
                             The Akashic Record

    Being a Compendium of Lore, Onomatology, Miscellanea, and Pareidolia

                  Relating to the Universe of Harry Potter

                   With Commentary Esoteric and Exoteric

                        Compiled by Petra Mitchell

   This is the downloadable form of the Akashic Record. To get the latest
   version of this reference, go to:


    http://www.m5p.com/~pravn/hp/

    Spoiler level: End of book 3

A

   Abbott, Hannah (PS ch. 7): A Hufflepuff, same year as Harry.

   Etym: The Middle English spelling of abbot, just the thing to go along
   with the Fat Friar.

   Abergavenny: A town in Wales where the Knight Bus dropped off a Madam
   Marsh.

   Acid Pops: A magical candy capable of actually burning a hole through
   one's tongue.

   Adalbert Waffling: Etym: No etymology found. Name of a bishop of
   Hamburg-Bremen, and a Lombard king of Italy.

   Adrian Pucey: Etym: From Latin Hadrianus "of the Adriatic", name of an
   emperor and several popes.

   Adventures of Martin Miggs, The Mad Muggle, The: A comic book series
   that Ron reads.

   Agrippa (PS ch. 6): Henrich Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim, at
   various times the secretary to Charles V, physician to Louis of Savoy,
   theologian, military entrepreneur, philosopher, orator, public
   advocate (discharged for defending an accused witch) and expert on
   occultism. His De occulta philosophia was one of the biggest
   influences on the Renaissance concept of magic, particularly Kabalism,
   and his writings and fame made him a figure in early versions of the
   Faust legend.

   Featured in the Famous Witches and Wizards series of trading cards.

   akashic record: A New Age concept derived from Hindu occultism. An
   alternate dimension or invisible energy in which psychic vibrations of
   every object and event, past, present, and future, are stored, thus
   providing a mechanism for clairvoyance. I chose this name because all
   the good relevant ones were taken, and in the faint hope that perhaps
   I have managed to make a forward reference.

   Alberic Grunnion: Etym: A Germanic name, formed from from oelf "elf" +
   riic "power".

   Albus Dumbledore: Etym: From a root meaning "white". Cognate to
   Albion, a poetic term for Britain, usually translated as "White Isle".

   Algie (PS ch. 7): Neville Longbottom's great-uncle who was forever
   trying to get Neville's magic to manifest itself.

   Etym: Of Norman-French origin, meaning "with whiskers" or "mustaches".

   Alicia Spinnet: Etym: Ultimately from Old German athal "noble" + haidu
   "kind, sort" (the equivalent to Modern English -hood).

   Alohomora: Incantation for an unlocking charm.

   Etym: Possibly Hawai`ian aloha "hello, goodbye", plus something I
   can't identify.

   Ancient Runes: An elective subject at Hogwarts, which Hermione is
   taking.

   Ancient Runes Made Easy: A book Hermione was reading to prepare for
   taking Ancient Runes.

   Angelina Johnson: Etym: "Little angel"; also a tree of tropical
   America, a genus of Leguminosae, with showy purple flowers.

   Angus Fleet: Etym: As a name, probably from Old Irish AEngus "one
   choice". Also a breed of cattle, a 9th century saint, and a minor
   mythical hero.

   Animagus: A wizard who can transform at will (along with their clothes
   and anything they may be carrying) into a characteristic animal form.
   The Ministry of Magic maintains a registry of Animagi, but
   unregistered ones abound. Animagi revealed so far are James Potter,
   Peter Pettigrew, Sirius Black and, the only registered one mentioned
   here, Professor McGonagall.

   Etym: I'm guessing this is not "animal mage" but "spirit mage", from
   Latin anima.

   Anti-Cheating Spell: Used on the quills the Hogwarts student use for
   their written exams. Probable mechanism: the pen senses when it's
   about to be used to write information obtained illicitly. Maybe if the
   student doesn't think they're cheating...

   Aparecium: Incantation to be used with a Revealer.

   Etym: The closest thing I can find is apertum, Latin for "open,
   uncovered, accessible".

   Apparate: To perform an Apparation.

   Apparation: The act of teleporting from one place to another. The
   grounds of Hogwarts are enchanted to make Apparation impossible there.

   Aragog: A giant, intelligent, spiderlike creature raised by Hagrid in
   his school days. Aragog now lives in the Forbidden Forest with his
   wife Mosag and their happy brood of scuttling flesh-eating spawn.

   Etym: May be related to Gog and Magog, which among other things are
   the names of two giants in English legend, with ara- for "arachnid".

   Argus Filch: Etym: A figure from Greek myth with a hundred eyes,
   killed by Hermes, after which his eyes were transferred to the tail of
   the peacock. By extension, a vigilant person.

   Argyllshire: A hilly and remote section of Scotland. The Fat Lady hid
   in a map of it after being attacked by Sirius Black.

   Arithmancy: An elective subject at Hogwarts which Hermione is now
   taking, taught by Professor Vector.

   Armando Dippet: Etym: From Old German harja "host, army" + mana "man".

   Arsenius Jigger: Etym: Arsenious means "of or relating to arsenic".

   Arthur Weasley: Etym: From the name of the legendary king. Various
   Celtic derivations have been proposed, but most likely from a Roman
   gens named Artorius.

   asphodel: In poetic use, the narcissus; ancient references are to the
   genus Asphodelus. An ingredient for the Draught of Living Death.

   Azkaban: A prison for users of dark magic, staffed by dementors.

   Etym: Origin unknown. Invented?

B

   Babbling Curse: Details unknown; Lockhart claimed to have cured a
   Transylvanian villager of it.

   Bagshot, Bathilda (PS ch. 5): Author of A History of Magic.

   Etym: A type of ammunition. Looking at this whole name, it appears the
   history of magic must have been pretty, um, exciting...

   Bandon Banshee: Allegedly banished by Gilderoy Lockhart. A banshee is
   a wailing or singing demonic spirit; Bandon is a town in County Cork,
   Ireland.

   banshee: see Bandon Banshee.

   Bane [Banes or Bain]:

   Etym: Bunch of choices here: from a nickname meaning "bones"; a Welsh
   patronymic meaning "anvil"; Gaelic for "white, fair"; Middle English
   meaning "welcoming, friendly"; or Middle English/Old French meaning
   "bath". Or perhaps the character name is just from the modern English
   word.

   Baruffio (PS ch. 10): A wizard infamous for misspeaking a charm and
   conjuring up a buffalo.

   Etym: No etymology.

   basilisk: A mythical creature supposed to spring from an egg laid by a
   rooster and incubated by a serpent or toad. Basilisks are usually
   depicted as snakelike, sometimes with a crown (its name derives from
   the Greek for "king") and are capable of turning any living thing to
   stone by looking at them.

   The one which had been lurking in the Chamber of Secrets at Hogwarts
   is additionally in danger from the crowing of roosters, and generates
   an aura that sends spiders fleeing.

   Bathilda Bagshot: Etym: OED has an entry for batilde, an obsolete form
   of a word meaning "embattled".

   Bayliss, Hetty (CoS ch. 5): A Muggle who spotted the flying Ford
   Anglia.

   Etym: From Late Latin baiulus "carrier, porter", cognate to bailiff.

   Beater: A member of a Quidditch team who deflects Bludgers away from
   their teammates (and, ideally, toward the opponents).

   beechwood: Various trees of the genus Fagus, all tall, wide-spreading,
   and preferring temperate climes. The wood is durable under water, and
   used for cabinetry, tool handles, and shipping containers. Also
   cultivated as a shade tree.

   Beginner's Guide to Transformation, A: The first-year textbook for
   Transfiguration.

   Belch Powder: Something that can be gotten in Hogsmeade, probably from
   Zonko's Joke Shop.

   Bell, Katie (PS ch. 12): A Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

   Etym: Does in fact come from Middle English for "bell".

   Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans: Jellybean-like magical candies of
   any flavor imaginable... including the ones you don't want to imagine.

   bezoar: This term has been applied to various substances believed to
   be universal antidotes, but most commonly to a concretion formed
   around foreign matter in the gut of certain ruminants. Originally
   these were taken from the wild goat and antelope of Persia, which are
   also known as the bezoar goat and bezoar antelope.

   bicorn: A creature from early French and English literature, it
   subsisted by devouring virtuous husbands. Powdered bicorn horn is one
   of the ingredients of the Polyjuice Potion.

   Bilius (PoA ch. 6): One of Neville's uncles. He died a day after
   seeing a Grim.

   Etym: Probably a variation of bilious.

   Bill Weasley [William]:

   Etym: From Old German vilja "will" + helma "helmet".

   Binky (PoA ch. 8): Lavender Brown's rabbit, killed by a fox.

   Binns, (first name unknown): The teacher of the History of Magic
   classes at Hogwarts, and unusual among history teachers for being as
   dead as his lectures.

   Etym: From the Old English name Binna, of uncertain origin, or a word
   for an open manger, stall, or hollow place.

   Black, Sirius: Harry's godfather, one of James Potter's school
   friends, imprisoned in Azkaban for killing Peter Pettigrew and twelve
   Muggles, now escaped and on the run until such time as the authorities
   can be presented with sufficient evidence that Pettigrew is in fact
   alive and responsible for the murders. Sirius is also an unregistered
   Animagus, taking the form of a large black dog.

   Etym: Just means black. As a side note, though, some instances of this
   surname come from Old English blac, the equivalent of French blanc...
   meaning "white"!

   Black Malfoy, Narcissa: Etym: See below.

   Blaise Zabini: Etym: Full etymology unknown but cognate to Blasius,
   the name of the patron saint of wool-workers and sufferers of throat
   diseases. Once very popular in England, a major wool producer. ECN:
   "The only relic of the trade in Romsey, Hants (once a wool staple), is
   an inn called the Bishop Blaise."

   Bletchley (PS ch. 11): The Keeper for the Slytherin Quidditch team in
   Harry's first year.

   Blood-Sucking Bugbear: What Hagrid thought might be killing his
   roosters. A bugbear in popular legend is a monster in the shape of
   bear said to devour naughty children.

   Bloody Baron: The house ghost of Slytherin.

   Bludger: A small, hard ball used in Quidditch. Bludgers fly around the
   field of play attempting to knock players off their brooms.

   Etym: Undoubtedly from bludgeon. OED has an entry for bludger,
   actually, but in the interest of preserving our G rating we must move
   on.

   bluebell fire: A magically conjured blue fire that can be carried
   around in a jar.

   Body-Bind: A curse that paralyzes the target completely. Incantation:
   Petrificatus Totalus.

   boggart: In these books, a creature that assumes the appearance of
   whatever a person looking at it fears most. Can be banished with a
   humorous mental image and the incantation Riddikulus.

   Bole (PoA ch. 15): A Beater on the Slytherin Quidditch team.

   Etym: Something of a cylindrical shape, such as the trunk of a tree or
   a pillar. As a name, an anglicized form of  Baoighill, possibly from
   words meaning "rash pledge", or derived from the placename Boyville.

   Bones, (first names unknown) (PS ch. 4): The last name of a wizard
   couple killed by Voldemort.

   Etym: Derived via Yiddish from Italian bona "good".

   Bones, Susan (PS ch. 7): A Hufflepuff, in the same year as Harry.

   Etym: See above.

   Bonfire Night: November 5th, in England the commemoration of the
   Gunpowder Plot. Typically involves lots of fireworks.

   boomslang: Dispholidus typus.

   Boot, Terry (PS ch. 8): A Ravenclaw, the same year as Harry, and a
   member of Dumbledore's Army.

   Etym: From Middle English for "boot" or Dutch for "boat".

   Borgin and Burkes: A shop in Knockturn Alley specializing in the
   ingredients of dark magic; Evil backwards-R Us.

   Etym: No info on Borgin, but perhaps it's supposed to sound like
   Borgia. The name Burke comes from Old High German burg
   "fortification". A likelier source for the store's name, however, is
   the 19th-century murderer and grave-robber William Burke.

   Borgin, Mr. (CoS ch. 4): One of the founders of Borgin and Burkes,
   still working there, or else a descendant.

   Etym: See above.

   Break with a Banshee: One of Gilderoy Lockhart's books.

   Brockelhurst, Mandy (PS ch. 8): A Ravenclaw, the same year as Harry.

   Etym: Placename, after a wooded hill that was home to badgers. Brock
   on its own has been a word for various small animals, including
   badgers.

   Broken Balls: When Fortunes Turn Foul: A book on divination at
   Flourish and Blotts.

   brooms: The flying broom is an ancient and venerable mode of wizard
   transportation, and an indispensable part of Quidditch. Types of
   brooms include the Cleansweep Five, Cleansweep Seven, Comet Two Sixty,
   Firebolt, Nimbus Two Thousand, Nimbus Two Thousand and One, Silver
   Arrow, and Shooting Star.

   Brown, Lavender (PS ch. 8): A Gryffindor, the same year as Harry.

   Etym: Really means "brown".

   Buckbeak: A hippogriff falsely accused of being dangerous, now on the
   run with Sirius Black.

   Etym: Probably invented.

   budgie: A small yellow bird, very popular as a pet in Britain at one
   time, less common these days.

   bugbear: see Blood-Sucking Bugbear.

   Bulstrode, Millicent (PS ch. 8): A Slytherin, the same year as Harry.

   Etym: A place name, from Old English burh "fortress, town" or bula
   "bull" + strood "brushwood".

   Burning Day: The day on which a phoenix renews itself.

   Burrow, The: The house of the Weasley family.

   butterbeer: A popular drink at the Three Broomsticks.

C

   Cadmus Peverell: Etym: The legendary founder of Thebes. OED also
   includes Cadmean victory, "a victory involving one's own ruin".

   Cadogan, Sir: A knight whose portrait was temporarily moved to guard
   the Gryffindor dormitory when the Fat Lady was frightened off.

   Etym: From the Old Welsh name Cadoc, which is possibly related to a
   word meaning "battle".

   Caput Draconis: The first password to the Gryffindor tower when Harry
   arrives at Hogwarts.

   Etym: Latin for "dragon's head".

