Originally a withe or withy, that is a tough, flexible but slender branch of a willow or osier, used as a tie or shackle, presumably attached to the ‘tug’ on a working horse. It was later applied to an iron chain which had the same function.
The OED offers several meanings for this term, and has examples from 1724 and 1795. It could be an outfall from a canal, river or reservoir; a weir, or even the pool into which water falls from a dam.
A spade designed to cut turf, described in 1887 as having a triangular blade of steel with one side turned up and sharpened in front and a long curved shaft with a strong cross-handle.
Originally a carpet woven in one piece of richly-coloured wools and having a deep pile, imported from Turkey or woven elsewhere in imitation of the style: often a table covering. Later the word was applied more loosely to a variety of imitative fabrics.
The occupational term had a number of possible meanings but usually referred to workmen who turned vessels on a lathe, working with wood, metal or bone.
These are northern variants of ‘tusk’, used for stones which formed a projecting course on a building, one on which an additional structure might be built.
From the mis-division of a noumpere; that is non-equal. An umpire was one who acted as an impartial third party in a dispute, making a decision on behalf of one of the contestants. The act of umpiring and the decision were referred to as umpirage.
In early inventories a variety of articles were said to be ‘bound with iron’, ranging in size from kettles and chests to wains and their wheels. The same items were sometimes said to be unbound.
Most of the meanings given to this word emphasise its military or negative aspects, literally and figuratively. However, when used in some mining leases it could refer simply to a method of ‘winning’ coals underground.