson, Kevin J. (2002-2004). '' Legends of Dune''. * Communinet, ComNet or Comms – A local planetary communications network. Similar to

wireless Wireless communication (or just wireless, when the context allows) is the transfer of information (''telecommunication'') between two or more points without the use of an electrical conductor, optical fiber or other continuous guided transm ...

radio Radio is the technology of communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 3 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transmitter connec ...

communications, it relies on

electromagnetic radiation In physics, electromagnetic radiation (EMR) is a self-propagating wave of the electromagnetic field that carries momentum and radiant energy through space. It encompasses a broad spectrum, classified by frequency or its inverse, wavelength ...

to transmit audio and other information. Used by the Atreides and Harkonnen forces to communicate and issue battle commands. * Cone of silence – Sound-deadening "field of a distorter that limits the carrying power of the voice or any other vibrator by damping the vibrations with an image-vibration 180 degrees out of phase." Used for privacy, the field does not visually obscure lip movement. * Coriolis storm – Sandstorms on Arrakis in which "winds across the open flatlands are amplified by the planet's own revolutionary motion to reach speeds up to 700 kilometres per hour." * Crysknife – Weapon made from the tooth of a sandworm from Arrakis. * Cutterray – "Short-range version of a lasgun used mostly as a cutting tool and surgeon's scalpel." *

Cymek Technology is a key aspect of the fictional setting of the Dune (franchise), ''Dune'' series of science fiction novels written by Frank Herbert, and derivative works. Herbert's concepts and inventions have been analyzed and deconstructed in at lea ...

– Type of

cyborg A cyborg (, a portmanteau of ''cybernetics, cybernetic'' and ''organism'') is a being with both Organic matter, organic and biomechatronic body parts. The term was coined in 1960 by Manfred Clynes and Nathan S. Kline.

D

* D-wolves – Guardians of the Sareer on Arrakis in the time of Leto II Atreides; ferocious wolves descended from Gaze Hounds and ordinary wolves, "noted for their keen eyesight." * Damper, Ixian – Portable device which hides words from anyone without the proper coded translator, and projects distortions that hide the precise movements of lips and the sounds of voices. It is described as a "black disc" buoyed midair by suspensors. * Deathstill – Fremen device used to extract all moisture from a living or dead human or creature. This is traditionally done to reclaim precious water from the dead, who no longer require it; but in '' Children of Dune'' the device is used as a method of execution. * Distrans – Steganographic device producing a "temporary neural imprint on the nervous system of ''

Chiroptera Bats are flying mammals of the order Chiroptera (). With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are more agile in flight than most birds, flying with their very long spread-out ...

'' (bats) or birds. The creature's normal cry then carries the message imprint, which can be sorted from that

carrier wave In telecommunications, a carrier wave, carrier signal, or just carrier, is a periodic waveform (usually sinusoidal) that conveys information through a process called ''modulation''. One or more of the wave's properties, such as amplitude or freq ...

by another distrans."

E

* Elacca drug – Narcotic produced from the "blood-grained" elacca wood of Ecaz; users' skin shows a characteristic

carrot The carrot ('' Daucus carota'' subsp. ''sativus'') is a root vegetable, typically orange in colour, though heirloom variants including purple, black, red, white, and yellow cultivars exist, all of which are domesticated forms of the wild ...

color. The drug's effect is to remove most of the will to self-preservation; commonly used to prepare slave

gladiator A gladiator ( , ) was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gladiators were volunteers who risked their ...

s for the ring. * Ego-likeness – Portraiture of one or more people, reproduced through a shigawire projector, that is capable of showing subtle movements said to convey the mannerisms and ego essence of the subjects.

F

* Face Dancers – Creatures created by the Bene Tleilax that are able to mimic other humans exactly and go undetected by all known means, except by Bene Gesserit Truthsayers. * Famine Times – Years after the reign of Leto II, marked by chaos and famine on many worlds, that led to the Scattering. * Faufreluches – "The rigid rule of class distinction enforced by the Imperium. 'A place for every man and every man in his place.'" * Fedaykin – "Fremen death

commando A commando is a combatant, or operative of an elite light infantry or special operations force, specially trained for carrying out raids and operating in small teams behind enemy lines. Originally, "a commando" was a type of combat unit, as oppo ...

s; historically: a group formed and pledged to give their lives to right a wrong." In ''Dune'', they are personally trained by, and fiercely loyal to,

Paul Atreides Paul Atreides (; later known as Paul Muad'Dib, and later still as The Preacher) is a fictional character in the Dune (franchise), ''Dune'' universe created by Frank Herbert. He is a main character in the first two novels in the series, ''Dune ( ...

