4.1.5. Kelson (question 10)
Informants I, IV, V, VI, VIII, XI had no answer to this question. Deadwood has not yet been recorded in the sense of kelson. It seems to be limited to the coastline south of the Firth of Forth and is not used in England either..[1] The origin of kelson or keelson is discussed by Sandahl:
In the Scandinavian languages, as well as in German, Dutch and English, it is identical with a word corresponding to E. swine: Da. kølsvin, Sw. kölsvin, G. kielschwein, kielschwin, D. kolzwijn, (kolsem), and there is a prima facie reason to accept this etymology, seeing that animal names are common in technical language. Nautical parlance is fond of this type of metaphor. [2]This explanation of the etymology of kelson would certainly make sense as it could also account for the use of hog. [2] Sandahl 1951, p.68. Although Sandahl seems to favour this theory, it is not accepted by everybody, and it is still much discussed (ibid. p. 67 - 70). Cf. also Elmer's discussion of the etymology of kelson (Elmer 1973, p. 116 - 119). |
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