   Care of Magical Creatures: An elective class at Hogwarts, taught by
   Professor Kettleburn until Harry's third year, when Hagrid took over.
   Harry, Ron, and Hermione are all enrolled in it.

   Cassandra Vablatsky: Etym: In Greek legend, Cassandra was given the
   gift of prophecy by the god Apollo, who loved her, and then cursed by
   him when she rejected him. The curse was that no one would ever
   believe her predictions.

   Cauldron Cakes: A type of wizard candy, probably something akin to a
   cupcake.

   Cedric Diggory: Etym: ECN: "This now not uncommon name seems to have
   been invented by Sir Walter Scott for one of the characters in
   Ivanhoe, `Cedric the Saxon'. It was probably a mistake of Scott's for
   Cerdic, the name of the traditional founder of the West Saxon
   kingdom." Which may in turn be from the Welsh name Caradawg, meaning
   "amiable".

   Celestina Warbeck: Etym: This was the term for a late-18th-century
   keyboard instrument developed from the armonica. The word is from
   Latin caelestis "heavenly".

   centaur: A mythical creature with the body of a horse, and the top
   half of a human attached where the neck would be. Rowling's centaurs
   are largely peaceful but wish to keep to themselves. A group of them
   lives in the Forbidden Forest.

   Chamber of Secrets: An enormous magical cavern, rumored to have been
   constructed by Salazar Slytherin, concealed beneath Hogwarts for
   nearly eight centuries, even when a modern girls' bathroom was built
   over the entrance, until Tom Riddle figured out how to open it and pin
   the blame on Hagrid.

   Chameleon Ghoul: Mentioned in passing, presumably a type of ghoul with
   some natural ability to disguise itself.

   Chang, Cho: A Ravenclaw, a year ahead of Harry, and Seeker for the
   Ravenclaw Quidditch team.

   Etym: No reliable info.

   Charing Cross Road: A major road in London. The Leaky Cauldron is
   apparently located along or near it.

   Charlie Weasley [Charles]:

   Etym: From ceorl, Old English for "a man".

   Charm to Cure Reluctant Reversers, A: Page 12 of the Handbook of
   Do-It-Yourself Broomcare.

   Charms: One of the basic subjects that all students at Hogwarts have
   to study, taught by Professor Flitwick. A general term for all sorts
   of minor spells of instantaneous effect.

   Charm Your Own Cheese: One of Molly Weasley's cookbooks.

   Chaser: One of the three players on a Quidditch team who pass the
   Quaffle between them and attempt to throw it through one of the goal
   hoops. A goal is worth 10 points.

   Cheering Charm: A charm to elevate someone's mood.

   chipolata: A type of sausage.

   Cho Chang: Etym: No reliable info on the meaning of the name. It was
   the family name of a couple of Korean artists of the Yi dynasty.

   Chocoballs: A candy available at Honeydukes.

   Chocolate Frogs: A wizard candy, undistinguished except for the line
   of Famous Witches and Wizards trading cards that come with them.

   Christmas pudding: A rich fruit pudding, typically splashed with
   brandy and set alight just before serving. Hiding a silver coin in it
   is also traditional.

   Chudley Cannons: A professional Quidditch team. Chudley itself appears
   to be fictional, unless it's an alternate spelling of Chudleigh.

   Circe: An enchantress who figures in the Odyssey. She transformed
   Odysseus's crew into pigs. Featured on a Famous Witches and Wizards
   trading card.

   Cleansweep Five: A type of flying broom.

   Cleansweep Seven: A type of flying broom.

   Clearwater, Penelope (CoS ch. 14): Percy Weasley's girlfriend, a
   Ravenclaw prefect.

   Etym: Pretty much what it looks like, and like her first name, a
   symbol of purity. Just the girl for Percy...

   Cliodna: A druid featured on a Famous Witches and Wizards trading
   card.

   Cockroach Cluster: A candy available at Honeydukes.

   Etym: Likely from a product of the same name mentioned in the Monty
   Python "Crunchy Frog" sketch (series 1, episode 6).

   Cokeworth: Location of the Railview Hotel.

   Colin Creevey: Etym: Anglicization of Gaelic Cailean, which may be
   from coilen, meaning "young dog, youth" and by extension "cadet".

   Comet Two Sixty: A brand of flying broom.

   Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures: Part of the
   Ministry of Magic. "Disposal" usually consists of killing the animal.

   Committee on Experimental Charms: Part of the Ministry of Magic.

   Common Welsh Green: A type of dragon native to the British Isles.

   Confundus Charm: A spell that can be used to temporarily make a person
   believe something they would otherwise disbelieve.

   Confusing Concoction: A type of potion Harry had to make for his final
   exam in his third year.

   conk: British slang for "nose".

   Cornelius Fudge: Etym: St. Cornelius was pope from 251 to 253, and is
   noted for taking a liberal attitude toward Christians who had
   renounced their faith under duress. He was succeeded by St. Lucius.

   Cornish pixies: Small electric-blue creatures; not terribly dangerous,
   although they seem to have a talent for vandalism.

   Crabbe, Vincent: One of Draco Malfoy's cronies.

   Etym: From a nickname for someone with an odd gait, like a crab, or a
   cantankerous person, as a shortening of crabapple.

   Creevey, Colin: A Gryffindor, a year behind Harry; Harry's first
   papparazzo.

   Etym: Anglicized form of Gaelic  Craoibhe, from a name meaning
   "curly(-headed)" or "prolific". Thomas Creevey (1768-1838) was a
   politician and placeman, remembered because some of his journals and
   correspondence were published in 1903 and 1905.

   crinolines: Clothing made with crinoline, a stiff fabric made of
   horsehair that was used primarily in the 19th century. At first it was
   used in hats and shoes, and later to make dresses, petticoats, and
   other things as a substitute for stiffened muslin.

   Crockford, Doris (PS ch. 5): A particularly effusive fan of Harry's
   that he met in The Leaky Cauldron.

   Etym: From the placename Crockford Bridge; further etymology is
   uncertain and probably not relevant. Also the name of a London
   gambling club, and the colloquial designation of a reference work
   produced by the Anglican Church.

   Crookshanks: Hermione's unusually intelligent cat.

   Etym: Means "crooked legs".

   curses: Spells that injure or impede the target. Some require only a
   wand and a quick incantation, but stronger ones require the caster to
   maintain line-of-sight and keep up the incantation for the full time
   of effect. The terms jinx and hex appear to be equivalent, and are
   used in curse names for alliterative effect. 

   Curses and Countercurses
   : A book seen in Diagon Alley.

   Curse of the Bogies: Something Professor Quirrell mentioned in class.
   Bogie has varied meanings, a lot of them overlapping with boggart.

D

   Daily Prophet: A daily newspaper, the primary news source for most
   British wizards.

   Dark Force Defense League: An organization of which Gilderoy Lockhart
   is an honorary member.

   Dark Forces, The: A Guide to Self-Protection: The first-year textbook
   for Defense Against the Dark Arts.

   Davies (PoA ch. 14): Captain of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team.

   Etym: From the Hebrew name David, meaning "beloved". Sarah Emily
   Davies (1830-1921) was a pioneer in the movement to allow women into
   colleges, and was the founder of Girton College, Cambridge.

   Davy Gudgeon [David]:

   Etym: Hebrew, meaning "beloved". St. David is the patron saint of
   Wales.

   Dean Thomas: Etym: From Middle English dene "valley", or deen, a
   borrowing of a word that ultimately meant "a leader of ten men".

   deathday: The date on which a ghost comes into being, or the
   anniversary of that date. Like a birthday, a cause for celebration.

   Death Omens: What to Do When You Know the Worst is Coming: A book in
   Flourish and Blotts.

   Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Wizardry: A law
   dating from 1875 which disallows student wizards from using magic
   outside of school.

   Dedalus Diggle: Etym: Alternate spelling of Daedalus, of course.

   Defense Against the Dark Arts: A required subject for all Hogwarts
   students, but by far the most hazardous class to teach. Teachers so
   far:

   Harry's first year: Professor Quirrell
   Second year: Gilderoy Lockhart
   Third year: Remus Lupin (with a bit of substitute teaching from
   Professor Snape, who is thus the only person we've seen fully survive
   the job so far)

   Deflating Draft: The antidote to a Swelling Solution.

   Delaney-Podmore, Sir Patrick (CoS ch. 8): The head of the Headless
   Hunt.

   Etym: Delaney may be from a French root meaning "wool" or "alder
   grove", or the Gaelic patronymic  Dubhshline, composed of the
   elements dubh "black" + sln "challenge, defiance".

   Podmore is of uncertain origin, possibly from Middle English pod or
   pad "frog" + more "fen, marsh".

   Deletrius: An incantation to banish a summoned creature.

   Etym: An alteration of deleterious, maybe.

   dementor: A corpselike, possibly undead creature that feeds on
   emotions, draining away a person's will to live. Usually swathed in a
   cloak, their faces are seen only by people about to receive a
   dementor's kiss. Dementors are the guards of Azkaban.

   Etym: Invention from demented, as in cause to be.

   dementor's kiss: How a dementor sucks out a person's soul, leaving
   them in a permanent vegetative state.

   de Mimsy-Porpington: see Mimsy-Porpington.

   Dennis (PS ch. 3): Part of Dudley Dursley's gang.

   Etym: Derived from Dionysius, though the exact etymology is uncertain.
   St. Denis is a patron saint of France, who according to legend was
   martyred by decapitation. He is portrayed in art as a headless living
   figure.

   Department of Magical Catastrophes: Another arm of the Ministry of
   Magic.

   Derek (PoA ch. 11): A Hogwarts student, two years behind Harry, house
   unknown.

   Derrick (PoA ch. 15): A Beater on the Slytherin Quidditch team.

   Etym: Related to Theoderic, "people-rule". As a common noun, from the
   surname of a noted hangman at Tyburn, circa 1600.

   Dervish and Banges: A toy shop in Hogsmeade.

   Etym: Dervish is from Arabic darwiish, meaning a member of a Sufi
   fraternity, and is also used in fantasy to mean a whirling
   supernatural being. Banges would be an alteration of bangs.

   Devil's Snare: A magical plant which grabs hold of anyone within
   range. (What it plans to do with them next has not been recorded.) It
   recoils from bright light.

   Devon: A region of the UK which is home to the Flamels.

   Diagon Alley: A wizard shopping district somewhere in London,
   accessible from The Leaky Cauldron and the Floo Network.
   Establishments therein include Eeylops Owl Emporium, Flourish and
   Blotts, Gringotts, Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, Gambol and
   Japes, Florean Fortescue's ice cream parlor, Magical Menagerie,
   Quality Quidditch Supplies,and Ollivander's.

   Diggle, Dedalus: A wizard who, according to Professor McGonagall,
   "never had much sense". Harry met him at The Leaky Cauldron.

   Etym: Probably from the word dighel, meaning secret or obscure, though
   the proper etymology of the surname is different.

   Diggory, Cedric: A Hufflepuff, two years ahead of Harry, the captain
   and Seeker of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team.

   Etym: Goes back to the medieval romance of Sir Degar, and is probably
   from French gar "strayed, lost".

   Dippet, Armando (CoS ch. 13): The headmaster of Hogwarts in Tom
   Riddle's time, probably Dumbledore's immediate predecessor.

   Etym: Variation of Theobald, from the Germanic personal name *eudo
   "people, race" + bald "bold, brave".

   Disarming Charm: A spell that knocks an opponent's wand out of their
   grip. Incantation: Expelliarmus.

   Dissendium: The password to open the secret passage from Hogwarts to
   Honeydukes.

   Etym: Latin, "dissension, discord".

   dittany: OED lists a number of possible plants but, for our purposes,
   probably Origanum dictamnus aka Dictamnus creticus, once alleged to
   have medicinal virtues.

   Divination: An elective subject at Hogwarts, taught, in a loose sense
   of the word, by Professor Trelawney.

   Dobby: A house-elf formerly in the employ of Lucius Malfoy.

   Etym: Word for a household sprite or apparition, particularly a
   brownie. See house-elf for more.

   Doris Crockford: Etym: The name of a sea nymph in Greek myth, origin
   unknown. Noted as a given name only as far back as 1819.

   Draco Malfoy: Etym: Latin for "dragon", though the direct source for
   Mr. Malfoy's name is probably the Athenian ruler who gave us the word
   draconian.

   dragons: Many dragon species are still found in the wild throughout
   Europe. All appear to be are variations on the typical European
   dragon, with wings and fiery breath. Specific varieties mentioned so
   far are the Common Welsh Green, Hebridean Black, and Norwegian
   Ridgeback.

   Although captive dragon breeding is now outlawed, dragons are still
   useful to wizards in many ways. Their heartstrings are used in wands,
   their dung is used as compost for magical plants, and Albus Dumbledore
   alone has invented twelve uses for their blood.

   Dragon Breeding for Pleasure and Profit: One of Hagrid's collection of
   dragon books.

   Dragon Keeper's Guide, A: Another of Hagrid's collection of dragon
   books.

   Dragon Species of Great Britain and Ireland: Yet another of Hagrid's
   collection of dragon books.

   Draught of Living Death: An extremely powerful sleeping potion.

   Dr. Filibuster's Fabulous Wet-Start, No-Heat Fireworks: Magical
   fireworks available at Gambol and Japes.

   Drooble's Best Blowing Gum: A wizard candy. Probably best to steer
   clear of it, because...

   Etym: One of a number of variations on the French word for "trouble".

   Dudley Dursley: Etym: From an Old English placename, composed of the
   name Dudda + leeah "wood, clearing", and maybe a pun on him being a
   bit of a dud as a human being.

   Dumbledore, Albus: A bowling and chamber music aficionado, a gourmet
   of candies, and the headmaster of Hogwarts. Has been known to dabble
   in projects useful to wizard society, such as discovering the 12
   current uses for dragon's blood, and defeating the dark wizard
   Grindelwald. Said to be an ex-Gryffindor.

   Etym: Old word for a bumblebee, from dumble "stupid, dull, slow" + dor
   "insect that makes a loud humming noise".

   Dundee: A city in northern Scotland.

   Dursley, Dudley: Harry's cousin, a fine young lad who knows how to get
   the best out of life, at least from people who are swayed by screaming
   tantrums.