. The term is derived from the Arabic

Fedayeen Fedayeen ( ''fidāʻiyyūn'' "self-sacrificers") is an Arabic language, Arabic term used to refer to various military groups willing to sacrifice themselves for a larger campaign. Etymology "Fidayun" is the plural of "fidayi" ( ''fidāʻiyy'' ...

. * Filmbook – A shigawire imprint, used for training and education, which carries a mnemonic pulse that imprints information and corresponding images in the reader's mind. * Fish Speakers – All-female military force created by Leto II Atreides to enforce his rule over the known universe. * Fogwood – Plant native to Ecaz, capable of being shaped by thought alone. * Foldspace – An extra-dimensional region outside of

spacetime In physics, spacetime, also called the space-time continuum, is a mathematical model that fuses the three dimensions of space and the one dimension of time into a single four-dimensional continuum. Spacetime diagrams are useful in visualiz ...

accessible using a Holtzman drive, and traversable only by Guild Navigators who have ingested vast amounts of the psychotropic drug melange. *

– "Native" inhabitants of Arrakis. * Fremkit – Fremen desert survival kit. Notable contents include an inflatable stilltent, a sand snorkel, a thumper, and maker hooks. * Frigate – A class of spacecraft employed as both a troop carrier and a

battleship A battleship is a large, heavily naval armour, armored warship with a main battery consisting of large naval gun, guns, designed to serve as a capital ship. From their advent in the late 1880s, battleships were among the largest and most form ...

. It was said that all the frigates and transport ships of House Atreides occupied a single corner of a Guild Heighliner’s immense cargo hold. * Futar – Primitive and fierce humanoid creatures, a genetic mix of human and cat, artificially created by the Bene Tleilax out in the Scattering to hunt Honored Matres. Introduced briefly in ''

'' and appearing in '' Chapterhouse: Dune'', the species are brought as captives to the "million planets" by the Honored Matres, who keep them as pets. Futars use their voice-like scream to immobilize Honored Matres, but the scream has no effect on the Bene Gesserit.

G

* Galach – Universal language of the ''Dune'' universe. *

Ghola Technology is a key aspect of the fictional setting of the Dune (franchise), ''Dune'' series of science fiction novels written by Frank Herbert, and derivative works. Herbert's concepts and inventions have been analyzed and deconstructed in at lea ...

– A type of Clone grown in an

from genetic material retrieved from the cells of a deceased subject. * Giedi Prime (later Gammu) – Homeworld of House Harkonnen. A dark, barren planet covered in buildings, factories, industrial plants and a heavy layer of pollution. This resulted in a low level of photosynthesis, leading to a severe lack of oxygen and the extinction of most animal and plant life on the planet’s surface. *

Glowglobe Technology is a key aspect of the fictional setting of the Dune (franchise), ''Dune'' series of science fiction novels written by Frank Herbert, and derivative works. Herbert's concepts and inventions have been analyzed and deconstructed in at lea ...

– " Suspensor-buoyed illuminating device, self-powered (usually by organic batteries)." * Golden Lion Throne – Refers to both the physical throne upon which the Padishah Emperor sits, as well as the figurative position of the Emperor as the head of the Landsraad Council and ruler of the Known Universe. * Golden Path – Leto II's strategy to prevent humanity's destruction.Herbert, Frank (1976). '' Children of Dune''. * Gom jabbar – "Specific poison needle tipped with meta-

cyanide In chemistry, cyanide () is an inorganic chemical compound that contains a functional group. This group, known as the cyano group, consists of a carbon atom triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom. Ionic cyanides contain the cyanide anion . This a ...

used by Bene Gesserit Proctors in their death-alternative test of human awareness." * Great Convention – "Universal truce enforced under the power balance maintained by the

, the Great Houses, and the Imperium. Its chief rule prohibits the use of atomic weapons against human targets." * Guild Navigator – Melange-mutated humans able to safely navigate interstellar space (using prescience) in ships called Heighliners.

