| Term |
Definition |
H
|
|
| "Hairless Apes" |
An insult sometimes used by Furries or anthromorphic characters (or furry aliens) in reference to humans. |
| Harpy |
A hybrid creature with the head and body of an ugly woman and the wings and claw-like legs of a vulture. Sometimes they have arms with claw-like hands as well, although the term can be applied to any female morph with an overabundance of avian features. In Greek and Roman mythology, they were wind spirits who were transformed into horrible vengeful monsters. Their most remembered appearance is in the tale of Jason and the Argonauts, where the Argonauts slay the Harpies who had blinded King Phineus and kept spoiling his food. A more attractive version of the Harpy is known as the Siren (See Siren). |
| Healing Factor |
In stories and comic books alike are tales involving a healing factor, where a person can heal a serious wound without any great difficulty. This is its normal task, however, sometimes the "healing factor" can kick into overdrive, enhancing and transforming the person who has it to more effectively cope with a very hostile environment or situation, so they are more than what they were before. |
| Hen |
"Strange" or "Weird" in Japanese - sometimes used to denote transformation. |
| Hentai |
1) Means "Pervert" or "Kinky". The original use of the term was to indicate transformations. It's modern use is a label for Adult only Japanese art and comics (Anime). Usually involves sexual intercourse, bondage, etc. Until recently, Japanese law prohibited the viewing of genitals (bare breasts are okay apparently) so many on-line images have that area of the body blurred, covered up or cut out. |
| Heraldry |
Prior to the use of flags and nation-states, the ruling elite of Europe established a set of icons and symbols to designate each house though the use of a crest, usually painted on a shield or a banner. Simple at first, these icons eventually adopted many elements of medieval beastiaries (see Beastiaries) to symbolise a perceived strength of that house or clan. The most widely seen combination of such beastiaries is one of the royal crests of the Royal Family of England, which has a lion (sybolizing among other things bravery) and the unicorn (symbolising among other things, purity). See also Associations. |
| Herm |
Short for Hermaphrodite. |
| Hermaphrodite |
A person who has the physical sexual attributes of both male and female genders. There term is taken from mythology, Hermaphroditos was the 'son' of the Greek gods Hermes and Aphrodite. While rare, hermaphrodites do exist in the real world. They are usually sterile, and in developed countries the infants are usually surgically altered and raised as a female (or less commonly, male). Recent reports indicate that this causes some mental confusion later in life. |
| Hermaphrodite Pronouns |
Since a hermaphrodite has both male and female qualities terms like "his" and "hers" do not quite work, and "it" is nonsexual in nature (and may be considered rude). As a result in stories dealing with such gender-crossed characters you will see terms such as "hir", "s/he"," 'e" and so forth, combining aspects of both sexes. |
| Hoax |
A fake. Hoaxes of various sorts have been used over the centuries to create the impression that hybrids, such as mermaids, missing links and centaurs do exist in the real world. While rarer today as far as transformations are concerned, they can still sometimes be viewed at carnivals and sideshows, usually as a person dressed up in a "realistic" suit, or a person with an actual physical deformity. See also, Freak Show, Sideshow. |
| Human Torch |
1. Occasionally, a sideshow act, in the form of a fire eater with their own unique twist. 2 A name used by several Marvel Comics heroes, the Human Torch could transform himself into a flame covered humanoid, with control over his fire and other sources of flame. |
| Humanimal |
An alternative self-descriptive name for a Furry. It is usually used in fiction as a self-reference when the Furries in question become aware or are aware of the existance of humans. |
| Hybreed |
An alternative term for a Furry, or other half-human half something else mix. Derived obviously from the term "Hybrod" (see next entry) |
| Hybrid |
An organism that combines features or qualities from two different species in the hopes of producing a new species with the best qualities of it's parent species. It does not always work out as well as one hopes- for instance, aggressive African Bees (popularly known as "Killer Bees") brought into South America to help the honey industry there escaped and have been taking over domesticated European honey bee hives and have entered the southern United States via Mexico. |
| Hypnosis |
The art of putting a person into a suggestible trance. While in such a trance, they can be induced to do things they would not normally do, such as act like an animal. Not all people can be hypnotized though. For transformational purposes, one would have to hypnotize a metamorph or other shape changer and command them to change their shape. |
