Tag Archives: etymology

Timber's Term of the Week: Deadhead

Deadhead n A log in the water, either completely submerged or primarily submerged. A sinker log Before railroads and trucking, most goods came by water. Trees felled, would be cut into log lengths, lashed into log rafts,  and floated down river. Some logs would sink. Some logs would only reveal a small portion of itself,Continue reading “Timber's Term of the Week: Deadhead”

Timber’s Term of the Week: Deadhead

Deadhead n A log in the water, either completely submerged or primarily submerged. A sinker log Before railroads and trucking, most goods came by water. Trees felled, would be cut into log lengths, lashed into log rafts,  and floated down river. Some logs would sink. Some logs would only reveal a small portion of itself,Continue reading “Timber’s Term of the Week: Deadhead”

Timber's Term of the Week: Widowmaker

Widowmaker n Something that looks innocuous that is, in fact, dangerous. A loose limb or top hanging in a tree that can be dislodged by wind or when struck by a falling tree; the impact of which can cause serious injury or death. See also: Via magazine article about Gordon Smith.

Timber’s Term of the Week: Widowmaker

Widowmaker n Something that looks innocuous that is, in fact, dangerous. A loose limb or top hanging in a tree that can be dislodged by wind or when struck by a falling tree; the impact of which can cause serious injury or death. See also: Via magazine article about Gordon Smith.

Timber's Term of the Week: Gyppo Logger

Gyppo Logger n An independent, or small, logging contractor often working on a minimal operating budget with substandard, “haywire,” equipment. A busheler, someone who will do piecework. The term “gyppo” (or “gypo”) is not necessarily the same as the Irish Traveller, though the etymology seems to share the same root. The term is thought toContinue reading “Timber's Term of the Week: Gyppo Logger”

Timber’s Term of the Week: Gyppo Logger

Gyppo Logger n An independent, or small, logging contractor often working on a minimal operating budget with substandard, “haywire,” equipment. A busheler, someone who will do piecework. The term “gyppo” (or “gypo”) is not necessarily the same as the Irish Traveller, though the etymology seems to share the same root. The term is thought toContinue reading “Timber’s Term of the Week: Gyppo Logger”

Timber’s Term of the Week: Busheler

Busheler n A pieceworker paid at a rate per thousand board feet. Now a bushel is an outmoded unit of grain equal to four pecks or thirty-two dry quarts. It’s measured in a cylindrical vessel, eighteen and a half inches in diameter, and eight inches deep. According to one source the term bushel dates backContinue reading “Timber’s Term of the Week: Busheler”

Timber's Term of the Week: Busheler

Busheler n A pieceworker paid at a rate per thousand board feet. Now a bushel is an outmoded unit of grain equal to four pecks or thirty-two dry quarts. It’s measured in a cylindrical vessel, eighteen and a half inches in diameter, and eight inches deep. According to one source the term bushel dates backContinue reading “Timber's Term of the Week: Busheler”