From the
Glossary of the Wheel of Time:
The people of the
Aiel Waste.
Fierce and hardy. Also referred to as Aielmen. They
veil their faces before they kill, giving rise to the saying "acting like a black-veiled Aiel" to describe someone who is being
violent. Deadly warriors with weapons or with nothing by their bare hands, they will not touch a
sword. Their pipers play them into
battle with the music of dances, and Aielmen call battle "the Dance" or "dancing the spears."