H

* Handlers – Humanoid race who bred and trained Futars to hunt Honored Matres.Herbert, Frank (1985). '' Chapterhouse: Dune''. * Harvester (also Harvester Factory or Crawler) – "Large (often 120 metres by 40 metres) spice mining machine ... ith abuglike body on independent tracks." * Heighliner – Enormous carrier

starship A starship, starcraft, or interstellar spacecraft is a theoretical spacecraft designed for interstellar travel, traveling between planetary systems. The term is mostly found in science fiction. Reference to a "star-ship" appears as early as 1 ...

s used by the Spacing Guild for

interstellar travel Interstellar travel is the hypothetical travel of spacecraft between star systems. Due to the vast distances between the Solar System and nearby stars, interstellar travel is not practicable with current propulsion technologies. To travel between ...

. *

Holtzman effect Technology is a key aspect of the fictional setting of the ''Dune'' series of science fiction novels written by Frank Herbert, and derivative works. Herbert's concepts and inventions have been analyzed and deconstructed in at least one book, '' T ...

– Scientific phenomenon that makes (among other things) instantaneous space travel and defensive force shields possible. * Honored Matres – Violent matriarchal order formed in the Scattering. * Hunter-seeker – "Ravening sliver of suspensor-buoyed metal guided as a weapon by a nearby control console; common

assassination Assassination is the willful killing, by a sudden, secret, or planned attack, of a personespecially if prominent or important. It may be prompted by political, ideological, religious, financial, or military motives. Assassinations are orde ...

device." Floating in mid-air, it kills by entering the body and following nerve pathways to vital organs. A hunter-seeker is employed in ''Dune'' in an assassination attempt on

. * Hypnobong – Device in the shape of a concave base that induced a drug-like state. According to Reverend Mother Lucilla it is outlawed in most of the civilized worlds.

I

* Inkvine – "Creeping plant native to Giedi Prime and frequently used as a whip in its slave pens. Victims are marked by beet-colored tattoos that cause residual pain for many years." * Ixian damper – Portable device which hides words from anyone without the proper coded translator, and projects distortions that hide the precise movements of lips and the sounds of voices. It is described as a "black disc" buoyed midair by suspensors. * Ixian Probe – Device used to capture the thoughts of a person (living or dead) for analysis; can be blocked by the substance shere.

J

* Judge of the Change – "An official appointed by the Landsraad High Council and the

to monitor a change of

fief A fief (; ) was a central element in medieval contracts based on feudal law. It consisted of a form of property holding or other rights granted by an overlord to a vassal, who held it in fealty or "in fee" in return for a form of feudal alle ...

, a kanly negotiation, or formal battle in a War of Assassins. The Judge's arbitral authority may be challenged only before the High Council with the Emperor present."

K

* Kaitain – New homeworld of House Corrino (following the environmental destruction of Salusa Secundus) and capital of the Corrino Empire. Kaitain is also the location of the Imperial Court and Golden Lion Throne, as well as the meeting place of the Landsraad Council. * Kanly – "Formal feud or vendetta under the rules of the Great Convention carried on according to the strictest limitations". Derived from , a Turkish word for a blood feud between Islamic tribes of the Caucasus. * ''Kralizec'' – Long-foretold "Typhoon Struggle" or final "battle at the end of the universe". * Krimskell fiber/Krimskell rope – "The 'claw fiber' woven from strands of the ''hufuf'' vine from Ecaz. Knots tied in krimskell will claw tighter and tighter to preset limits when the knot-lines are pulled." * Kwisatz Haderach – "The Shortening of the Way" or "The one who can be two places simultaneously". Bene Gesserit label applied to "the unknown for which they sought a genetic solution: a male Bene Gesserit whose organic mental powers would bridge space and time." Originating from the Hebrew word kefitzat haderech.

