jan 1, 1490 - ruskin

Description:

A squirrel skin imported from or via the Baltic, particularly the fur of an animal taken in the summer (EMV228). Examples taken from goods imported into Hull from Danzig include: 1453 <i>2 tymbres roskyn</i>; 1490 <i>½ dakar russkyns</i> (YRS144/4,207). The OED has an example from 1287 without an explanation of the etymology so Veale’s reference to squirrel skins called ‘ruswerk’ which were Russian skins is worth noting (EMV225).

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