   Etym: Stated by Rowling to be from the place name, which for the
   record is from the Old English given name Deeorsige + leeah "wood,
   clearing".

   Dursley, Marge: Harry's aunt-in-law, Vernon Dursley's sister, dog
   fancier, occasional babysitter, and dispenser of time-honored wisdom
   on the subject of breeding.

   Etym: See above.

   Dursley, Petunia: Harry's aunt, Lily Potter's sister, who selflessly
   gave up several cubic feet of storage space to house her weird nephew.

   Etym: See above.

   Dursley, Vernon: A respectable businessman, the director of Grunnings,
   a doting father, and really not at all to blame for his nephew being a
   freak.

   Etym: See above.

E

   eagle owl: A type of owl found across Eurasia; the largest of the
   European owls. Draco Malfoy has one.

   ebony: Wood from several tree species in the genus Diospyros, favored
   for its durability, hardness, and ability to take high polish. In
   India it was used for drinking cups for its supposed ability to
   neutralize poison. Use these days is mainly decorative.

   Eeylops Owl Emporium: A store in Diagon Alley, where Harry got Hedwig.

   Elfric the Eager (PS ch. 16): The leader of a notable historical
   uprising.

   Etym: From the Old English words for "elf" and "ruler".

   Elixir of Life: A formula that extends the lifespan indefinitely, made
   possible with a Philosopher's Stone.

   Emeric the Evil: Some historical personage who could be confused with
   Uric the Oddball.

   Etym: From an Old German root Im- or Em-, of unknown meaning, + ric
   "ruler". Also, emerick is an obsolete alternate form of emery.

   Emeric Switch: Etym: See above.

   Emma Dobbs: Etym: A hypocoristic form of various Old German names
   combined with ermin/irmin "whole, universal".

   Enchantment in Baking: A cookbook in Molly Weasley's collection.

   Encyclopedia of Toadstools: A book at Flourish and Blotts.

   Engorgement Charm: A spell to increase the size of something.

   Enid (PS ch. 7): Neville Longbottom's great-aunt.

   Etym: Celtic name of uncertain derivation. In Arthurian legend, the
   wife of Geraint, noted as an example of long-suffering patience.

   Entrancing Enchantments: Not defined explicitly, but would seem to be
   spells to produce infatuation.

   Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi: The inscription on the
   Mirror of Erised, describing soed ti tahw.

   Ernie Macmillan [Ernest] (CoS ch. 11):

   Etym: From Old German Ernust "vigor, earnestness".

   Ernie Prang [Ernest]:

   Etym: See above.

   Errol (CoS ch. 3): The Weasleys' owl.

   Etym: From Latin errare "to wander". Hints also of Errol Flynn.

   Eton: The most exclusive secondary school in England; Justin
   Finch-Fletchley still picked Hogwarts over it.

   Evening Prophet: An evening newspaper, probably an alternate edition
   of the Daily Prophet.

   Expecto Patronum: Incantation to summon a Patronus.

   Etym: From Latin exspecto "I expect" (literally "look forward to") and
   patronus, "patron, defender".

   Expelliarmus: The incantation for the Disarming Charm.

   Etym: Derived somehow from Latin expellere "drive out, drive away".

   Exploding Snap: A wizard card game.

F

   Famous Witches and Wizards: A series of trading cards packaged with
   Chocolate Frogs. Featured people include Agrippa, Circe, Cliodna,
   Albus Dumbledore, Nicholas Flamel, Alberic Grunnion, Hengist of
   Woodcroft, Merlin, Morgana, and Paracelsus.

   Fang: Hagrid's dog, a boarhound.

   Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: A first-year textbook. Also
   available in a Muggle edition.

   Fat Friar: The house ghost of Hufflepuff.

   Fat Lady: The painting that guards the Gryffindor dormitory.

   Fawcett (CoS ch. 12): A Ravenclaw who came to Lockhart's dueling club.

   Etym: From the placename Fawcet or Facit, both from Old English fah
   "(brightly) colored, variegated, flowery" + side "slope".

   Fawkes: Dumbledore's phoenix friend, and the donor of the feathers in
   both Harry's and Voldemort's wands.

   Etym: From Guy Fawkes, the mastermind of the Gunpowder Plot.

   Ferula: An incantation to conjure up some sort of magical splint.

   Etym: Probably from ferrule, a ring or cap put on a shaft to keep it
   from splitting. Ferula is an actual word, but means an instrument such
   as a flat piece of wood used to punish children.

   Fidelius Charm: A spell that conceals a piece of information inside a
   living soul-- a Secret-Keeper.

   Figg, Mrs. (PS ch. 2): A neighbor of the Dursleys who looks after
   Harry occasionally.

   Etym: The name is properly derived from fig, but my guess is that if
   there is any meaning to it, Rowling is thinking more along the lines
   of the surname Figgis, from a nickname for a trustworthy or reliable
   person.

   Filch, Argus: The caretaker of Hogwarts and terror of
   curfew-breakers-- all the harder for him as he's a Squib.

   Etym: Probably just the English word... thus, Argus Filch is on the
   lookout for all who might steal. (Doesn't do a very good job of it,
   does he?)

   Finch-Fletchley, Justin (PS ch. 7): A Hufflepuff, the same year as
   Harry.

   Etym: Finch means what it looks like, and I've no idea about the other
   part.

   Finite Incantatem: An incantation that halts all ongoing spells in the
   vicinity.

   Etym: Latin, "end spellcasting".

   Finnigan, Seamus (PS ch. 7): A Gryffindor, the same year as Harry. His
   mother was a witch, and didn't tell his Muggle father until after they
   were married.

   Etym: From the Gaelic name Fionn, meaning "white".

   Firebolt: The absolutely most advanced broom yet created by modern
   magical technology.

   Firenze: A centaur who lives in the Forbidden Forest.

   Etym: The modern Italian name for Florence.

   Fizzing Whizbee: A type of wizard candy available at Honeydukes.

   Flamel, Nicholas (PS ch. 6): A 665-year-old alchemist and opera lover,
   a friend of Dumbledore's, and the creator of the only Philosopher's
   Stone known to be in existence.

   Etym: The name of an actual historical alchemist. The Spell Binder has
   a lengthy article on him.

   Flamel, Perenelle (PS ch. 13): Nicholas Flamel's wife, a mere 658
   years old.

   Fleet, Angus (CoS ch. 5): A Muggle resident of Peebles who spotted
   Harry and Ron in the flying Ford Anglia.

   Etym: As a last name, from Old English fleot "stream, estuary, creek"
   or Middle English flete "swift".

   Fleetwood's High-Finish Handle Polish: Part of Harry's broomstick
   maintenance kit.

   Etym: Fleet... wood... get it?

   Flesh-Eating Slug Repellent: Something to keep Flesh-Eating Slugs out
   of cabbages, apparently.

   Fletcher, Mundungus (CoS ch. 3): The target of a raid by the Misuse of
   Muggle Artifacts Office.

   Etym: An arrowsmith, from Old French fleche "arrow".

   Flint, Marcus (PS ch. 11): A Slytherin, five years ahead of Harry.
   Chaser and captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team during Harry's
   first year.

   Etym: Name for someone who lived near a notable outcrop of flint, or
   nickname for a hard-hearted individual.

   Flitwick: The Charms teacher at Hogwarts, a former dueling champion
   who has since moved on to the far more exciting and dangerous career
   of teaching adolescents to handle supernatural forces.

   Etym: A town in Bedfordshire; no etymology found, though.

   flobberworm: The most uninspiring magical creature in existence. A
   flobberworm subsists on a diet of lettuce and does nothing else.

   Floo powder: A substance that allows one to travel from fireplace to
   fireplace by throwing some into a fire and speaking the intended
   destination.

   Etym: Probably a pun on flew or flue or both.

   Florean Fortescue: Etym: From Latin florianus "flowery, blooming".
   Florian is the name of a 4th century saint invoked against fire and
   drought.

   Flourish and Blotts: A bookstore in Diagon Alley, the place where
   Hogwarts students buy their textbooks.

   Etym: A flourish, in penmanship, is an added decoration. To blot is to
   dry wet ink by pressing something absorbent (like a blotting-paper)
   onto it, to absorb the excess and keep it from smudging. When writing
   with a fountain pen or quill, one would sign with a flourish and then
   blot it.

   Fluffy: A cerberid dog acquired by Hagrid and put to work guarding the
   Philosopher's Stone.

   fluxweed: An ingredient of the Polyjuice Potion. Invented, as far as I
   can tell.

   Forbidden Forest: The woods adjoining Hogwarts and Hogsmeade, home to
   all sorts of magical creatures, including centaurs, Aragog, and
   possibly a werewolf or two.

   Ford Anglia: A cousin to the Ford Prefect which was produced in
   England from 1959 to 1967 and then was simplified to become the Ford
   Popular. Arthur Weasley got hold of one and performed a few minor
   adjustments to it such as allowing it to fly and become invisible at
   will. Since being crashed into the Whomping Willow, the car has turned
   feral and been living in the Forbidden Forest.

   Forgetfulness Potion: The final exam for Harry's first year of
   Potions.

   Fortescue, Florean (PoA ch. 4): The proprietor of an ice cream parlor
   in Diagon Alley, who for some reason knows an awful lot about the
   history of witch-burning.

   Etym: From Old French fort "strong, brave" + escu "shield". Thus, a
   powerful protection against burning.

   Fowl or Foul? A Study of Hippogriff Brutality: A book Ron consulted in
   Buckbeak's defense.

   Fred Weasley [Frederick]:

   Etym: From Old German frithu "peace" + ric "ruler". The name of lots
   and lots of German kings.

   Freezing Charm: Some kind of paralysis-inducing spell.

   Frog Spawn Soap: Something available at Zonko's Joke Shop.

   From Egg to Inferno: Another of Hagrid's collection of books on
   dragon-rearing.

   Fubster, Colonel (PoA ch. 2): A retired friend of Harry's Aunt Marge
   who sometimes looks after Marge's dogs.

   Fudge, Cornelius: The current Minister of Magic, although apparently
   unable to handle the job without constant advice from Dumbledore. If
   political events in the books match actual history, Fudge is a Tory
   (in fact, he bears a suspicious resemblance to one particular Tory)
   who is due to be replaced sometime in book 6 or 7 when Labour takes
   over the government.

   Etym: Of all the meanings available, I think we should look at "false"
   or "clumsily forged".

   Fudge Flies: A candy available at Honeydukes.

G

   Gadding with Ghouls: One of Gilderoy Lockhart's books.

   Galleon: A gold coin, equivalent to 17 Sickles or 493 Knuts.

   Etym: Probably from the meaning "a great prize or catch", referring to
   the capture of Spanish galleons by English privateers.

   Gambol and Japes: The joke shop in Diagon Alley.

   Etym: Gambol as in to play, jape as in joke.

   garlic: Rumored to be the source of the smell coming from Professor
   Quirrell's turban. Garlic has been credited with numerous medical
   powers, and the ability to ward off vampires.

   George Weasley: Etym: The patron saint of England, whose
   dragon-killing exploits, said to have happened in Libya, may be a
   transfer of the Perseus myth. The name is from Greek for "farmer".

   ghosts: The spirits of the dead which linger for some reason. Hogwarts
   has about 20 ghosts in residence, including the Bloody Baron, the Fat
   Friar, the Grey Lady, Nearly Headless Nick, Moaning Myrtle, Peeves,
   and Professor Binns.

   ghoul: A malignant spirit sometimes associated with grave-robbing; one
   haunts the attic of The Burrow.

   Gilderoy Lockhart: Etym: The name of a famous robber, whose victims
   included Cardinal Richelieu and Oliver Cromwell.

   Gilderoy Lockhart's Guide to Household Pests: Yet another of Gilderoy
   Lockhart's books.

   Ginny Weasley (Ginevra):

   Etym: A variant of the name we know best as Guenivere, originally from
   a Celtic root meaning "white, shining".

   Gladys Gudgeon: Etym: From Welsh Gwladys, of unknown etymology. Folk
   etymology favors a formation from Claudia.

   gnomes: In these books, burrowing pests that tear up wizard gardens.
   Plaster statues of gnomes are fulfill roughly the same function in
   British gardens as plastic flamingoes do in American ones.

   goblins: The bankers of the wizard world. As a species which
   specializes in handling money, they are required to be short, ugly,
   and unpleasant in accordance with the long tradition enshrined in the
   Secret Protocols of the Elders of Science Fiction and Fantasy.

   Gobstones: A wizard variation of marbles in which the marbles can spit
   a foul-smelling liquid in a player's face.

   Godric Gryffindor: Etym: From Old English god, which may mean "good",
   + ric "ruler".

   Godric's Hollow: Where Harry's parents were living when they were
   killed by Voldemort. A fictional place.

   Golden Snitch: A tiny, winged ball used in Quidditch. It flies around
   the field of play attempting to not get caught by the Seekers.
   Catching the Snitch earns 150 points for the catching team and ends
   the game.

   Gordon (PS ch. 3): A member of Dudley Dursley's gang.

   Goshawk, Miranda (PS ch. 5): Author of the Standard Book of Spells
   series.

   Etym: Astur palumbarius and relatives, primarily short-winged,
   forest-dwelling accipters. All the other textbook authors named have
   names clearly relating to the subject of their books, but I'm at a
   loss to explain this one. A pun on a real-world author's name,
   perhaps?

   governors, board of: Some sort of oversight board for Hogwarts. Lucius
   Malfoy is a member.

   Goyle, Gregory: The slightly stupider of Draco Malfoy's cronies.

   Etym: A deep trench or ravine. Or maybe intended to make us think of
   gargoyle.

   Granger, Hermione: One of Harry's two best friends, and the smartest
   student in the school; a fighter for truth, justice, and getting those
   lazy slobs around her to do some real studying.

   Etym: A word for a farm bailiff, responsible for overseeing the
   collection of rent. In the US, the Granger movement fought on behalf
   of farmers against the monopolistic grain transport practices of the
   railroads after the Civil War.

   great grey owl: A large owl distributed all around the northern
   hemisphere.