L

* Landsraad – The Assembly of all nobles in the Imperium. * Lasgun – Handheld energy weapon, technically a "continuous-wave laser projector;" also lasegun. * Laza tiger – A breed of tiger brought to Salusa Secundus "almost eight thousand years" before the events of '' Children of Dune''. "Genetic manipulation of the ancient Terran stock had erased some of the original tiger features and refined other elements. The fangs remained long. Their faces were wide, eyes alert and intelligent. The paws were enlarged to give them support on uneven terrain and their sheathed claws could extend some ten centimeters, sharpened at the ends into razor tips by abrasive compression of the sheath. Their coats were a flat and even tan which made them almost invisible against sand." * Levenbrech – A military rank that is roughly in between a sergeant and a lieutenant. * ''Lisan al Gaib'' – (Arabic: لسان الغيب - 'The tongue of the unseen') The Fremen term for an off-world prophet or messiah, applied to Paul Atreides in ''Dune''. It is "The Voice from the Outer World" and is outlined in Fremen messianic legends heavily influenced by the Bene Gesserit's Missionaria Protectiva. It is also translated as the "Giver of Water". A phrase of Arabic origin meaning "Tongue of the Unseen", also title of Hafez. * Litter – A kind of

stretcher A stretcher, gurney, litter, or pram is an medical device, apparatus used for moving patients who require medical care. A basic type (cot or litter) must be carried by two or more people. A wheeled stretcher (known as a gurney, trolley, bed or ...

cart A cart or dray (Australia and New Zealand) is a vehicle designed for transport, using two wheels and normally pulled by draught animals such as horses, donkeys, mules and oxen, or even smaller animals such as goats or large dogs. A handcart ...

that uses anti-gravity suspensors to hover above the ground. Used by Harkonnen troopers to transport Paul and Jessica to a waiting ornithopter in the original novel. * Little Maker – The "half-plant-half-animal deep-sand vector of the Arrakis sandworm", whose "excretions form the pre-spice mass." Also known as "sandtrout," they represent an early stage in the life cycle of the worm. They can link the cilia on the edges of their bodies to encapsulate pockets of free subsurface water, which is lethal to fully grown worms. * Lost Tleilaxu – Offshoot race of the Bene Tleilax, formed in the Scattering.Herbert, Brian and Anderson, Kevin J. (2006) '' Hunters of Dune''.

M

* Mahdi – "In the Fremen messianic legend, 'The One Who Will Lead Us to Paradise;'" applied to Paul Atreides by the Fremen when they determine that he is their messiah. The term

Mahdi The Mahdi () is a figure in Islamic eschatology who is believed to appear at the Eschatology, End of Times to rid the world of evil and injustice. He is said to be a descendant of Muhammad in Islam, Muhammad, and will appear shortly before Jesu ...

is the same as that used in

for a messianic figure who will appear shortly before the Day of Judgment in

Islamic eschatology Islamic eschatology includes the afterlife, apocalyptic signs of the End Times, and final Judgement. It is fundamental to Islam as life after death is one of the six Doctrines of Islam. Resurrection is divided into Lesser Resurrection (''al-q ...

. * Maker hooks – "The hooks used for capturing, mounting, and steering a sandworm of Arrakis." * Maula pistol – "Spring-loaded gun for firing poison darts; range about 40 metres." * Melange – Known colloquially as "the spice", a highly-addictive drug essential to space travel, extended life, and therefore to the survival of the universe. * Memocorder – Tiny handheld device described as "a dull black Ixian artifact whose existence crowded the proscriptions of the Butlerian Jihad". * Mentats – Individuals trained as "human computers," their minds developed to staggering heights of cognitive and analytical ability. * Missionaria Protectiva – An arm of the Bene Gesserit charged with spreading contrived myths, prophecies and superstition on primitive worlds so that the Bene Gesserit may later exploit those regions. * Muad'Dib – "The adapted kangaroo mouse of Arrakis, a creature associated in the Fremen earth-spirit mythology with a design visible on the planet's second moon. This creature is admired by Fremen for its ability to survive in the open desert." In ''Dune'',

takes "Muad'Dib" as his Fremen name, which takes on greater significance when he is perceived as a

messiah In Abrahamic religions, a messiah or messias (; , ; , ; ) is a saviour or liberator of a group of people. The concepts of '' mashiach'', messianism, and of a Messianic Age originated in Judaism, and in the Hebrew Bible, in which a ''mashiach ...

. The term originates from the word (''muʾaddib'') meaning "teacher" in Arabic. * Muadru – Ancient religion predating the Old Empire before the Time of the

Titans In Greek mythology, the Titans ( ; ) were the pre-Twelve Olympians, Olympian gods. According to the ''Theogony'' of Hesiod, they were the twelve children of the primordial parents Uranus (mythology), Uranus (Sky) and Gaia (Earth). The six male ...

