jan 1, 1520 - draught

Description:

A rare usage, found in connection with sawing timber. As two sawyers were involved, they will have been working in a saw-pit or on trestles, so the ‘draught’ probably referred to their combined operation of the saw; that is drawing and pushing, and was effectively a measure: 1404-5 <i>in sarracione xv draghtez in eisdem 11d</i>, York (SS81/205n); 1519 <i>to William Frere for sawyng of xxti drawytt, xxd,</i> York (CCW70); c.1520 <i>Johanni Henryson sawying waynscottes viz xxxij dragttes … Johanni Hogsson secum pro xvj draghttes 16d</i>, Ripon (SS81/205). In 1464-5 the chamberlain’s accounts show that 12d was paid ‘for sawing eighteen <i>dranges</i> of wainscott’ (YRS141/103) but this term is obscure. If the original is ‘draugs’ it is probably a spelling of draught.

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