Talking of ancient sheep names, I took a tour of the Theakstons brewery in N. Yorkshire a few years ago and was introduced to a beer called Riggwelter. The name is a Yorkshire term for a pregnant ewe that has fallen over and can't get up again - much the same effect caused by drinking too much of the stuff. However, I was told that the word dates back to Viking times and is one of those old dialect words that sadly are dying out in favour of Estuarine English. Can any Norse specialists verify this?? Bit of thread drift from my original query I suppose, but fascinating stuff all the same.....