   Great Hall: The biggest indoor space in the Hogwarts castle; where the
   students and staff usually dine. The ceiling is enchanted to look like
   the sky outdoors.

   Great Humberto, The (PS ch. 3): A stage magician (well, one
   assumes...) whose TV show on Monday nights is one of Dudley Dursley's
   favorites.

   Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century: A book Hermione read
   to catch up on wizard culture.

   Great Wizards of the Twentieth Century: One of the books in the
   Hogwarts library.

   greenhouse one: The only greenhouse first-year Herbology students are
   allowed into.

   greenhouse three: A place with much more interesting plants than
   greenhouse one.

   Gregory Goyle: Etym: See below for one meaning. In common usage, has
   meant "a gallant" (c. 1599), "a hangman" (17th century), and a
   children's game. My money's on the hangman...

   Gregory the Smarmy (PS ch. 9): A statue that conceals a secret passage
   out of Hogwarts.

   Etym: As a name, from a Greek word meaning "to be watchful".

   Grey Lady: The house ghost of Ravenclaw.

   Grim: A death omen in the form of a huge black dog. Though it should
   also be noted that there is a "Church Grim", said to guard graveyards
   from witches and the Devil.

   Grindelwald (PS ch. 6): A dark wizard defeated by Dumbledore in 1945,
   likely on or before May 7th. (The mess in the Pacific was presumably
   still the work of mere Muggles.)

   Etym: Grindel means "fierce, angry" and wald is German for "forest".
   Grindelwald is also the name of a place in south central Switzerland.

   grindylow: A malignant creature that lurks in water, waiting to
   strangle the unwary. From Yorkshire folklore, where it is said to
   prefer deep pools of stagnant water for its resting place and children
   fr its victims.

   Gringotts: The British wizards' bank, run by goblins and based in
   Diagon Alley.

   Griphook (PS ch. 5): A goblin working at Gringotts.

   Etym: Probably invented.

   Grunnings: The drill-making firm of which Vernon Dursley is the
   director.

   Grunnion, Alberic (PS ch. 6): A person featured on a Famous Witches
   and Wizards trading card. No further info found.

   Gryffindor, Godric: Etym: Invented. The griffon (or gryphon) is a
   symbol of bravery and guardianship.

   Gryffindor House: The house that Harry belongs to; it selects for
   bravery and leadership qualities. The house ghost is Nearly Headless
   Nick, and the head of the house is Professor McGonagall. Badge: Gules,
   a lion rampant to sinister Or.

   Gudgeon, Davy (PoA ch. 10): A former Hogwarts student who nearly lost
   an eye to the Whomping Willow.

   Gudgeon, Gladys (CoS ch. 7): A big fan of Lockhart's.

   Etym: Nickname deriving from a fish (Gobio gobio), which originally
   may have been used with reference to a greedy or credulous person.
   Also, various meanings referring to pins or sockets at pivot points.

H

   haggis: A traditional Scottish dish consisting of sheep innards
   stuffed with oatmeal.

   Hagrid, Rubeus: The Keeper of the Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts, a
   giant of a man with a heart to match, especially when it comes to
   exotic and dangerous animals (cf. Norbert and Fluffy). Wand
   (supposedly destroyed, but strongly hinted to be hidden in his
   umbrella): oak, bendy, 16".

   Etym: According to Rowling, "If you were hagrid-- it's a dialect
   word-- you'd had a bad night. Hagrid is a big drinker-- he's had a lot
   of bad nights."

   Hair-Raising Potion: Something that includes rat tails as an
   ingredient.

   Handbook of Do-It-Yourself Broomcare: A book Hermione gave to Harry.

   Handbook of Hippogriff Psychology: A book Ron consulted to defend
   Buckbeak.

   Hand of Glory: An item associated with dark magic since medieval
   times. Usually said to be the hand of a thief or murderer hanged at
   midnight, modified to allow candles to be socketed in its fingertips.
   In this series, it provides light only to the holder.

   Hannah Abbott: Etym: From Hebrew for "He (God) has favored me". In the
   Bible, the mother of Samuel, and in the Talmud, a prophetess; her
   prayer exemplifies successful petitions to God.

   Harry Potter: Etym: Stated by Rowling on numerous occasions to just be
   her favorite male name.

   Head Boy: A seventh-year student chosen for leadership and scholastic
   abilities who shares the prefects' duties.

   Head Girl: A seventh-year student chosen for leadership and scholastic
   abilities who shares the prefects' duties.

   Head Hockey: A pastime of the Headless Hunt.

   Headless Hunt: A mass of headless ghosts who won't let Nearly Headless
   Nick join them.

   Head Polo: Another pastime of the Headless Hunt.

   Hebridean Black: A type of dragon native to the British Isles.

   Hedwig: Harry's owl, named after someone he read about in A History of
   Magic.

   Etym: Stated by Rowling to be a medieval saint, which would be St.
   Hedwig of Andechs. Another possibility is the devout but not canonized
   medieval woman who was crowned "king" of Poland at the age of 9,
   strongly supported religion and scholarship, and caused the
   restoration of the university of Krakw, which became the Jagiellonian
   University. (Here's the English root page.)

   Helga Hufflepuff: Etym: From Norse, meaning "holy". Also an alternate
   name for St. Olga (890-969), the first recorded female ruler in Russa,
   the first Russian royal to adopt Christianity, and the first Russian
   Orthodox saint.

   Hengist of Woodcroft (PS ch. 6): Was featured on a Famous Witches and
   Wizards trading card. Might be an actual historical person, but I
   haven't found any info on him.

   Hetty Bayliss [Henrietta]:

   Etym: Feminine of Henry from Old German haimi "house, home" + ric
   "ruler".

   Herbology: A required course at Hogwarts, taught by Professor Sprout.

   Hermes (CoS ch. 3): Percy's owl, a screech owl, bought for him when he
   became a prefect.

   Etym: The Greek name for the messenger of the gods, also the god of
   thieves, children, and travellers.

   Hermione Granger: Etym: A derivative of Hermes. Used by Shakespeare in
   A Winter's Tale as the name of a queen falsely accused of adultery,
   who dies of the shock when the evidence in her favor is disregarded.

   Hiccup Sweet: Something available at Zonko's Joke Shop.

   Higgs, Terence (PS ch. 12): The Seeker for the Slytherin Quidditch
   team in Harry's first year, replaced by Draco Malfoy later on.

   Etym: From the medieval given name Hicke, a form of Richard, whose
   etymology is uncertain; may be riic "ruler" + heard "hard".

   hinkypunk: A one-legged creature which lures travelers to their death
   in bogs.

   Etym: Usually spelled Hinky-Punk, this is a local equivalent to the
   will-o'-the-wisp on the Somerset-Devon border.

   hippogriff: A mythical creature with the head, wings, and legs of an
   eagle and the hindquarters of a horse. In these books, a proud and
   demanding creature that requires a person to show respect before they
   can approach it.

   History of Magic: A required course at Hogwarts, taught by Professor
   Binns.

   Hit Wizards: The toughest portion of the Department of Magical Law
   Enforcement.

   Hogsmeade: The only entirely non-Muggle settlement in the British
   Isles, located near Hogwarts. Local businesses and features include
   the Three Broomsticks, the Shrieking Shack, Honeydukes, Dervish and
   Banges, and Zonko's Joke Shop.

   Etym: -meade in English placenames refers to a piece of grassland;
   thus, it's the meadow near Hogwarts. Interesting that the school
   appears to have preceded the village (unless both were named after
   some other local feature).

   Hogwarts: The school for young wizards in the British Isles, housed in
   a massive castle with 142 shifting staircases, living paintings,
   numerous ghosts, and pretty much everything else that would have made
   your school the least bit interesting.

   Hogwarts Express: The train that runs from King's Cross to Hogwarts at
   the beginning of the school year, and back at the end.

   Hogwarts, a History: One of the books Hermione read to get ready for
   the start of school.

   Holidays with Hags: One of Gilderoy Lockhart's books.

   holly: Shrubs and trees of the genus Ilex, reputed to have protective
   powers. Harry's wand probably was made with English holly (I.
   aquifolium).

   Etym: Rowling has given her reason for using it as its association
   with life and also with the word holy. Unfortunately, the second part
   is folk etymology; the word holly goes back to an Indo-European stem
   meaning "to prick". (Hollyhock, on the other hand, evolved from holy
   hock.)

   Home Life and Social Habits of British Muggles: The textbook for the
   Muggle Studies class.

   Homorphus Charm: The spell with which Lockhart claims to have cured
   the Wagga Wagga Werewolf. He probably made it up-- it appears the
   Wolfsbane Potion is the only effective countermeasure.

   Honeydukes: The candy store in Hogsmeade.

   Etym: No info; also invented?

   Hooch, Madam: The flying instructor at Hogwarts, and usually the
   referee for inter-house Quidditch games.

   Etym: No etymology. There was a minor Dutch painter named Pieter de
   Hooch, or Hoogh, or Hooghe (1629-1684).

   Hopkirk, Mafalda (CoS ch. 2): Someone in the Improper Use of Magic
   Office.

   Etym: From Hopekirk, named from Northern Middle English hop(e) "valley
   among hills" + kirk "church". A former Hufflepuff?

   Hornby, Olive (CoS ch. 16): A girl who particularly tormented Moaning
   Myrtle and was haunted by Myrtle for it until the day she (Olive) died
   what seems like an awfully early death.

   Etym: Name of several places in northern England, from the Old Norse
   name Horni "horn" + br "farm, settlement".

   Horseback Head-Juggling: Another pastime of the Headless Hunt.

   house-elf: A magical creature, bound to a specific wizard family or
   place, which does housekeeping tasks. If a house-elf's employer hands
   a piece of clothing to them, the elf is considered dismissed.

   House-elves are based on brownies, mostly benevolent spirits said to
   inhabit particular houses or farmsteads and do chores when no one is
   looking. One can leave bread or a bowl of milk or cream out for the
   brownie to show thanks, but making any more extravagant gifts will
   offend it, which will turn to mischief. If a suit of clothes is made
   for a brownie, it will put them on and disappear.

   Hover Charm: A spell used to make something float in the air.
   Apparently detectable from a distance (unless someone from the
   Improper Use of Magic Office just happened to be nearby).

   Howler: An angry voice recording which plays at full volume when
   opened, sent by parents to give public rebukes to their children at
   school; a nastygram.

   Hufflepuff, Helga: One of the four founders of Hogwarts.

   Etym: See below.

   Hufflepuff House: One of the four houses of Hogwarts, it emphasizes
   hard work, goodness, and self-sacrifice. The house of the saints.
   Badge: Or, a brock rampant reguardant, at best guess, anyway. House
   colors are supposed to be black and gold. The house ghost is the Fat
   Friar.

   Etym: Invented; along the lines of "huff and puff".

   Humberto: see The Great Humberto.

   Hurling Hex: A malignant spell which can be cast on a broomstick.

I

   Ice Mice: A type of wizard candy.

   Impervius: An incantation that makes a surface repel water.

   Etym: Altered spelling of impervious.

   Important Modern Magical Discoveries: A book in the Hogwarts library.

   Improper Use of Magic Office: The arm of the Ministry of Magic which,
   among other things, keeps tabs on any students who try to use magic
   outside of school.

   incantations: The verbal components of spells. Incantations come in a
   variety of languages. Oddly, modern-language spells which contain
   verbs are in the imperative (the command form) but the Latin ones are
   in the indicative (that is, descriptive of action). There may be a
   deep reason for this, but it's probably just because Rowling was never
   forced to take Latin. I was, and by golly I'm going to get some use
   out of it. Imperative forms are provided for the curious.

   Inner Eye: A term for clairvoyant ability.

   InterCity 125: An engine widely used on Britain's commuter railways.

   Inter-House Championship: The competition between the Hogwarts houses
   to see which can accumulate the most points by the end of the year.

   Intermediate Transfiguration: The textbook for the third-year
   Transfiguration class.

   International Confederation of Warlocks: Some sort of multinational
   professional association.

   International Federation of Warlocks: Probably a typo for the
   International Confederation of Warlocks, or vice versa.

   Invisible Book of Invisibility: The most problematic book ever to
   blight the stockroom of Flourish and Blotts until the arrival of The
   Monster Book of Monsters.

   Invisibility Booster: Something that can make a flying car invisible,
   at least to Muggles.

   invisibility cloak: An extremely rare magical item which makes the
   wearer(s) totally invisible to normal sight, though it is penetrable
   with any kind of magical sight. Harry's father left one to him.

J

   James Potter: Etym: A variation of Jacob, from Hebrew qoob, whose
   meaning is not clear. Folk etymology gives a meaning of "he seized the
   heel" or "he supplanted". St. James the disciple, along with St. John,
   are sometimes called boanerges, Greek for "sons of thunder", for their
   fiery zeal.

   Jelly Slugs: A type of wizard candy available at Honeydukes.

   Jigger, Arsenius (PS ch. 5): Author of Magical Drafts and Potions.

   Etym: 1.5 fluid ounces; a measurement used for alcoholic drinks. So, a
   poisoned drink. Jeez, it's like everything associated with potions has
   to be evil and nasty.

   Johnson, Angelina (PS ch. 12): A Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch
   team.

   Etym: Patronymic form of John, which is from the Hebrew name Johanan
   "Jehovah has favored".

   Jordan, Lee (PS ch. 7): A Gryffindor and a close friend of Fred and
   George Weasley. The announcer at inter-House Quidditch matches.

   Etym: As a personal name, from an Old Norse or Old German root meaning
   "land". As the river, from the Hebrew for "flowing down".

   Justin Finch-Fletchley: Etym: From Latin justus "just", the name of
   two Byzantine emperors and a saint; also brings to mind the emperor
   Justinian.

K

   kappa: A creature from Japanese mythology which lurks in rivers and
   lakes, waiting to kill unwary passers-by. In these books, the kappa
   kills by strangulation; in the mythological form, it goes after
   swimmers by pulling their livers out through their bottoms. Kappas are
   confined to wilderness waters, so there is absolutely no reason
   whatsoever to think about this if your bottom is exposed to water in
   an urban setting.

