Glossary of ringing terms – Numbers & symbols

Last updated on:

Words or phrases underlined are defined within the glossary. Where it assists with clarity, a definition is annotated to indicate a part of speech. (n) = noun, (vb) = verb, (adj) = adjective, (adv) = adverb. Section references refer to sections within The Tower Handbook.  

Top | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | JK | L |M | N | O | P |Q | R | S | T | UV | W | XYZ | Diagrams

.

Used in place notation to separate consecutive changes that contain places, ie where there is no intervening X).

–

(1) Symbol used for bob to set out a composition or touch by calling positions.
(2) Also used as an alternative to X in place notation (eg in the Central Council methods collections).

2-3 position, etc

A position for ringing a pair of handbells in which they cross in 2-3, 3-4, etc. They also cross the same distance from the back, eg in 6-7 for the 2-3 position on 8 bells

120

The extent of doubles, and hence the commonest length for a touch. (eg 'Call us a 120')

240

A touch of doubles being a round block in which each of the 120 possiblerows occurs exactly twice. (In some compositions each occurs once at handstroke and once at backstroke). A 240 has the same status as a true touch despite being technically false.

41 (The)

Set of 41 regular   Surprise  Minor  methods, normally grouped according to the work they share above the Treble: Cambridge Group, London group, Norwich (or Westminster) Group and Carlisle (or Chester) group. Commonly rung by knowing the relatively small number of above and below works and switching between them when passing the Treble.

60 on thirds  

The most common Devon 6 bell call change competition "peal". The bells are called into queens followed by a standard sequence of 60 called changes that return to queens and then called back to rounds. This could be regarded as a plain changes "method" – the treble effectively hunts to 5ths place and back in the 60. Changes usually take effect at alternate handstrokes.

720

The extent of minor, and hence a synonym for a touch of that length, (eg used as a component part of a peal or quarter peal).

0

Digit used to represent bell 10, (so rounds on twelve is 1234567890ET). Either pronounced 'ten' or like the letter O (not zero).

3-lead splicer

Relationship between methods where three leads of one, with in-course lead heads and a given pair of bells in the same pair of positions, contain the same rows as the three leads with the same lead heads and the same pair of bells in the same positions, of the other (but not necessarily in the same leads). The same it true for three leads with out of course lead heads. Thus three leads of one nethod can be replaced with the corresponding leads of the other in a spliced composition without affecting the truth. See also: Course splicer, Lead splicer, 6-lead splicer

6-lead splicer

 Relationship between methods where six leads of one, with in-course or out of course lead heads and a given pair of bells in the same pair of positions, contain the same rows as the six leads with the same lead heads and the same pair of bells in the same positions, of the other (but not necessarily in the same leads), thus three leads of one nethod can be replaced with the corresponding leads of the other in a spliced composition without affecting the truth. See also: Course splicer, Lead splicer, 3-lead splicer.

Top | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | JK | L |M | N | O | P |Q | R | S | T | UV | W | XYZ | Diagrams