I thought this might interest some readers of this newsgroup.
Especially those of us who are married and spend a bit too much
family time in the shop. The mind boggles at the possibilities, but
as always, the voice is silent or there would be no dinner.

Jeff
(A pity about the formatting - I simply cut and pasted.)

The previous entry posted to the Double-Tongued Word Wrester web site was:

bitch hook

n. a curved metal device used with a chain to hold or secure lumber or other
things, or to brake a sled on descents. Also "bitch link." The unpublished
manuscript for the "Lexicon of Trade Jargon" (circa 1938-39, now at the
Library of Congress) includes in its section on "Lumber Workers' Slang and
Jargon" an entry for "bitch chain" and defines it as a "Heavy, short chain
with hook and ring, used to fasten the lower end of a gin pole (q.v.)
to a sled or car when loading logs." A "gin-pole" is defined there as "a
small log." Elsewhere, in a section under "Machinists' and Machine
Manufacture Workers' Slang and Jargon," "bitch" and "bitch dog" are defined
as a "Special clamp used to hold work on a lathe." The Dictionary of Smoky
Mountain English includes an entry for the synonym "bitch link," "In
logging: a pear-shaped link on the end of a chain, larger and heavier than
other links. When the chain is run through an opening a choker can be looped
through this link to secure it." The Oxford English Dictionary, with little
elaboration, has an entry for "bitch" (also spelled "beche" or "biche") that
is possibly related. It is defined in citations as a mining tool used during
boring for holding and bringing up (broken) rods. A "bêche" in French is a
spade or garden fork (a pitchfork). Categories: English.

http://www.doubletongued.org/index.p...ry/bitch_hook/

Citations and other information are available at the Double-Tongued Word
Wrester web site.

Cheers,

Grant Barrett
Editor
Double-Tongued Word Wrester
http://www.doubletongued.org/


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