History, Wonder Tales, Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends The Flemish | Page 124

Brabantic (1591), a garment worn by soldiers in the 16th century; probably from the
name Brabant; Bense points out that the Sp. brabante, a sort of linen, has the same
origin.
Knapsack (1603), a bag or case of stout canvas or leather, worn by soldiers strapped
to the back; ad. LG. knapsack (Du. knapzak, G. knappsack), first recorded in the 16th
century; the first element is generally taken to be LG. and Du. knappen, knap, vb. ‘to
bite’, G. knapp, eating food.
Snapsack (1633), a knapsack; common from about 1650 to 1700; ad. LG. snappsack,
from snappen, snap.
Holster (1663), a leather case for a pistol; it is possibly from Du. holster in the same
sense, although the Du. word is not recorded until 1678, that is, later than the English
word; OE. had heolster, hiding-place, concealment, and there are corresponding
forms in Scand., Icel. hulstr, case, sheath, Sw. hölster, Da. hylster, sheath, holster.
Fanikin (1539) occurs once only as the name of a small flag or banner; ad. M.Du.
vaneken (Flem. vaenken, in Kilian), diminutive of vane, now vaan, flag, compare Eng.
fane.
There are a few terms connected with the drums of the troops. Drumslade,
Dromslade (1527), a drum, or some form of drum; (1527), a drummer; apparently a
corruption of Du. or LG. trommelslag (G. trommelschlag), drum-beat, though it is not
apparent how this name of the action became applied to the instrument. Drumslager
(1586), a drummer; apparently like the above a corruption of Du. trommelslager, or
perhaps ad. G. drummeschläger, an earlier variant of trommelschläger.
Snare (1688), in the sense of one of the strings of gut or rawhide which are stretched
across the lower head of a side-drum; it is probably from one of the Low Dutch forms,
Du. snaar, M.Du. snare, snaer, LG. snare, snar, MLG. snare, snar, string.
2. 6.
One term of siege appears from the ME. period. Slap (1375, from Sc.), a breach,
opening, or gap in a wall; ad. M.Du. or MLG. slop (Du. and LG. slop, LG. slup),
opening, gap, narrow passage; the change of o to a before p is normal in Sc., cf. drap
for drop.
Most of the terms of fortification, however, appear in the 16th and 17th centuries. The
Low Country wars of that period were often little more than the assault of strong
places, and the science of fortification and siege was much cultivated and highly
developed. English soldiers serving in the Low Countries must of necessity have
become acquainted with these (technical) terms.
Blockhouse (1512), according to O.E.D. the sense was not originally a house
composed of blocks of wood, but one which obstructs or blocks a passage; the Eng.
word appears earlier than either the Du. or Flem. blockhuys, blockhuus (1599 in
Kilian) or G. blockhaus (1557), yet it is probably of Du. or G. origin; the M.Du.
bl