N

* na-Baron – Noble title given to a

Baron Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often Hereditary title, hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than ...

's heir-apparent. * No-chamber – Construct that hides anything inside from prescient and oracular vision, as well as other methods of detection. * No-ship – No-chamber in spaceship form, with enough limited prescience to be capable of interstellar travel without a Guild Navigator. * Nullentropy – Technology akin to the

science fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...

concept of stasis, in which the natural processes of time, such as decomposition, are ceased. In this way, perishable matter such as food and even human cells may be stored for millennia and remain undamaged.

O

* Obliterators – Weapons of mass destruction stolen by Honored Matres from their "outside enemy". They combust the atmosphere of a planet, and subsequently its surface. * Orange Catholic Bible, or OCB – The primary orthodox religious text in the universe, a

syncretic Syncretism () is the practice of combining different beliefs and various schools of thought. Syncretism involves the merging or assimilation of several originally discrete traditions, especially in the theology and mythology of religion, thus ...

fusion of all significant religious concepts in the historical record, created by an

ecumenical council An ecumenical council, also called general council, is a meeting of bishops and other church authorities to consider and rule on questions of Christian doctrine, administration, discipline, and other matters in which those entitled to vote are ...

. Its supreme commandment is considered to be: "Thou shalt not disfigure the soul." * Other Memory – The combined ego and memories of all female ancestors, which a Bene Gesserit may be trained to access. * Ornithopter (or 'Thopter) – "Aircraft capable of sustained wing-beat flight in the manner of birds;" one of the primary modes of transportation on the desert planet Arrakis.

P

* Palm lock – "Lock or seal which can be opened only by contact with the palm of the human hand to which it has been keyed." * Phibian – Primitive and amphibious humanoid creatures, a genetic mix of human and fish, created out in the Scattering. First mentioned in '' Chapterhouse: Dune'', they have been brought as captives to the "million planets" by the Honored Matres. In '' Hunters of Dune'', Phibians are described as having bullet-shaped heads and lean and streamlined bodies, taller than humans and slick green skin that "shines with oily iridescence". Capable of breathing underwater as well as on land, they are used by the Honored Matres on Buzzell to harvest valuable soostones from the sea. * Plasteel – Extremely tough form of steel, "stabilized with stravidium fibers grown into its crystal structure." * Plaz (or windowplaz) – Synthetic glass, used for windows (especially in aircraft and spaceships) due to its superior strength. * Poison snooper – "Radiation analyzer within the olfactory spectrum and keyed to detect poisonous substances." Said to resemble a dead spider that hangs limply over a table. * ''Powindah'' – Tleilaxu term for all outsiders, whom they consider "unclean" sinners and heretics. * '' Prana-bindu'' – Training providing a Bene Gesserit with complete muscle control (''Prana nervature'' relates to nervous system control). * Prescience – Form of

precognition Precognition (from the Latin 'before', and 'acquiring knowledge') is the purported psychic phenomenon of seeing, or otherwise becoming directly aware of, events in the future. There is no accepted scientific evidence that precognition is a ...

, based in genetics but made possible by use of the drug melange. * Pre-spice mass – The "stage of fungusoid wild growth achieved when water is flooded into the excretions of Little Makers. At this stage, the spice of Arrakis forms a characteristic 'blow', exchanging the material from deep underground for the matter on the surface above it. This mass, after exposure to sun and air, becomes melange." * Probe, Ixian – Device used to capture the thoughts of a person (living or dead) for analysis; can be blocked by the substance shere. * Probe, T – Device used to capture the thoughts of a person (living or dead) for analysis; unlike an Ixian Probe, it cannot be blocked by the substance shere. * Pundi rice – "A mutated rice whose grains, high in natural sugar, achieve lengths up to four centimeters; chief export of Caladan."

Q

* Qanat – "Open canal for carrying irrigation water under controlled conditions through a desert."