   Katie Bell [Katherine]:

   Etym: St. Katherine or Catherine of Alexandria was a scholarly woman
   who was imprisoned for converting the wife and soldiers of the emperor
   Maxentius. He is said to then have dispatched his philosophers to
   convince her by logical arguments to denounce her faith, only to find
   that she instead converted them. Later she was martyred, and a
   particular instrument of torture associated with this is known as "St.
   Katherine's Wheel". The etymology of this name is unknown.

   Keeper: The player on a Quidditch team who attempts to keep the
   Quaffle from going through any of the goal hoops.

   kelpie: A malicious water creature able to assume a number of shapes,
   but usually appearing as a horse, which takes delight in the drowning
   of passers-by.

   Kent: The home of the Wailing Widow.

   Kettleburn (PoA ch. 5): The former Care of Magical Creatures teacher.

   Etym: Means pretty much what it looks like.

   King's Cross: A major train station in London, and the point of origin
   for the Hogwarts Express.

   knickerbocker glory: A confection similar to a large ice cream sundae
   with all the attendant toppings, sauces, etc., traditionally served in
   a very tall glass.

   Knight Bus: A bus summonable by any wizard in dire need of
   transportation which can take them anywhere they want to go on land.

   Knockturn Alley: The evil twin of Diagon Alley, location of Borgin and
   Burkes.

   Etym: Say it out loud...

   knotgrass: Polygonum aviculare, and one of the ingredients for the
   Polyjuice Potion. Herbal lore says an infusion of knotgrass is supposd
   to stunt one's growth.

   Knut: 1/493 of a Galleon, 1/29 of a Sickle.

   Etym: Not sure, maybe just a variation of nut, the coins being
   brownish and all.

   Kwikspell: A correspondence course in basic magic that Filch
   apparently tried.

L

   lacewing flies: An ingredient for the Polyjuice Potion. This could
   refer to anything in the order Neuroptera, particularly in the family
   Chrysopidae (green lacewings) or Hemerobiidae (brown lacewings).

   Lavender Brown: Etym: Lavandula vera, used for perfumes. The flower
   signifies distrust.

   Leaky Cauldron, The: A wizards' pub located somewhere in London, along
   Charing Cross Road; the primary entrance to Diagon Alley.

   Lee Jordan: Etym: The sheltered side of something, or dregs. As a
   name, from Old English leeah "meadow".

   leeches: An ingredient for the Polyjuice Potion. The type of leech
   needed for magic is probably the European medicinal leech, Hirudo
   medicinalis.

   Leg-Locker Curse: A spell that paralyzes the legs. Incantation:
   Locomotor Mortis.

   Licorice Wands: A wizard candy, undoubtedly very tasty if you happen
   to like licorice.

   Lily Potter: Etym: As a personal name, probably derives from a pet
   form of Elizabeth. In the plant world, anything in the genus Lilium.
   Different types of lily have different meanings; if a specific one is
   intended, it's probably "purity and sweetness", the white lily.
   Outside possibilities are "majesty", for the imperial lily, or "return
   of happiness", the lily of the valley.

   Lisa Turpin: Etym: Another nickname from Elizabeth, which is from
   Hebrew Elisheba, "my God (is) satisfaction".

   Little Whinging: The town in Surrey in which the Dursleys live. Does
   not appear to be a real town.

   Lockhart, Gilderoy: A best-selling author, honorary member of the Dark
   Force Defense League, five-time winner of the Witch Weekly Most
   Charming Smile Award, and the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher in
   Harry's second year. Owing to a bungled Memory Charm, he is now
   confined to St. Mungo's Hospital, and unlikely to write anything more
   unless it's Psessions with Psychologists.

   Favorite color: lilac. Ideal birthday gift: harmony between magic and
   non-magic peoples. Secret ambition: Rid the world of evil and market
   his own line of hair-care products.

   Etym: EB has an entry for John Gibson Lockhart (1794-1854) a Scottish
   writer, best remembered for his Life of Sir Walter Scott, "one of the
   great biographies in English". Appropriate for a thief of biographies.

   Locomotor Mortis: Incantation for the Leg-Locker Curse.

   Etym: Latin, "appendage" and "death".

   Longbottom, Neville: A Gryffindor, same year as Harry, with the worst
   memory in his class.

   Etym: Place name from western Yorkshire, from Middle English for "long
   valley".

   Lucius Malfoy: Etym: From Latin lux, light; possibly intended as a
   reference to Lucifer, "light-bearer". The name of three popes,
   including the patron saint of Copenhagen, who succeeded St. Cornelius
   and continued his policies... does this mean we'll be seeing a new
   Minister of Magic? EB also gives this as an obsolete form of luscious,
   but let's not go there.

   Lumos: An incantation to make one's wand glow.

   Etym: Pseudo-Latin/Greek for "light".

   Lupin, Remus J.: The Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher in Harry's
   third year. Removed after he was revealed to be a werewolf, due to
   some parents having small-minded knee-jerk prejudices against allowing
   their children into close proximity with someone who can turn into a
   man-eating monster. Lupin was also one of James Potter's close friends
   during their school days.

   Etym: A variation on lupine.

M

   MacDougal, Morag (PS ch. 7): A Hogwarts student of the same year as
   Harry, house unknown.

   Etym: From the Gaelic name Dubhghall, from dubh "black" + gall
   "stranger".

   Macmillan, Ernie (CoS ch. 11): A Hufflepuff, year unknown.

   Etym: Anglicized form of Mac Maolin, from a diminutive form of maol,
   meaning "bald, tonsured" and in a transferred sense, a devotee of a
   saint.

   Macnair, Walden (PoA ch. 16): The executioner for the Committee for
   the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures.

   Etym: HH has three possibilities, the most interesting being an
   anglicization of Mac an Mhaoir, "son of the steward, keeper". "The
   principal Irish family of this name held the hereditary post of Keeper
   of the Book of Armagh at Ballymoyer (Gaelic Baile an Mhaoir `town of
   the keeper')."

   Mafalda Hopkirk: Etym: No etymology on this one, but it's the name of
   the socially concerned title character of a Portuguese comic strip.

   Magical Drafts and Potions: A first-year textbook for Hogwarts
   students.

   Magical Law Enforcement Squad: Pretty much what it sounds like-- the
   wizard SWAT team.

   Magical Me: Gilderoy Lockhart's most recent (and probably last) book
   of his exploits.

   Magical Menagerie: The general pet store in Diagon Alley.

   Magical Theory: A first-year textbook for Hogwarts students.

   Magnolia Crescent: A street near the Dursleys' home.

   mahogany: A tropical hardwood from several trees of the family
   Meliaceae, most often the West Indies mahogany, used mainly in
   furniture and paneling.

   Malcolm (PS ch. 3): Part of Dudley Dursley's gang.

   Etym: From Gaelic maol-Columb, "servant or disciple of Columb". Columb
   is the Gaelic form of the Latin Columba "dove", and was the name of a
   saint known as "the apostle of the Picts". Malcolm was also the name
   of several Scottish kings.

   Malfoy, Draco: A Slytherin, the same year as Harry, who generously
   offered to introduce Harry to the "in" crowd and has not yet gotten
   over being snubbed. In Harry's second year and later, the Seeker for
   the Slytherin Quidditch team.

   Etym: Stated by Rowling to be an invented name, from the French mal +
   foy or foi. Could be taken to mean "bad faith" as in a lack of faith
   or a false promise, or "faith in evil".

   Malfoy, Lucius: Draco's father, a stalwart of the pure-blood faction,
   member of the board of governors of Hogwarts, and conoisseur of
   interesting magical items of dubious provenance.

   Etym: See above.

   Malfoy, Narcissa: Draco's mother.

   Etym: See above.

   Malkin, Madam (PS ch. 5): Proprietor of Robes for All Occasions in
   Diagon Alley.

   Etym: As a surname, derived either from the medieval female given name
   Malle, or the Yiddish name Malke, from the Hebrew word malka "queen".
   OED also gives it as a name for a woman of the lower classes in
   various proverbial expressions; the name of a female spectre or demon;
   dialectual name for a cat; or an effeminate man. If I had to guess,
   I'd go with the female spectre.

   mandrake: In these books, a plant which resembles a humanoid with a
   normal-looking plant growing out of its head. The scream of a mature
   mandrake can kill, while that of a young one will still stun a person.
   Mandrakes can be used to restore a person who has been paralyzed by a
   basilisk.

   The real mandrake is any of the six species of the genus Mandragora,
   alleged to have all sorts of magical powers, and said to produce the
   scream when pulled from the ground.

   Mandrake Restorative Draught: The potion made from mandrakes which can
   cure a person who has been paralyzed by a basilisk.

   Mandy Brockelhurst [Amanda]:

   Etym: Latin for "fit to be loved", also translated as "beloved".

   manticore: A mythological creature with the body of a lion, the head
   of a man, sharp quills like a porcupine, and the tail of a scorpion.

   maple: Any tree of the genus Acer, comprising the sugar maple, several
   varieties that provide a dense, hard wood used in furniture, and many
   ornamental trees.

   Marauders, the: What James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and
   Peter Pettigrew called themselves at school.

   Marauder's Map: A magical map created by Messrs. Moony, Wormtail,
   Padfoot, and Prongs, which shows all of Hogwarts, the locations of all
   people therein, and instructions for opening the various secret
   passages out of the school.

   Marcus Flint: Etym: Probably derived from Mars. If this name is meant
   as a historical reference, then it's got to be Marcus Antonius aka
   Mark Antony.

   Marge (Marjorie) Dursley (PS ch. 2):

   Etym: From a French form of Margaret, derived from the Greek for
   "pearl". St. Margaret is the patron saint of Scotland.

   Mars: Stemming from its association with the Roman god of war, Mars is
   often associated with conflict and death in astrology.

   Marsh, Madam (PoA ch. 3): A passenger on the Knight Bus.

   Etym: Derived from the Old English word for same.

   Marvolo Riddle, Tom: Etym: Probably invented to make the anagram come
   out right.

   Masons (CoS ch. 1): A builder (contractor) and his wife that the
   Dursleys had over for dinner in an attempt to get a large drill order
   out of them.

   Etym: What it looks like; the surname derives from being an
   occupational name for a stonemason.

   McGonagall, Minerva: Head of Gryffindor House, and the Transfiguration
   instructor.

   Etym: Patronymic from the name Congal, composed of the Old Celtic
   words for "high" and "valor", appropriate for a Gryffindor. However,
   the professor is actually named for a Scottish poet reputed to be the
   worst ever to, er, grace the English language.

   McGuffin, Jim (PS ch. 6): A TV weatherman.

   Etym: Name etymology is probably not relevant. The name was used as a
   term by Alfred Hitchcock to mean an object that is significant to a
   plot. Okay, that's probably not relevant here either.

   McKinnon (PS ch. 4): The last name of a wizard couple killed by
   Voldemort.

   Etym: Anglicized form of Mac Fhionghuin, from the name meaning "fair
   born" or "beloved son".

   Medal for Magical Merit: Tom Riddle was awarded one during his days at
   Hogwarts.

   Medieval Assembly of European Wizards: Something the History of Magic
   class was assigned to write a yard-long essay about.

   Memory Charm: A spell that causes the target to forget about
   something. Incantation: Obliviate.

   Merlin (PS ch. 6): The best-known wizard in English folklore, and also
   apparently in the British wizard community, as evidenced by the Order
   of Merlin.

   Millicent Bulstrode: Etym: From the Old German name Amalasuintha,
   composed of amal "work" + swintha "strong".

   Mimsy-Porpington, Sir Nicholas de: Aka Nearly Headless Nick, the house
   ghost of Gryffindor. He celebrated his 500th deathday on Halloween,
   1992. If this count includes the shift to the Gregorian calendar, it
   means he died on October 20th or 21st, 1492.

   Etym: Mimsy was a word invented by Lewis Carroll for his poem
   "Jabberwocky", and has been defined as "prim, prudish, contemptible".
   No idea about Porpington.

   Minerva McGonagall: Etym: Probably of Etruscan origin, this is the
   Roman equivalent to Athena, the goddess of wisdom and valor.

   Minister of Magic: The head of the Ministry of Magic.

   Ministry of Magic: A secret Cabinet-level department of the UK
   government, charged with providing civil services to wizard-dom. The
   current Minister of Magic is Cornelius Fudge.

   Subentities of the Ministry seen so far are:

   Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures
   Committee on Experimental Charms
   Department of Magical Catastrophes
   Improper Use of Magic Office
   Magical Law Enforcement Squad
   Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office

   Miranda Goshawk: Etym: Invented by Shakespeare, from Latin for "worthy
   to be admired".

   Miriam Strout: Etym: Probably, like Mary, from the Hebrew for
   "wished-for child", though the alternative mer, "rebellion" has been
   posited.

   Mirror of Erised: A magical device which entraps its viewer by showing
   them impossible scenes of what thay most desire, entrapping the viewer
   to stare blankly at it for hours. Muggles have managed to build a
   crude version of this.

   Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office: The department of the Ministry of
   Magic which enforces laws on enchanting certain proscribed objects and
   tries to keep enchanted objects of all sorts away from Muggles.

   Moaning Myrtle: The ghost of a Hogwarts student who haunts a stall in
   the first-floor girls' bathroom. She was killed by Tom Riddle when he
   first opened the Chamber of Secrets.

   Etym: Myrtle refers to various shrubs of the genus Myrtus.

   Mobiliarbus: An incantation to levitate a tree.

   Etym: Probably supposed to be Latin, "moving tree". "Tree" is in fact
   arbor.

   Mobilicorpus: An incantation to levitate a body.

   Etym: Latin, "moving body".

   Modern Magical History: A book in the Hogwarts library.

   Molly Weasley: Etym: A form of Mary, from a Hebrew name probably
   meaning "wished-for child".

   monkshood: see wolfsbane.

   Monster Book of Monsters, The: The textbook for the Care of Magical
   Creatures class.

   Montague (PoA ch. 15): A Chaser on the Slytherin Quidditch team.

