Hob-Nailed Bouchers

Subject: RE: Hob-Nailed Bluchers
From: GUEST, GEST
Date: 01 Nov 03 - 09:21 AM

Bluchers is the correct answer according to search results at Overture and a definition from
Bartleby.com. Put them both together and bluchers are half boots; so called after Prussian Field-Marshall Gebhard Lebrecht von Blucher (1742-1819). Even L.L.Bean carries some Blucher Moccasins. Thanks everyone for the leads. :-)

Subject: RE: Hob-Nailed Bouchers
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 01 Nov 03 - 07:16 AM

I heard Working Boots called 'Bluchers' in Queensland - but not for quite some time.

Robin

Subject: RE: Hob-Nailed Bouchers
From: GUEST,Donal
Date: 01 Nov 03 - 02:12 AM

Working boots are/were often called 'Bluchers' in Western Australia, I often wondered
if there was any connection to Gen. Blucher of Waterloo fame, since Wellington had
Footwear named after him.

Subject: RE: Hob-Nailed Bouchers
From: mack/misophist
Date: 31 Oct 03 - 08:10 PM

I'm not certain of the spelling, but 'bleuchers' are heavy, high top work shoes. Does that work?

Subject: Hob-Nailed Bouchers
From: GUEST, GEST
Date: 31 Oct 03 - 07:08 PM

The Irish Descendants have the song Murphy Broke The Pledge on their 1998 album, Rollin' Home. It seems obvious from the lyrics that hob-nailed bouchers are some sort of footwear, but I have been unable to find a definition for the word bouchers. Is it perhaps a misspelling, or is someone familiar with it? Here are the lyrics from GEST Songs Of Newfoundland And Labrador.

Also, can anyone put a first name to the author, Burke? The Dictionary of Newfoundland English attributes the song to him with the date 1894. Is it Johnny?