R

* Rachag – A "caffeine-type stimulant from the yellow berries of Akarso." * Residual poison – "Innovation attributed to the Mentat

Piter De Vries ''Dune'' is a science fiction media franchise that originated with the 1965 novel of the same name by American author Frank Herbert. ''Dune'' is frequently cited as the best-selling science fiction novel in history, and won the 1966 Hugo Award ...

whereby the body is impregnated with a substance for which repeated

antidote An antidote is a substance that can counteract a form of poisoning. The term ultimately derives from the Greek term φάρμακον ἀντίδοτον ''(pharmakon antidoton)'', "(medicine) given as a remedy". An older term in English which is ...

s must be administered; withdrawal of the antidote at any time brings death." * Reverend Mother – Bene Gesserit who has survived a ritual wherein she consciously transforms a toxic dose of melange into a non-poisonous substance at the molecular level, thereby raising herself to a higher level of awareness and enabling her to access Other Memory. * Rossak drug – A precursor to the Water of Life, used by the Sisterhood of Rossak to unlock Other Memory.

S

* Salusan bull – Fierce and very aggressive creature with compound eyes and multiple horns, used in bullfighting on Caladan and originating from Salusa Secundus. * Salusa Secundus – Original homeworld of House Corrino. Later devastated by atomics, it eventually became the Emperor’s prison planet and a training ground for his elite Sardaukar military forces. * Sandworm – Giant sand-dwelling creatures native to Arrakis. Called ''Shai-Hulud'' (and sometimes Little Maker) by the Fremen and worshipped as deities. * Sapho – "High-energy liquid extracted from barrier roots of Ecaz. Commonly used by Mentats who claim it amplifies mental powers. Users develop deep ruby stains on mouth and lips." * Sardaukar – Ferocious "soldier-fanatics" of the

Padishah Emperor Multiple organizations of the ''Dune'' universe dominate the political, religious, and social arena of the setting of Frank Herbert's Dune (franchise), ''Dune'' series of science fiction novels, and derivative works. Set tens of thousands of year ...

, later disbanded by Leto II. * Sareer – Last desert of Arrakis in the time of Leto II Atreides, location of his Citadel; guarded by D-wolves. * Sayyadina – Among the Fremen, the Sayyadina ("Friend of God" in Chakobsa) is a priestess who has not yet passed within to become a Reverend Mother. When a Sayyadina undergoes the spice agony, another is then consecrated into the Sayyadina to continue the line of succession. * Scattering, The – Event after the reign of Leto II in which trillions of people left the settled worlds of the Old Empire, striking off into unknown space. * Semuta – "Second narcotic derivative (by crystal extraction) from the burned residue of elacca wood rom Ecaz The effect (described as timeless, sustained ecstasy) is elicited by certain atonal vibrations referred to as semuta music." * Servo-receiver – A communications device worn in the ear. In ''Dune'', Shaddam wears one during the Battle of Arrakeen to receive updates on the battle. * Shai-Hulud – Fremen name for the sandworms of Arrakis. Originating from the Arabic words meaning "thing of eternity" ( ''šayʾ khulūd''). * Shere – A substance which, when present in the body at high enough concentrations, will block the use of an Ixian Probe (but not a T-Probe) from recovering memories. * Shigawire – "Metallic extrusion of a ground vine (''Narvi narviium'') grown only on Salusa Secundus and III Delta Kaising. It is noted for extreme tensile strength" and is used as a recording medium as well as a garrote weapon. * Sietch – Cave warren inhabited by a Fremen tribal community; in the Fremen language, "Place of assembly in time of danger." The name was borrowed from the sich of

Zaporozhian Cossacks The Zaporozhian Cossacks (in Latin ''Cossacorum Zaporoviensis''), also known as the Zaporozhian Cossack Army or the Zaporozhian Host (), were Cossacks who lived beyond (that is, downstream from) the Dnieper Rapids. Along with Registered Cossa ...

. * Sietch orgy (or sietch tau orgy) – "The culmination of the Fremen Water of Life ritual. Once a Reverend Mother has converted the water from its poisonous state, the Fremen then drink of the changed water, which has narcotic properties." Fremen partaking in the ritual "receive release from some of their pent-up emotions" and wild dancing or even sexual activity may occur. * Siridar – A planetary governor. * Slig – A livestock animal which is the hybrid of a large

slug Slug, or land slug, is a common name for any apparently shell-less Terrestrial mollusc, terrestrial gastropod mollusc. The word ''slug'' is also often used as part of the common name of any gastropod mollusc that has no shell, a very reduced ...

and a pig, created by the Tleilaxu and considered a culinary delicacy. The Tleilaxu themselves do not consume the animals, having designed them to facilitate what they see as the degrading decadence and spiritual bankruptcy of all cultures but their own. * Solari – The official

currency A currency is a standardization of money in any form, in use or circulation as a medium of exchange, for example banknotes and coins. A more general definition is that a currency is a ''system of money'' in common use within a specific envi ...

