In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes > > (http://profiles.yahoo.com/guymorgan2001) >Guy Morgan wrote: > >>>> I believe you told me @ Coppermill that "Harnser" is a country name for >>>> "Owl" is that right? > >>>Nope. It means "heron". > >>Interesting hat the shakespeare qoute " he can't tell a hawk from a >>handsaw" which means IIRC - from a heron is more comprehensible if you >>subsrtitute harnser for heron. Harhser corrupted to handsaw. > > > > >My understanding of Stratford Bill's words are that the hawk refers to a >plasterer's hawk, the square board fixed to a dowel type handle beneath >that is >use to hold the plaster during application. Such a tool would be commonly seen > with a handsaw on a building site. But I do like Guy's interpretation. > >Regards, > >Dave H > I think I misssed out a step! My recollection today is that certainly in early "translations" the word used is hernshaw which got corrupted to handsaw. Hernshaw and harnser are similar and hernshaw is definitely an old word for heron.
Don't ask me how I came by such a bit of abstruse info! Guy -- Guy Morgan nb Virgo, WFB, Stockton GU Defend the waterways. Visit the web site www.saveourwaterways.org.uk