   Etym: From a place name in La Manche, from Old French mont "hill" +
   agu "pointed", or an Anglicized form of Mac Taidhg, from a name
   meaning "poet, philosopher". Also the family name of the late-medieval
   Earls of Salisbury.

   Moon (PS ch. 7): A student in the same year as Harry, house unknown.

   Etym: Several possibilities: the French town Moyon; Anglo-Norman
   French moun "monk"; Cornish mon "thin"; or a diminutive of the Gaelic
   word for "early, timely".

   Moony: Remus Lupin's nickname during his school days.

   Morag MacDougal: Etym: Gaelic, a diminutive of mor(a), meaning "the
   sun".

   Morgana (PS ch. 6): A sorceress who, in some versions of the Arthurian
   legend, was Arthur's sister and helped bring about his downfall.
   Featured in the Famous Witches and Wizards trading card series.

   Mortlake (CoS ch. 14): A wizard raided by the Misuse of Muggle
   Artifacts Office who turned out to be law-abiding except for the
   presence of "some extremely odd ferrets".

   Mosag (CoS ch. 16): Aragog's wife, procured for him by Hagrid.

   Etym: No etymology.

   Most Charming Smile Award: Awarded by Witch Weekly five times to
   Gilderoy Lockhart.

   Moste Potente Potions: A book in the Restricted Section of the
   Hogwarts library; contains the formula for the Polyjuice Potion.

   mountain troll: The variety of troll that got loose in Hogwarts on
   Halloween; apparently one of the lesser varieties.

   Mr. Paws (PS ch. 3): One of Mrs. Figg's cats.

   Mrs. Skower's All-Purpose Magical Mess Remover: Pretty much what it
   claims to be.

   Etym: Skower is an invented variation on scour.

   Mudblood: Extreme pejorative for someone with any non-magical
   ancestry. Users of this word contrast themselves as pure-bloods.

   Muggle: 1) A person who is not part of, or was not raised in, the
   wizard society. 2) A person with no magical powers.

   Etym: Stated by Rowling to be invented from the British slang meaning
   of mug, "a dupe". Coincidentally an actual archaic English word, as
   has been discussed at length elsewhere.

   Muggle Protection Act: A proposed new law (possibly passed by now).

   Muggle Studies: An optional class at Hogwarts.

   Mugwump: Albus Dumbledore is a (or the) supreme one.

   Etym: Not sure of the meaning in this context, but it was 18th/19th
   century slang for a person disinterested in party politics, an
   independent thinker, or, alternatively, a major "boss". The term
   originates from a Natick Indian word for a major chief.

   Mundungus Fletcher: Etym: Offal, refuse, or bad-smelling tobacco, from
   Spanish mondongo, meaning "black pudding" or "tripe".

N

   Narcissa Malfoy: Etym: The feminine form of Narcissus, the figure from
   Greek legend who gave his name to a flower after pining away from
   falling in love with his reflection. The flower signifies egotism or
   self-esteem.

   Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests: The highest-level graduation exams
   that Hogwarts offers; equivalent to the "A-level" (advanced level)
   exams in real British schools.

   Nearly Headless Nick: The students' nickname for Sir Nicholas de
   Mimsy-Porpington.

   Nettles, Madam Z., of Topsham: A witch quoted by the Kwikspell ad
   copy.

   nettle wine: Believe it or not, somebody out there actually makes
   this...

   Neville Longbottom: Etym: From a two French towns of the same name, or
   an Anglicized form of  Niadh, from a name meaning "warrior". The name
   of various earls; also the first Lord Latimer of the village of Snape.
   The Battle of Neville's Cross, October 17, 1346, was a notable English
   victory over the Scots, who were allied with France against the
   English.

   N.E.W.T.s: Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests.

   Newt Scamander [Newton]:

   Etym: From Old English neowe "new" + tun "enclosure, settlement".

   newts, double-ended: Creatures available at the Magical Menagerie. The
   reader is left to speculate on which end they have two of.

   Nicholas Flamel: Etym: See below.

   Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington:

   Etym: St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra circa 300, is the patron saint of
   sailors, pawnbrokers, wolves, and scholars, especially schoolboys.

   Nimbus Two Thousand: The (once) most advanced broom yet created by
   modern magical technology.

   Nimbus Two Thousand and One: The (previously) new most advanced broom
   yet created by modern magical technology.

   Norbert: A Norwegian Ridgeback hatched by Hagrid, raised in secret to
   the age of a month or two, then spirited away to Romania to finish
   growing up in the wild and probably enter a lifetime of psychotherapy.

   Etym: St. Norbert of Xanten (1080-1134), was the founder of the
   Premonstratensians (or Norbertines, or White Canons), a monk-like
   order.

   Norfolk: A rather flat, boring sector of England, I am told. I can't
   even find a decent Web site on it...

   Norris, Mrs.: Filch's cat and assistant in spotting trespassers.

   Etym: Named for a sneaky, spiteful character in the Jane Austen novel
   Mansfield Park.

   Norwegian Ridgeback: A species of dragon, sporting mildly poisonous
   fangs in addition to the usual features. Its eggs are large and black.

   Nose-Biting Teacup: A gag item from Zonko's Joke Shop.

   Notable Magical Names of Our Time: A book in the Hogwarts libary.

   Nott (PS ch. 7): A student in the same year as Harry. House unknown.

   Etym: From a Middle English nickname meaning "bald".

   Nox: An incantation that cancels out Lumos.

   Etym: Latin, "night".

   Numerology and Gramatica: A textbook for one of Hermione's classes in
   her third year.

O

   oak: Any of the trees or shrubs in the genus Quercus, notably some
   hardy, long-lived timber trees whose lumber is used in structural
   members, furniture, millwork, and cooperage.

   Obliviate: The incantation for a Memory Charm.

   Etym: Just the English word.

   Ogden's Old Firewhisky: A favorite of Gilderoy Lockhart.

   Etym: Place in Yorkshire, from Old English aac "oak" + denu "valley";
   probably just picked for alliterative value.

   Olive Hornby: Etym: Olea europaea or Olea sativa. ECN: "In the Roman
   martyrology there is a St. Oliva, a virgin of Anagni of unknown date,
   and also a St. Oliva, venerated in the place so named and the
   patroness of olive-trees, which looks suspiciously as though she
   started life as a tutelary goddess."

   Oliver Wood: Etym: With a small o, an olive tree. The name is more
   likely from the Old German Alfihar, "elf-host".

   Ollivander, Mr.: Proprietor of a wand shop in Diagon Alley. According
   to its sign, his family have been "Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC".

   Etym: OED thinks this is an error for olivaster, meaning
   "olive-colored" or "having an olive complexion".

   One Minute Feasts -- It's Magic!: A cookbook in Molly Weasley's
   collection.

   One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi: A first-year textbook for
   Herbology.

   Order of Merlin: An award given by the Ministry of Magic; the highest
   honor available to a British wizard.

   There is a real-life Order of Merlin, but it's nothing like the
   fictional one. It's given by the International Brotherhood of
   Magicians for 25 years of membership.

   Order of Suspension: Issued by the governors of Hogwarts to
   temporarily remove Dumbledore.

   Ordinary Wizarding Levels: Exams to demonstrate basic competence in a
   subject at graduation, equivalent to "O-levels" (ordinary levels) in
   British schools.

   Ottery St. Catchpole: The fictional village where The Burrow is
   located.

   Ouagadougou: The capital of Burkina Faso, where Gilderoy Lockhart
   claims to have halted a series of supernatural attacks.

   owls: Popular as familiars, owls are also the basis of the wizard
   postal system, able to find anyone, anywhere, to deliver their mail.

   O.W.L.s: Ordinary Wizarding Levels.

   Owlery: The place where the Hogwarts-owned owls, and sometimes student
   ones, roost when not delivering mail.

P

   Padfoot: Sirius Black's nickname during his school days.

   Etym: A term originating around Leeds for a sheep-sized creature,
   sometimes in the form of a dog, said to haunt people who would shortly
   die.

   Padma Patil: Etym: In Sanskrit, means the lotus, the symbol of
   enlightenment, and has various related meanings. In present-day usage,
   also the main channel of the Ganges River.

   Pansy Parkinson: Etym: Viola tricolor aka heartsease. Signifies
   "thoughts", and the common name is derived from the French for
   "thought".

   Paracelsus (PS ch. 6): The pseudonym of Philippus Aureolus
   Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim (1493-1541), physician and
   alchemist, who established the role of chemistry in medicine, and was
   one of the first advocates of an empirical approach that became modern
   scientific method.

   Parkinson, Pansy (PS ch. 7): A Slytherin in the same year as Harry.

   Etym: From a diminutive of Peter.

   Parselmouth: One who has the automatic ability to speak Parseltongue.

   Etym: According to Rowling, it's an old word for someone who has a
   mouth-related deformity.

   Parseltongue: The language of snakes.

   Parvati Patil: Etym: EB: "The benevolent aspect of Shakti." Depending
   on which thread of Hinduism you follow, Shakti is either (a) the wife
   of Shiva, (b) a wife of Shiva, (c) the feminine, creative aspect of
   Shiva, (d) a personification of positive energy in general, or (e) all
   of the above but it doesn't matter since all definable things are
   illusion anyway.

   Patil, Padma: A Ravenclaw, in the same year as Harry.

   Etym: See below.

   Patil, Parvati: A Gryffindor, same year as Harry.

   Etym: From the Pictish peit "portion (of land)" and Gaelic tulach
   "hill". Alternatively, also a surname of Indian origin.

   Patrick Delaney-Podmore: Etym: The name of the patron saint of
   Ireland, whose original name was Sucat. This name comes from Latin
   patricius, "nobleman". Also a Scottish variant of partridge.

   Patronus Charm: A spell that invokes a guardian spirit to protect the
   caster; the primary means of defense against dementors. An essential
   component of the spell is focusing on a happy thought-- the happier
   the thought, the stronger the Patronus. Incantation: Expecto Patronum.

   Peebles: A town on the England-Scotland border.

   Peeves the Poltergeist: An obnoxious ghost inhabiting Hogwarts,
   teasing the students and irritating the staff and other ghosts.
   Controllable only by the teachers and the Bloody Baron.

   Etym: Invented, as far as I can tell, from peeve.

   Penelope Clearwater: Etym: The wife of Ulysses. When he was thought to
   be dead, she held off suitors by saying she must first finish weaving
   a shroud for Laertes. Each night, she would undo the weaving she had
   done that day, thus delaying them indefinitely. She has come to
   symbolize the chaste and faithful wife.

   Pepper Imps: A magical candy which causes the eater to breathe smoke.

   Peppermint Toad: A wizard candy.

   Percy Weasley: Etym: A family name that dates back to William de
   Perci, a comrade of William the Conqueror.

   Perenelle Flamel: Etym: I seem to recall this is a name for some kind
   of flower, but can't find any info. Anyone?

   Perkins (CoS ch. 3): Along with Arthur Weasley, the staff of the
   Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office.

   Etym: From another variation of Peter, from the Greek for "stone".

   Perks, Sally-Anne (PS ch. 7): A student of unknown house, in the same
   year as Harry.

   Etym: Variation of park, which in the Middle Ages meant a large
   enclosed area used for game hunting.

   Peskipiski Pesternomi: An incantation that Lockhart claimed would
   drive off Cornish pixies.

   Etym: At a guess, mangled English: pesky-piskey pester-no-me. Piskey
   is a dialectual variant of pixie.

   Peter Pettigrew: Etym: From the Greek petros "stone", a translation of
   the Aramaic Cephas.

   Petrificatus Totalus: The incantation for the Body-Bind.

   Etym: Latin-ish back-formation from petrify and total.

   Pettigrew, Peter: One of James Potter's school friends, he became an
   Animagus with an animal form of a rat, which in retrospect really
   should have seen as some kind of warning. He later turned to the dark
   side and betrayed the Potters to Voldemort. When that unexpectedly
   resulted in Voldemort's fall, he faked his own death, cut off a finger
   to leave evidence framing Sirius Black for it, and took up a new life
   as Scabbers until Black hunted him down.

   Etym: From Old French petit "little" and cru "growth", a nickname for
   a small man, or an old form of "pedigree".

   Petunia Dursley: Etym: From petun, "tobacco"; the flower is in the
   tobacco family.

   Philosopher's Stone: A substance representing the ideal combination of
   the essences of all elements, sought by alchemists down the ages,
   thought to make it possible to do all sorts of magical things. In
   these books, an actual stone which can be used to make the Elixir of
   Life.

   phoenix: A mythical bird which lives 500 years and then dies, only to
   be reborn in a magical fire. Rowling's variant symbolizes love or
   loyalty. Phoenix feathers are used as wand cores, and phoenix tears
   have healing powers.

   Phyllida Spore: Etym: Probably from Greek phyllos, meaning "leaf".

   Piers Polkiss: Etym: A French variation of Peter.

   Pigwidgeon: Ron's owl, given to him by Sirius Black and named by Ginny
   Weasley.

   Etym: May be an alternate form of Pigwiggin, a fairy knight favored by
   Queen Mab, the wife of Oberon. Also, an archaic Scottish epithet.

   Pince: The librarian at Hogwarts.

   Etym: Variation of Pinch, a nickname for a chirpy person. Really.

   Platform 9 3/4: The platform for the Hogwarts Express at King's Cross
   Station.

   Pocket Sneakoscope: A magical device that spins and flashes when
   someone untrustworthy is present.

   Podmore: see Delaney-Podmore.

   Polkiss, Piers (PS ch. 2): Dudley Dursley's best friend and chief
   accomplice in tormenting Harry.

   Etym: No etymology.

   Polyjuice Potion: With the addition of a hair or other bit of someone,
   allows the drinker to take on the form of that person for one hour.
   Cannot be used for animal transformations.

   Pomfrey, Poppy: The nurse at Hogwarts, for whom treating broken arms,
   catatonia, poison, and the like is a typical day's work.

   Etym: Welsh name from the given name Humphrey, from the Germanic huun
   "bear cub" + frid "peace". (Alternately, OEW translates it as "peace
   through force".) St. Humphrey was a 9th century bishop of Therouanne.