and principal monetary unit used throughout the Corrino Empire and, presumably, the Known Universe. Often used in parallel with spice as a form of payment. Implied to still be in use at the time of the accession of Leto II, as well as in the years following his death. * Solido – "Three-dimensional image from a solido projector using 360-degree reference signals imprinted on a shigawire reel." * Soostone – Valuable iridescent gem produced on Buzzell by the abraded carapaces of monoped sea creatures called Cholisters, much in the manner of

pearl A pearl is a hard, glistening object produced within the soft tissue (specifically the mantle (mollusc), mantle) of a living Exoskeleton, shelled mollusk or another animal, such as fossil conulariids. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pear ...

s. * Spacing Guild – Powerful organization with a monopoly on space travel and transport due to their Navigators. *

Spice In the culinary arts, a spice is any seed, fruit, root, Bark (botany), bark, or other plant substance in a form primarily used for flavoring or coloring food. Spices are distinguished from herbs, which are the leaves, flowers, or stems of pl ...

– Common name for melange, a highly-addictive drug essential to space travel, extended life, and therefore to the survival of the universe. * Spice agony – Fremen version of the ritual used by the Bene Gesserit to create Reverend Mothers, using the Water of Life instead of melange. * Starship Lighter or Space Lighter – A class of spacecraft that functions similarly to a ferry or barge, and serves to shuttle people and cargo between a larger ship such as a Guild Heighliner and a planet’s surface. * Steersman – Title given to Guild Navigators. *

Stillsuit Technology is a key aspect of the fictional setting of the Dune (franchise), ''Dune'' series of science fiction novels written by Frank Herbert, and derivative works. Herbert's concepts and inventions have been analyzed and deconstructed in at lea ...

– "Body-enclosing garment" of Fremen design which performs the "functions of heat dissipation and filtering bodily wastes," as well as retaining and reclaiming moisture. * Stilltent – "Small, scalable enclosure of micro-sandwich fabric designed to reclaim as potable water the ambient moisture discharged within it by the breath of its occupants." * Stone burner –

Atomic weapon A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission (fission or atomic bomb) or a combination of fission and fusion reactions (thermonuclear weapon), producing a nuclear expl ...

, the explosion and radiation of which can be precisely adjusted depending on the desired effect. A stone burner with sufficient fuel can burn through the crust of a planet to the mantle or core, potentially causing a release of energy destroying the surface of the planet on which the weapon is deployed. Stone burners emit "J-Rays," a form of radiation that has a side effect of destroying the eyes of anyone surviving the initial radiation blast. * S'tori – Tleilaxu concept, derived from Japanese

satori ''Satori'' () is a Japanese Buddhist term for " awakening", "comprehension; understanding". The word derives from the Japanese verb '' satoru''. In the Zen Buddhist tradition, ''satori'' refers to a deep experience of '' kenshō'', "seeing ...

(悟り), spiritual awakening. "To achieve s'tori, no understanding is needed. S'tori exists without words, without even a name." * Suboid – Bioengineered Ixian workers. * Suk School – Prominent

medical school A medical school is a tertiary educational institution, professional school, or forms a part of such an institution, that teaches medicine, and awards a professional degree for physicians. Such medical degrees include the Bachelor of Medicine, ...

whose doctors are the universe's most competent and trusted; those who have received the "Suk Imperial Conditioning" bear a diamond tattoo on their foreheads, wear their hair in a special silver ring, and are incapable of inflicting harm. However, the fallibility of Suk training is proven in ''

'' (1965) when Baron Vladimir Harkonnen and his twisted Mentat

manage to subvert this conditioning and coerce Suk Dr. Wellington Yueh into helping him in his attempt to destroy House Atreides. * Suspensor – Any of a number of 'hovering' devices which utilize the "secondary (low-drain) phase of a Holtzman field generator" to nullify

gravity In physics, gravity (), also known as gravitation or a gravitational interaction, is a fundamental interaction, a mutual attraction between all massive particles. On Earth, gravity takes a slightly different meaning: the observed force b ...

