This work originated from, and is based upon, “QuakerSpeak” by Alastair Heron, published in 1994 and revised in 1997, 2003 and 2008. The original book, and subsequent printed editions, was intended to be pocket sized for convenience: the on-line version has no such limitations. We are indebted to Alastair for the use of the original text, many of the entries of which remain the same. However the on-line text will, in future, be updated as found to be necessary. Please follow this link for copyright information.
We used the same criteria for inclusion as had Alastair Heron in "QuakerSpeak", which was ‘Any word, term or expression peculiar (or nearly so) to Quakers, that might cause a newcomer or attender to exclaim "What on earth is that?"’.
The story of how "QuakerSpeak" was compiled is told in Alastair's Frontispiece and Introduction. One difference with the on-line edition is that cross-referencing is by links which are either blue or brown and underlined in blue (and return by Back Button), and another is that items in brown are terms no longer in general use.
Anyone wishing to contribute to this version should contact QuakerSpeak on-line in the first instance.
To proceed click on the initial letter of the abbreviation or definition wanted in the box below. "Top" returns you to this page.
Chris Petrie