Band-The collective name for a group of ringers.
Campanology- The 'posh' word for ringing. Mainly used by people who are not ringers.
Caters- A method rung on nine working bells. Comes from the french word 'quatre' (four), because there are four pairs of bells which work inside.
Change-ringing- A way of ringing which means that a different change (order of bells) is rung at each stroke.
Cinques- A method rung on eleven working bells. Comes from the french word 'cinque' (five), because there are five pairs of working bells.
Conductor- The person who calls instructions whilst ringing, e.g bobs, singles etc.
Doubles-A method rung on five working bells. Comes from the french word 'deux' (two), because there are two pairs of bells which work inside.
Extent-The maximum number of changes possible on a certain number of bells without repeating a change.
False-When something is 'false' it means that the same change has been rung more than once.
Grabbing (Towers)- This is when ringers ring at different towers which they have not rung at before (For more info, check out Stay Benders Guide to Grabbing Towers).
Home Tower-Most ringers have their own 'home tower' where they regularly ring for practices and on Sundays.
Lead-The position of ringing first in a change. In rounds, the treble always leads.
Long Draught-A ring of bells where the distance between where you ring and where the bells are hung is relatively long.
Look to-'Look to, Treble's going, She's gone' is the command given by the treble ringer when the bells are first pulled off.(There are several regional variations of this).
Major-A method rung on eight working bells.
Maximus-A method rung on twelve working bells. Comes from the latin word 'maximus', which means 'very big'.
Method- A series of changes rung in a named order, and each ringer knows the work of their bell.
Minimus- A method rung on four working bells. Comes from the latin word 'minimus', meaning 'very small'.
Minor- A method rung on six working bells.
Open Days- This is a day when lots of towers are open consecutively for people to go and ring at. The main idea is to raise money from them, and of course to grab towers.
Peal- A length of ringing, usually around 5040 changes long.
Quarter Peal- A length of ringing (a 'quarter of a peal'), which is usually anywhere between 1250 and 1440 changes, depending on the composition and number of bells.
Queens- A change in which all the odd-numbered bells go first, then all the even numbered bells. So, on eight bells it is 13572468.
Ringing down-This is when the bells are rung from the 'up' position (mouth of the bell facing upwards) to a 'down' position, which is safe for the bells to be left in.
Ringing up-The opposite of ringing down. At most places, bells are left 'down' (mouth of the bell facing downwards), and have to be rung up so that changes and general ringing can be done.
Rope Guide- A frame (usually metal) suspended in towers with long draughts, to guide the rope and make it easier to ring.
Rounds- The ringing of bells in order, starting with the highest pitched (the treble) and finishing with the lowest pitched (the tenor).
Sally- The fluffy bit in the middle of the rope, which can be different colours.
Secular Ring-A ring of bells not hung in a religious building, e.g. Manchester Town Hall
Short Draught- A ring of bells where the distance between where you ring and where the bells are hung is relatively small.
Simulator-A type of computer which allows you to ring methods without needing other ringers, i.e. it 'simulates' other bells ringing. It can be connected to a (tied) bell or 'dumb bell' or you can ring using a computer keyboard.
Stand- This is the command given for bells to be 'set', usually at the end of a piece of ringing.
Tail-end extension- This is a length or rope you can carry around with you, to tie to the end of the tail-end to make it longer.(Useful for towers where there are no boxes!!)
Tenor- This is usually the heaviest bell, and has the lowest pitch. It rings last in rounds.
Titums- A change which on six bells is 142536.
Tied Clapper- This is when the clapper of the bell is tied to one side, to stop it from striking. This is useful for teaching learners (one bell clanging away for a long time can be quite annoying!) or it could be hooked up to a simulator to practice ringing on.
Treble- This is usually the lightest bell, and rings first in rounds.
Triples- A method rung on seven working bells. Comes from the french word 'trois' (three), because there are three pairs of bells which work inside.
Whittingtons- From the rhyme Dick Whittington: 'Turn again Whittington, Lord Mayor of London Town'. The change on twelve is 531246E9780T.