"within certain limits prescribed by relative mass and energy consumption." In ''Dune'', the obese Baron Harkonnen uses suspensors to support his massive weight. Hunter-seekers also use suspensor fields for propulsion, which make them slippery and hard to grasp.

T

* T-Probe – Device used to capture the thoughts of a person (living or dead) for analysis. Shere only prevents the T-Probe from recovering memories directly (as it does for the Ixian Probe) and does not impede any of the other features. The model created by the operation of this probe can be interrogated to give an idea of how the person would have reacted to a set of stimuli, possibly giving insight into a shere-loaded prisoner. * Tachyon net (or tachyon web) – Technology (involving faster-than-light

tachyon A tachyon () or tachyonic particle is a hypothetical particle that always travels Faster-than-light, faster than light. Physicists posit that faster-than-light particles cannot exist because they are inconsistent with the known Scientific law#L ...

particles) used by Daniel and Marty in their attempt to track and capture the no-ship '' Ithaca''. * Thinking machines – Intelligent and sentient machines "created in the likeness of a human mind" and thus abolished in the Butlerian Jihad. * Thalim – Star of the single planet system of the Tleilaxu. * Thopter ( Ornithopter) – "Aircraft capable of sustained wing-beat flight in the manner of birds." * Thorse – A six-legged pack animal bred for its stability. * Thumper – "Short stake with a spring-driven clapper at one end", placed in the sand to 'call' sandworms, who are attracted to vibration and sound. *

– Ancient dictators whose brains were transplanted into fearsome, weaponized machine bodies to achieve

immortality Immortality is the concept of eternal life. Some species possess "biological immortality" due to an apparent lack of the Hayflick limit. From at least the time of the Ancient Mesopotamian religion, ancient Mesopotamians, there has been a con ...

. * Tleilaxu (or Bene Tleilax) – Secretive and powerful patriarchal race known for their genetic manipulation technologies. * Truthsayer – Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother "qualified to enter truthtrance and detect insincerity or falsehood".

U

* Umma – "One of the brotherhood of prophets; a term of scorn in the Imperium, meaning any 'wild' person given to fanatical prediction." * Usul – Fremen word, meaning "The strength at the base of the pillar." This is the secret "sietch name" (known only to his tribe) given to Paul Atreides upon his joining the Fremen.

V

* Verite – Will-destroying narcotic from Ecaz that "renders a person incapable of falsehood." Originating from the French word for "truth" * The Voice – Training that allows the Bene Gesserit "to control others merely by selected tone shadings of the voice."

W

* Wali – The name the Fremen give to an untried youth. * War of Assassins – Regulated form of warfare between noble houses, intended to "reduce involvement of innocent bystanders." The rules require "formal declarations of intent and restrict permissible weapons." * Water of Life – Toxic liquid exhalation of a drowning sandworm, used by Fremen Reverend Mothers in the spice agony. * Water rings – Metal rings wore by Fremen women to indicate the amount of water possessed by their households. * Weirding way – Fremen term for Bene Gesserit abilities, in particular the specialized

martial art Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defence; military and law enforcement applications; competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; and the pres ...

component of '' prana-bindu''. * Whale fur – Valuable commodity noted to be the original source of

House Harkonnen Baron Vladimir Harkonnen () is a fictional character in the Dune (franchise), ''Dune'' franchise created by Frank Herbert. He is primarily featured in the 1965 novel ''Dune (novel), Dune'' and is also a prominent character in the ''Prelude to Dune ...

's wealth. Princess Irulan is described wearing whale fur multiple times, including during her meeting with her fellow conspirators in '' Dune Messiah''. The ''

'' prequel series establishes it to be the fur of the Bjondax whales of Lankiveil, a planet controlled by the Harkonnens. * Windowplaz (or simply plaz) – Synthetic glass, used for windows (especially in aircraft and spaceships) due to its superior strength. * Windtrap – Type of air well "placed in the path of a prevailing wind and capable of precipitating moisture from the air caught within it, usually by a sharp and distinct drop in temperature within the trap."

Y

* Yali – "A Fremen's personal quarters within the sietch."

Z

* Zensunni – Ancient religious sect, ancestors of the Fremen.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Glossary Of Dune Terminology

Terminology Terminology is a group of specialized words and respective meanings in a particular field, and also the study of such terms and their use; the latter meaning is also known as terminology science. A ''term'' is a word, Compound (linguistics), com ...

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References