History, Wonder Tales, Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends The Flemish | Page 209
Terms of milling are Rind (c. 1343, Durh. Acc. Rolls), an iron fitting serving to support
an upper millstone on the spindle; corresponds to and perhaps ad. M.Du. rijn, rīne, or
MLG. rîn, ryn, still in use in both languages; the final -d of the Eng. word is excrescent.
Stive (1793), dust, esp. the floating dust or flour during the operation of grinding; ad.
Du. stuive (given by Kilian as obsolete), related to stuiven, to rise as dust; the word
seems to have belonged originally to Pembrokeshire, where there was a Flemish
colony, and to E. Anglia, where words from Low Dutch are frequent.
A term for a tool in leather-working is Elsin (c. 1440, Pr. Parv.), an awl; ad. M.Du.
elsene, later elzen(e), Du. els, an awl, bradawl; the word was also borrowed into the
Romance languages as Sp. lesna, alesna, It. lesina, F. alêne.
There is only one term of printing. Rounce (1683), the handle of the winch by which
the spit and wheel are turned so as to run the carriage of a hand-press in and out; ad.
Du. ronds(e), ronse, in the same sense.
A term of rope-making was introduced in the 18th century. Loper (1794), a swivel
upon which yarns are hooked at one end while being twisted into cordage; O.E.D.
says from lope, to run and -er, but in this sense perhaps another word immediately ad.
Du. looper, runner.
A term of basket-making is Skein (1837), a split of osier after being dressed for use in
fine basket-work; ad. Du. scheen (M.Du. scheene).
In the 18th and 19th centuries were introduced a number of terms for the cutting and
polishing of diamonds. The largest centre for this trade was and is at Amsterdam.
Dop (1764), a small copper cup with a handle, into which a diamond is cemented to
be held while being cut; ad. Du. dop, shell, husk, cover; the same word as Dop, p.
148.
Skive (1843), a revolving iron disk or wheel used with diamond powder in grinding,
polishing, or finishing diamonds or other gems, a lap, a diamond wheel; ad. Du. schijf
(M.Du. schîve).
Trap-cut (1853), a mode of cutting gems, mostly used with emeralds, sapphires, and
rubies; apparently from Du. trap, step, stair, and cut. Trap-brilliant (1877), in diamond
cutting, a form of brilliant in which each of the foundation squares is divided
horizontally into two triangular facets cut at an obtuse angle; apparently from Du. trap
and brilliant. Scaife (1887), a revolving wheel for polishing diamonds; perhaps ad. Du.
schijf, disk, wheel; the same word as Scaife, p. 106.
In the manufacture of quill pens the term Dutch (1763) is used for the process of
clarifying and hardening quills by plunging them in heated sand and rapidly passing
them through a fire; from Dutch, adj.; the process must have been of Dutch invention
and borrowed from them.
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