   Poppy Pomfrey: Etym: Various flowers of the genus Papaver. Signifies
   consolation or oblivion. Also, in the UK, worn to commemorate veterans
   of the World Wars.

   Potions: A standard class at Hogwarts; taught by Professor Snape.

   Potter, Harry: An orphaned wizard, unique among even his magically
   talented classmates in that dark forces really are constantly
   attacking him and causing him to miss class. Wand: 11", supple, holly
   and phoenix feather.

   Etym: Stated by Rowling to be a name she just liked.

   Potter, James: Harry's father, killed by Voldemort. In school, he was
   a Gryffindor and became Head Boy. He was also an Animagus, taking on
   the form of a stag. Wand: 11", pliable, mahogany.

   Potter, Lily: Harry's mother, killed protecting Harry from Voldemort.
   She came from a Muggle family, was a Gryffindor and became Head Girl
   when she was at Hogwarts. Wand: 10 1/4", swishy, willow.

   Prang, Ernie (PoA ch. 4): The driver of the Knight Bus.

   Etym: Various meanings relating to crashing.

   Predicting the Unpredictable: Insulating Yourself Against Shocks: A
   book in Flourish and Blotts.

   prefect: A fifth-year or later student appointed by the teachers to
   take some responsibility for other students. There appears to be at
   least one prefect for each of the Hogwarts houses.

   Prefects Who Gained Power: An engrossing book Percy picked up in
   Diagon Alley.

   Prewetts (PS ch. 5): Wizards killed by Voldemort.

   Etym: Diminutive form of a name from Middle English prou(s) "brave",
   "valiant".

   Privet Drive: The street in Little Whinging where the Dursleys live.
   Privet is commonly used in hedges-- very much a feature of dull,
   conformist suburbia.

   Prod, Warlock D. J., of Didsbury (CoS ch. 8): A satisfied Kwikspell
   customer.

   Prongs: James Potter's nickname among his school buddies.

   Pucey, Adrian (PS ch. 11): A Chaser for the Slytherin Quidditch team.

   Etym: From a town in Berkshire.

   puffer fish: Any of the ninety or so fishes of the family
   Tetradontidae. Their eyes are an ingredient in a Swelling Solution.

   Pumpkin Pasties: A wizard candy, probably some kind of pastry with
   pumpkin filling.

   pure-blood: Term for a wizard with no discernable Muggle or nonhuman
   ancestry. Used only by wizards who feel this sort of eugenic
   superiority gives them a divine right to rule others and operate
   outside the rules (as opposed to the actual divine right of
   Gryffindors to rule others and operate outside the rules).

   Put-Outer: A magical device that can supress lights.

Q

   Quaffle: A large ball used for scoring in Quidditch.

   Quality Quidditch Supplies: A store in Diagon Alley.

   Quentin Trimble: Etym: From Latin for "fifth"; also the name for a
   type of French linen around the end of the 17th century.

   Quidditch: The most popular sport in the wizarding world, combining,
   on the one hand, the fast-moving team action of soccer or basketball
   with, on the other hand, the injury rate of rugby and the vehicular
   technology arms race of Formula One.

   Briefly, a game takes place on brooms between two teams, each
   consisting of three Chasers, two Beaters, a Keeper, and a Seeker,
   using three types of ball: a Quaffle, two Bludgers, and the Golden
   Snitch. For a full treatment of the subject, see Quidditch Through the
   Ages or Quidditch.com.

   Quidditch Through the Ages: The definitive work on the history of
   Quidditch, available in a Muggle edition.

   Quirrell: The last name of the teacher of Defense Against the Dark
   Arts in Harry's first year; revealed as a servant of Voldemort and
   killed in a confrontation with Harry.

   Etym: Nickname for a troublemaker, from Middle English/Old French
   querel, meaning "complaint, accusation".

R

   Railview Hotel: A place where the Dursleys attempted to hide
   themselves and Harry from the Hogwarts owls.

   Ravenclaw House: One of the four houses of Hogwarts, extolling the
   virtues of wisdom and friendship. Its symbol is an eagle, and its
   colors are blue and silver. Attempting to combine this with the
   versions of its badge appearing in the movie and on merchandise gives
   Azure, an eagle displayed, wings inverted, argent, which really
   doesn't resemble either of those versions. The house ghost is the Grey
   Lady.

   Etym: Invented. The raven is a symbol of wisdom in Norse mythology.

   Ravenclaw, Rowena: One of the founders of Hogwarts.

   Etym: See above.

   Red Caps: Malicious spirits which lurk where there has been a battle,
   or other major bloodshed.

   Remembrall: An item resembling a clear marble, which flashes red when
   the owner has forgotten something. It is unable to indicate what has
   been forgotten, though.

   Remus J. Lupin:

   Etym: In Roman legend, Romulus and Remus were orphaned or abandoned
   twins who were raised by a she-wolf and went on to found Rome (named
   after Romulus after he killed Remus).

   Reparo: An incantation to fix minor damage.

   Etym: Latin, "I repair". Imperative: repare "be repaired".

   Restricted Section: A part of the Hogwarts library open only to
   faculty, advanced students of Defense Against the Dark Arts, and other
   students who can get a teacher's permission. Naturally, this is where
   all the really interesting and useful books are kept.

   Revealer: An item that can make invisible ink visible.

   Rictusempra: A curse that makes the target laugh uncontrollably.

   Etym: Rictus is Latin for "open mouth", and sempra is akin to various
   Romance languages' words for "always".

   Riddle, Tom Marvolo: A star student and Head Boy about 50 years before
   Harry's time who opened the Chamber of Secrets and went on to a highly
   successful career as a master of dark wizardry under the name
   Voldemort.

   Etym: OEW on an obscure meaning that I think is the one intended:
   "riddle has been used for a thousand years to mean a dark saying ...
   and almost as long to mean a coarse sieve, for arranging: separating
   chaff from corn, ashes from cinders, etc."
   Beastly equation for "Tom Riddle": a=12, b=18, c=24, etc.; a=43, b=46,
   etc.; a=105, b=102, etc.
   and for "Thomas Riddle": a=26, b=29, etc.; a=85, b=82, etc.

   Riddle, Tom, senior: Tom Riddle's father, a Muggle who abandoned his
   wife when he learned that she was a witch. The younger Riddle is still
   a bit put out about this.

   Riddikulus: An incantation used to counter a boggart.

   Ripper (PoA ch. 2): One of Harry's Aunt Marge's favorite bulldogs.

   Etym: As in Jack the...

   Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts, The: A book in the Hogwarts library.

   rock cakes: A type of fruitcake, meant to be hard only on top but
   frequently ending up hard all the way through.

   Ron Weasley [Ronald]:

   Etym: From a compound of the Old English words regen and weald, both
   of which mean "power, force, might".

   Ronan: One of the centaurs living in the Forbidden Forest.

   Etym: Gaelic for "seal".

   Rosmerta, Madam: Proprietor of the Three Broomsticks.

   Etym: Name of a Celtic goddess.

   Rowena Ravenclaw: Etym: ECN: "This name seems to originate with
   Geoffrey of Monmouth, who gives it to the daughter of Hengist, with
   whom Vortigern fell in love." May be a compound of the Old English
   words hreod "fame" and wine "friend".

   Rubeus Hagrid: Etym: From the Latin for "reddish".

S

   salamander: In mythology, a lizardlike creature associated with fires.
   Its blood is an ingredient in the Strengthening Solution.

   Salazar Slytherin: Etym: A name of Basque origin from the Romance sala
   "hall" and Basque zahar "old". Hmm...

   Sally-Anne Perks: Etym: Sally is an alternate form of Sarah, Hebrew
   for "princess"; Anne is another form of Hannah.

   Scabbers: Ron's pet rat for his first three years of school, until the
   rat turned out to be Peter Pettigrew in disguise.

   Scamander, Newt (PS ch. 5): Author of Fantastic Beasts and Where to
   Find Them.

   Etym: The name of a river mentioned by Homer, used in the late 19th
   century to mean "to wander about" or "to take a devious course".

   Scintillation Solution: No idea. It's mentioned by the Kwikspell ad.

   Scops owl: A type of owl native to sub-Saharan Africa.

   Seamus Finnigan: Etym: The Irish form of James.

   Secret-Keeper: The person used in a Fidelius Charm.

   Seeker: The player on a Quidditch team who chases the Golden Snitch.
   Catching the Snitch scores 150 points and ends the match.

   Serpensortia: An incantation that conjures a giant snake.

   Etym: Latin serpens "snake" + something akin to French sortir "escape,
   go out" (a cognate to English sortie).

   Severus Snape: Etym: The name of several Roman emperors, most notably
   Septimius Severus, who shifted the imperial power base from the
   nobility to the army. The word is Latin for "harsh, severe, strictly
   correct". Also, cognate to the later name Severian.

   One Latin dictionary-- but just one out of 5 or 6 I've consulted by
   now-- suggests that the word may be from se verus, "one who separates
   the truth (from falsehood)".

   Shooting Star: A brand of broom.

   Shrieking Shack: A building in Hogsmeade reputed to be the most
   haunted structure in Britain; never actually haunted except by Remus
   Lupin undergoing werewolf transformations during his school years.

   Shrinking Solution: A potion which appears to have the ability to age
   an animal backwards.

   shrivelfig: I have no idea. Invented?

   Shunpike, Stan: Etym: In early 20th-century US usage, "to drive along
   minor roads, avoiding the toll on turnpikes, or for pleasure". This
   may not be the direct source for Rowling's usage, but probably a
   similar meaning is intended.

   Sibyll Trelawney: Etym: A sibyl is a female oracle or fortuneteller.

   Sickle: 1/17th of a Galleon, or 29 Knuts.

   Etym: "Silver sickle" is a popular poetic term for the crescent moon.

   Silver Arrow: A brand of flying broom, now out of production.

   Etym: This was a nickname for Mercedes-Benz race cars up to 1955, when
   Mercedes-Benz pulled out of racing for a while due to one of its cars
   being invovled in a horrific accident at a race in Le Mans. Still used
   sometimes for its modern race cars.

   Sinistra (CoS ch. 11): The witch who teaches Astronomy at Hogwarts.

   Etym: Feminine form of Latin sinister, originally meaning
   "left-handed"; has connotations of "strange", "abnormal", the occult,
   etc. A Slytherin, perhaps?

   Sirius Black: Etym: Canis Major, the Dog Star.

   Sites of Historical Sorcery: A book which mentions a goblin rebellion
   at Hogsmeade in 1612.

   Skele-Gro: A medicinal concoction used to help regrow or enlarge
   bones.

   Sleeping Draught: A potion that puts the drinker into an
   uninterruptible sleep.

   Slytherin House: One of the four houses of Hogwarts. Its defining
   virtues are subject to debate: many non-Slytherins believe it selects
   for evil; the pure-blood faction says it's the house of the "true"
   wizards; the Sorting Hat and Dumbledore say determination and sneaky
   cleverness.

   The head of the house is Professor Snape. Badge: Vert, a snake erect
   argent. The house ghost is the Bloody Baron.

   Etym: Invented; undoubtedly meant to sound like "slithering".

   Slytherin, Salazar: One of the founders of Hogwarts, and constructor
   of the Chamber of Secrets. He is rumored to have been a bigot about
   Muggle-born wizards, but one notes that the Sorting Hat has no problem
   placing students of Muggle ancestry in Slytherin.

   Smeltings: The school that Vernon Dursley attended and which Dudley
   now goes to.

   Etym: Probably invented from smelting.

   Smethley, Veronica (CoS ch. 7): A big fan of Lockhart's.

   Etym: From the name of an unspecified place, probably derived from Old
   English smee "smooth" + leeah "wood, clearing".

   Snape, Severus: The Potions teacher at Hogwarts, and head of Slytherin
   House, who carries a grudge against Harry merely because Harry's
   father and his friends almost killed Snape during their school days,
   and then Harry's father grew up to be a famous martyr, and then Harry
   helped the convicted murderer Sirius Black escape after Snape had gone
   to rescue Harry from the aforementioned convicted murderer, not to
   mention the free pass Harry gets to go around breaking school rules at
   will.

   Etym: Stated by Rowling on numerous occasions to be from a village
   name. The name comes from Old Norse snap or Old English snoep, meaning
   "poor grazing" or "winter pasture", and is still used in Sussex as a
   term for ground that is too boggy to cultivate. Not too far from the
   meaning of Nettleship.

   Snowy (PS ch. 2): One of Mrs. Figg's cats.

   Sonnets of a Sorcerer: A book which caused everyone who read it to
   speak in limericks for the rest of their lives.

   Sorceror's Stone: Name for the Philosopher's Stone in US editions. The
   US editor felt the word "philosopher" would scare people away from
   buying the book.

   Sorting Ceremony: How new students at Hogwarts are assigned to a
   house. They put on the Sorting Hat, which decides where to send them.

   Sorting Hat: A sentient magical artifact which looks into the minds of
   new students to decide which house they should be in. Originally, it
   was Godric Gryffindor's hat.

   Special Award for Services to the School: Awarded to Tom Riddle for
   unspecified reasons-- possibly for exposing Hagrid as the opener of
   the Chamber of Secrets.

   Spellotape: What Ron fixed his wand with.

   Etym: A pun on Sellotape, the British term for Scotch tape.

   Spinnet, Alicia (PS ch. 11): A Chaser for the Gryffindor Quidditch
   team, two years ahead of Harry.

   Etym: May be derived from a name used to mean a thorn bush or the
   crest of a hill. Also, a spinet is an instrument resembling a
   harpsichord.

   Spore, Phyllida (PS ch. 5): Author of One Thousand Magical Herbs and
   Fungi.

   Etym: Meant to mean what it looks like.

   Sprout: The witch who teaches Herbology at Hogwarts.

   Etym: Derived from an Old English name possibly also meaning "sprout".

   Squib: A person of magical parentage who has no magical powers.

   Etym: A term from the 1800s, referring to a firework that produces
   only a slight explosion. Earlier, applied to persons, could mean mean,
   insignificant, or paltry.

   squid, giant: A denizen of the lake adjoining Hogwarts, something
   along these lines.

