Folklore: thatcher's language (roofing)

Subject: RE: Folklore: thatcher's language
From: Howard Jones
Date: 10 Jul 17 - 03:49 AM

I'm rather fond of the traditional names for sizes of roofing slates, named after the ranks of the female nobility. This gives wonderful terms such as "narrow ladies" and "broad countessess", all the way up to "princessess" and "empresses".

Subject: RE: Folklore: thatcher's language
From: Joe Offer
Date: 10 Jul 17 - 02:31 AM

Damn. And here I thought it was a political thread that needed to be sent down below.

Yes, the jargon of trades can be fascinating, and the jargon of thatchers and weavers particularly so.

I hope we get more.

-Joe-

Subject: Folklore: thatcher's language
From: Mr Red
Date: 10 Jul 17 - 02:27 AM

Thatching glossary

Fleeking, Stulch, Leggett, Liggers, Yealm. What a wonderous language they had.

All trades have jargon - it is easier than spelling it out with a dozen words when you have to just get on with the job. But other peoples' dialect is always fascinating.

What trade & jargon interests you?