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User Name Thread Name Subject Posted
GUEST,Phil d'Conch Maritime work song in general (725* d) RE: Maritime work song in general 28 Jan 22


One minor conting song mention (leadsman.) 18th century “Cotton screwing” in the R.N. and capstan driven rowing engines:

“BOATSWAIN, is a Ship-Officer, to whom is committed the Charge of all the Tackling, Sails, and Rigging, Ropes, Cables, Anchors, Flags, Pendants, &c. He alfo calls out the feveral Gangs and Companies aboard, to the due Execution of their Watches, Works, and Spells, &c.

BOATSWAIN’s-MATE, has the peculiar Command of the Long-Boat, for the fetting forth of Anchors, Weighing or fetching Home the Anchor, Warping, Towing, or Mooring; and to give an Account of his Store.

Heave the Lead; that is, to Sound, or to find where the Ship may fail, by the Depth of Waters. He that Heaves the Lead, ftands by the Horfe, or in the Chains, and fings the Depth he finds.

ROWING-engine ...A Wheel is fitted to the Drum-head of the Cap-ftan, whofe Teeth turn a Trundle-head, thro’ which an Iron-bar is run that reaches a-crofs, and goes thro’ the Ship-Side; and on its Ends without Board, at a convenient Diftance from the Side of the Ship, are faften’d two Drum-heads, like that on the Capftan in which are fitted fix or eight Paddles, fo as to be taken out at Pleafure. And at the outermoft Ends of the Paddles is faften’d an Iron-Pin, with a Head on it: by which means, and by the Help of a Cord, taking a half Turn round about all thefe Pins, both the Paddles may be twifted, or ftrain’d and ftrengthen’d fo, that they fhall all work proportionably; and alfo the Paddles may, with a Luff-Tackle, be the more handily and eafily lifted in and out, in order to be fitted into, or taken out of the Drum-heads of the Bar. Now if the Paddle's be made proportionably large, according to the Number of Men that can be brought to the Capftan, who if they but work, the Veffle may make very good Way in fmooth Water

STEEVING, is alfo a Word ufed by Merchant men, when they ftow Cotton, or Wool, which is forc’d in with Screws; this they call Steeving their Cotton, or Wool.”
[The Gentleman's Dictionary, Bonwicke, 1705]

Notes: Roughly the same evolution as keleusma-to-salomar &c.: stevazo (Greek,) stipare (Latin,) estivador (Portuguese,) estibador (Spanish,) Stevedore (English.) So far, the steeving task appears well before job English titles, chants &c. Stevedore (etymology)

The rowing engine is typical for early mechanical propulsion experiments prior to the 19th & steam.


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