   Stan Shunpike [Stanley]:

   Etym: From a place name derived from Old English staan "stone" + leeah
   "wood, clearing". Perhaps used as a reference to the explorer?

   Standard Book of Spells, The: Name of a series of basic spell
   textbooks used at Hogwarts.

   Statute of Secrecy: The law stating that wizard activity should be
   kept secret from Muggle society.

   St. Brutus's Secure Center for Incurably Criminal Boys: Where the
   Dursleys now claim Harry is going to school.

   Etym: Can't find anything on any such saint but the name is cognate to
   "brutal".

   Stink Pellets: Things available at Zonko's Joke Shop.

   St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries: The current
   residence of Gilderoy Lockhart, hidden behind the storefront of Purge
   and Dowse Ltd. in London.

   Etym: St. Mungo, proper name Kentigern, is the patron saint of
   Glasgow. The name is Gaelic, meaning "amiable" or "my dear friend".

   Stonewall: The name of the local comprehensive school (what in the US
   would be a public combined high school and junior high) Harry was
   going to be sent to before he knew about Hogwarts.

   Study of Ancient Runes: A class Hermione started taking in her third
   year.

   Study of Recent Developments in Wizardry, A: A book in the Hogwarts
   library.

   sugar quills: Wizard candies cunningly disguised as the quills
   students write with in class.

   Supreme Mugwump: One of Dumbledore's titles.

   Surrey: The area in which Little Whinging is located. Surrey is fairly
   thick with businessmen who commute to London.

   Susan Bones: Etym: From the the Hebrew Shushannah, "lily", the name of
   the heroine of the Book of Susannah, an apocryphal addition to the
   Book of Daniel.

   Swelling Solution: A potion that causes whatever it touches to
   inflate.

   Switch, Emeric (PS ch. 5): Author of A Beginner's Guide to
   Transformation.

   Etym: What it looks like.

   Switching Spells: Spells used in Transfiguration.

T

   Tail-Twig Clippers: Part of a broom maintenance kit.

   Tarantallegra: An incantation that makes the target dance
   uncontrollably.

   Etym: From Italian tarantella, a type of dance, and allegra "fast"
   (also a musical term).

   Ted [Theodore] (PS ch. 1): Name of a newsreader the Dursleys watch.

   Etym: Greek, "god's gift".

   Terence Higgs: Etym: From Latin Terentius, the name of a Roman gens of
   unknown etymology.

   Terry Boot [Terence]:

   Etym: See above.

   Thomas, Dean (PS ch. 7): A Gryffindor, the same year as Harry. From a
   Muggle family, he is a big fan of the West Ham soccer team.

   Etym: From Aramaic meaning "twin". We can also consider Thomas the
   Rhymer, a 13th century Scottish poet and prophet who in popular lore
   is connected with Merlin.

   Three Broomsticks: The pub in Hogsmeade.

   Tibbles (PS ch. 2): One of Mrs. Figg's cats.

   Tom (PoA ch. 3): The proprietor of The Leaky Cauldron.

   Tom Marvolo Riddle [Thomas]:

   Etym: From an Aramaic word meaning "twin". One of the twelve apostles,
   whose real name may have been Judah; the nickname would have been used
   to distinguish him from Judah the brother of James (St. Jude), and
   Judah of Kerioth (Judas Iscariot).

   Toothflossing Stringmints: A type of candy available at Honeydukes.

   trading cards: See Famous Witches and Wizards.

   Transfiguration: One of the basic subjects at Hogwarts, it concerns
   the changing of things from one form to another. The Transfiguration
   teacher is Professor McGonagall.

   Transfiguration Today: A wizard publication.

   Transmogrifian Torture: A deadly spell that Lockhart claimed to know
   about.

   Travels with Trolls: One of Gilderoy Lockhart's books.

   Trelawney, Sibyll: The Divination instructor and constant predictor of
   woe.

   Etym: Placename, from Cornish tre "homestead, settlement" + an element
   of unknown meaning.

   Trevor (PS ch. 6): Neville Longbottom's toad.

   Etym: From Welsh tre(f) "homestead, settlement" + mawr "large", or
   Gaelic  Treabhair, from a byname meaning "industrious, prudent".

   trifle: A confection made of layers of sherry-soaked sponge cake,
   jelly, and custard, usually topped with whipped cream and fruit.

   Trimble, Quentin (PS ch. 5): Author of The Dark Forces: A Guide to
   Self-Protection.

   Etym: From an Old English personal name, formed from trum "strong,
   firm" + beald "bold, brave". On the other hand, also an obsolete form
   of tremble.

   trolls: Large, stupid humanoid creatures that like to fight with
   clubs.

   True Seer: One with the gift of prophecy.

   tubeworms: This term covers a whole range of polychaete worms.

   Tufty (PS ch. 2): One of Mrs. Figg's cats.

   Turpin, Lisa (PS ch. 7): A Ravenclaw, same year as Harry.

   Etym: A number of possibilities here, but my favorite is Dick Turpin
   (1706-1739), an English highwayman, the subject of Rookwood.

U

   Undetectable Poisons: Harry had to write an essay on them for Potions
   class, so apparently they do exist in the wizard world.

   Unfogging the Future: The textbook for the Divination class.

   unicorns: Horselike creatures with a single horn, symbolizing absolute
   purity. (In medieval art, the unicorn was actually a single-horned
   goat.) Unicorn hairs are used as the cores of some wands.

   Uric the Oddball: Some historical personage who could be confused with
   Emeric the Evil.

   Etym: None found.

V

   Vablatsky, Cassandra (PoA ch. 4): The author of Unfogging the Future.

   Etym: "Madam" Helena Petrovna Blavatsky was one of the most famous
   spiritualists, and the founder of modern theosophy.

   vampires: Essentially, semi-human creatures who drink blood; the
   details of the legend have gone through many variations over the
   centuries. Rowling's vampires retain the aversion to garlic, though
   the exact mechanism by which it wards them off is yet to be explained;
   they are also recognizable in part by being very pale and gaunt.
   Modern Dracula-inspired mythology insists on a kinship with bats and a
   predilection for wearing black. Okay, kids, now keep a sharp lookout!

   Vanishing Spell: Might be something to render a person invisible or
   unnoticed, or another term for Apparation.

   Vauxhall Road: A major thoroughfare in London. Tom Riddle bought a
   diary there.

   Vector: Last name of the witch who teaches Arithmancy at Hogwarts.

   Etym: From the mathematical term.

   Venemous Tentacula: A spiky, dark red plant that has teeth.

   Vernon Dursley: Etym: Alternative for vernal in 1658, or a surname
   derived from a common placename in France.

   Veronica Smethley: Etym: Corrupted form of Latin vera icona, "true
   image". St. Veronica is a legendary figure who is said to have wiped
   perspiration from Jesus's face as he carried his cross; the cloth used
   retained an image. Also the name of a plant genus.

   Vincent Crabbe: Etym: From a derivative of Latin vincens,
   "conquering". The name of a 3rd century martyr, and St. Vincent de
   Paul (1580-1660), remembered for his clinics and works of charity. A
   bit closer to the character we're talking about, also used in 1592 to
   mean the dupe in a betting game.

   Vindictus Viridian: Etym: From the same root as vindictive and meaning
   pretty much the same thing.

   Viridian, Vindictus (PS ch. 5): Author of Curses and Countercurses.

   Etym: Strong green; technically, Veronese green. In this case, the
   green of jealousy or envy.

   Voldemort: The Dark Lord; He Who Must Not Be Named. His rule was cut
   short by a curse that rebounded on him when he tried to kill the
   infant Harry and left him a shapeless wraith. Wand: 13 1/2", yew and
   phoenix feather.

   Etym: Probably derived from French vol-de-mort, "flight of death".
   Beastly equation for "L*rd V*ld*m*rt": a=30, b=33, etc.

   Voyages with Vampires: One of Gilderoy Lockhart's books.

W

   Waddiwasi: A spell used by Lupin to eject some chewing gum from a
   keyhole.

   Etym: Possibly the first element is as in a wad of gum... no idea
   otherwise.

   Waffling, Adalbert: Author of Magical Theory.

   Etym: No etymology.

   Wagga Wagga Werewolf: A beast that Lockhart claimed to have cured with
   the Homorphus Charm. Wagga Wagga is a city in Australia.

   Wailing Widow (CoS ch. 8): A ghost from Kent who came to Nearly
   Headless Nick's 500th deathday celebration.

   Walden Macnair: Etym: From Old English wealh "foreigner, Briton, serf"
   + denu "valley".

   wands: An essential tool for a wizard, used in nearly all magic (a
   notable exception being potions). Wands have four distinguishing
   characteristics: length, flexibility, the material used in the core,
   and the wood used for the exterior.

   Wand cores are taken from magical animals: phoenix feathers, unicorn
   hairs,and dragon heartstrings have been mentioned so far. The core
   determines the "identity" of the wand. The significance of the wood
   used and the flexibility of the wand are not clear, but it appears to
   affect the type of magic it is best suited for. This lexicographer
   hesitates to offer a hypothesis on the significance of wand length.

   Wanderings with Werewolves: One of Gilderoy Lockhart's books.

   Warbeck, Celestina (CoS ch. 3): The Singing Sorceress, as featured on
   Witching Hour.

   Etym: No name etymology found, but this was the name of a piano
   manufacturer. There is also a British musician and composer named
   Stephen Warbeck.

   Warlocks' Convention: Some kind of rule-making body or event. One in
   1709 outlawed dragon breeding.

   Warrington (PoA ch. 15): A Chaser on the Slytherin Quidditch team.

   Etym: From a town in Lancashire, from Old English Woeringtun,
   "settlement by a weir".

   Weasley, Arthur [Wesseley]: The head of the Weasley clan; Ron's
   father.

   Etym: Variation of the Russian patronymic Veselov, from a nickname
   meaning "cheerful".

   Weasley, Bill: The oldest of the Weasley children. He became Head Boy
   during his time at Hogwarts and is now a curse-breaker for Gringotts.

   Weasley, Charlie: Second-oldest of the Weasley children, he became
   captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team when he was a student. Now,
   he is studying dragons in Romania.

   Etym: See above.

   Weasley, Fred and George: Twins, 2 years older than Harry and Ron, who
   are the Beaters on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, and inveterate
   pranksters.

   Etym: See above.

   Weasley, Ginny: Ron's sister, a year younger than him and Harry, and
   also a Gryffindor.

   Etym: See above.

   Weasley, Molly: Ron's long-suffering mother.

   Etym: See above.

   Weasley, Percy: One of Ron's older brothers, he became a prefect in
   Harry's first year and Head Boy in Harry's third. Noted for being
   fussy, rule-oriented, and in many other ways being the Arnold Rimmer
   of his class.

   Etym: See above.

   Weasley, Ron: Harry's best friend, a Gryffindor in the same year; the
   perfect sidekick in that he has no existence worth noting outside
   Harry's presence. Wand: 14", willow and unicorn hair.

   Etym: See above.

   Wendelin the Weird (PoA ch. 1): A witch who was burned 47 times in
   various guises.

   Etym: From gwen, "fair".

   werewolf: So far the werewolves here appear to be the standard Western
   model, infected by another werewolf and turning into an unthinking
   man-eater when a full moon is above the horizon. A partial antidote to
   lycanthropy exists in the Wolfsbane Potion.

   Werewolf Code of Conduct: Enacted in 1637, the specifics have not been
   given.

   Which Broomstick: The definitive reference on all brands of broom.

   Whizzing Worms: Something available in Hogsmeade; probably from
   Dervish and Banges.

   Whomping Willow: A magical tree growing on the Hogwarts grounds which
   has an urge to batter anyone and anything in its reach, though it can
   be temporarily paralyzed by touching a certain spot on its trunk. This
   particular one was planted to guard the secret passage from Hogwarts
   to the Shrieking Shack.

   willow: Any shrub or tree of the genus Salix, grown variously for
   ornament, shade, or timber. Willow bark is the source for salicin, the
   parent of a whole set of pain relievers.

   Wingardium Leviosa: The incantation for a levitation charm.

   Etym: From wing or something similar, and Latin levis, "light".

   Witching Hour: A wizard radio program.

   Witch Weekly: A weekly publication focusing on soft news; something
   along the lines of People for wizards.

   wolfsbane: see monkshood.

   Wolfsbane Potion: A potion which can cancel the mental effects of a
   werewolf's transformation, allowing them to remain sane. Rendered
   ineffective by the addition of sugar.

   Wood, Oliver: A Gryffindor, 4 years ahead of Harry, who is the Keeper
   and captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

   Etym: What it sounds like.

   Wormtail: Peter Pettigrew's nickname among James Potter's gang.

   wormwood: Artemisia Absinthium, used as a tonic and vermifuge. One of
   the ingredients of the Draught of Living Death.

X

   X: The 24th letter of the modern alphabet and the 21st of the Roman,
   corresponding in form and position to the Greek xi. The early Greek
   forms represented the aspirate voiceless velar kh in the Ionian
   alphabet and ks in the Chaldean. The ancient Roman name of the letter
   was ix, and the Romans used it for the ks sound. Its earliest use in
   English was as a medial and final alternate spelling of cs.

   In modern usage, x is a marker, a metasyntactic variable, and a symbol
   for the unknown. It is not, however, the beginning of any names or
   terms relevant to any of the Harry Potter books.

Y

   Year with the Yeti: One of Gilderoy Lockhart's books.

   yew: Trees and shrubs of the genus Taxus. The timber trees produce a
   wood that is hard, finegrained, and heavy, and was once popular for
   cabinetry, tools, and bows. In British folklore, it's associated with
   death.

   Yorkshire: A region of northern England.

   Yorkshire pudding: A floury batter cooked until crisp on top, usually
   served with roast meats.

   Yvonne (PS ch. 2): Petunia Dursley's friend.

   Etym: French name, possibly from Old German Iv "yew".

Z

   Zabini, Blaise (PS ch. 7): A Slytherin in the same year as Harry.

   Etym: Derives from the name of the Sabine tribe. Probably no special
   meaning here.

   Zonko's Joke Shop: The pranksters' supply house in Hogsmeade.

   Etym: Zonko is an invention from or variation of zonky.
