aiguilles

English translation: needles

16:31 Jul 8, 2017
French to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - History / 14th century hunting
French term or phrase: aiguilles
Obviously, this does not mean "needles". I am wondering whether to translate it as "darts". I think it probably means crossbow darts, but I'm not sure.

"la prise du loup au moyen d’aiguilles et la chasse du cerf à l’arbalète."
B D Finch
France
Local time: 08:56
English translation:needles
Explanation:
https://themedievalhunt.com/2017/03/04/the-wolfhunt/
Men take them beyond the sea with hounds and greyhounds
with nets and with cords, but when he is taken
in nets or cords he cutteth them wonderfully fast
with his teeth unless men get quickly to him to
slay him. Also men take them within pits and
with needles and with haussepieds or with veno-
mous powders that men give them in flesh, and
in many other manners.

I think it probably refers to pine-needles, used to lame a wolf and make it an easier target for hunters.
Selected response from:

Jennifer Levey
Chile
Local time: 04:56
Grading comment
Thanks Robin.
3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +4needles
Jennifer Levey
3spikes
Barbara Cochran, MFA
Summary of reference entries provided
AIGUILLE DE CHASSE AUX LOUPS
andres-larsen

Discussion entries: 9





  

Answers


14 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
needles


Explanation:
https://themedievalhunt.com/2017/03/04/the-wolfhunt/
Men take them beyond the sea with hounds and greyhounds
with nets and with cords, but when he is taken
in nets or cords he cutteth them wonderfully fast
with his teeth unless men get quickly to him to
slay him. Also men take them within pits and
with needles and with haussepieds or with veno-
mous powders that men give them in flesh, and
in many other manners.

I think it probably refers to pine-needles, used to lame a wolf and make it an easier target for hunters.

Jennifer Levey
Chile
Local time: 04:56
Does not meet criteria
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 3
Grading comment
Thanks Robin.
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks Robin. Yes, they were needles, but not pine needles and not used to lame the wolf. People were and are nastier than you assumed.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  philgoddard: I'm not sure how you could lame a wolf with pine needles, but andres-larsen's reference suggests this is correct. It needs a few words of explanation.
56 mins

agree  Nikki Scott-Despaigne: Needles, not pine needles (used crushed, apparently, to hide human odor : https://www.huntwolves.com/articles/wolf-hunting-tips/how-to...
1 hr

agree  gayd (X)
4 hrs

agree  Daryo
6 hrs
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24 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
spikes


Explanation:
A sharp, pointed implement.

http://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/aiguille

Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
Local time: 03:56
Meets criteria
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks Barbara, but no; I needed a historical reference about medieval hunting usage of "aiguilles", rather than a definition of "aiguilles". Unfortunately, my research has now come up with a rather horrible answer.

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Reference comments


30 mins peer agreement (net): +3
Reference: AIGUILLE DE CHASSE AUX LOUPS

Reference information:
Arts et métiers mécaniques
https://books.google.com/books?id=_XRQAQAAMAAJ -
1789 - ‎Encyclopedias and dictionaries, French
AIGUILLE DE CHASSE AUX LOUPS. On se servoit autres fois d'aiguilles pour détruire les loups; on en avoit deux, pointues par les deux bouts; on les mettait en croix, & les attachait l'une sur l'autre avec un crin de cheval qui tendait à les séparer. On les repliait avec effort pour les enfoncer dans un morceau de viande, on exposait aux loups cette viande ainsi préparée; les loups avalaient les aiguilles et la viande goulument; & quand la viande était digerée, les aiguilles, reprenant leur première station en vertu de l'éffort du crin de cheval, revenaient en croix, piquaient les intestins, & faisaient crever ces animaux.

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Note added at 31 mins (2017-07-08 17:03:44 GMT)
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small correction in the first line:

Arts et métiers mécaniques
https://books.google.com/books?id=_XRQAQAAMAAJ -
1789 - ‎Encyclopedias and dictionaries, French
AIGUILLE DE CHASSE AUX LOUPS. On se servait autres fois d'aiguilles pour détruire les loups; on en avoit deux, pointues par les deux bouts; on les mettait en croix, & les attachait l'une sur l'autre avec un crin de cheval qui tendait à les séparer. On les repliait avec effort pour les enfoncer dans un morceau de viande, on exposait aux loups cette viande ainsi préparée; les loups avalaient les aiguilles et la viande goulument; & quand la viande était digerée, les aiguilles, reprenant leur première station en vertu de l'éffort du crin de cheval, revenaient en croix, piquaient les intestins, & faisaient crever ces animaux.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 54 mins (2017-07-08 17:26:31 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Encyclopédie, ou, Dictionnaire universel raisonné des connoissances ...
https://books.google.com/books?id=x00VAAAAQAAJ -
Fortuné Barthélemy de Félice - 1770 - ‎Encyclopedias and dictionaries, French
AIGUILLE, Chasse: On tuait autrefois les loups avec des aiguilles; on en avoit deux, elles étaient pointues par les deux bouts; on les mettait en croix, & on les attachait l'une sur l'autre avec un crin de cheval, qui tendait à les séparer. On les repliait avec effort, pour les enfoncer dans un morceau de viande. On exposait aux loups cette viande ainsi préparée; les loups avalaient les aiguilles et la viande goulument; & quand la viande était digerée, les aiguilles, reprenant leur première situation en vertu de l'éffort du crin de cheval, revenaient en croix, piquaient les intestins, & faisaient mourir ces animaux.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2017-07-08 17:36:31 GMT)
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Pieces of meat embedded with nails and wooden spikes were left at a ...
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/570972058992281262/ -
Pieces of meat embedded with nails and wooden spikes were left at a popular dog walking spot. Demand that the person responsible is found and punished.

Find person who left nail-embedded meat... - Animal Petitions ...
https://www.facebook.com/animalpetitions.../710719192419797 -
Pieces of meat embedded with nails and wooden spikes were left at a popular dog walking spot. Demand that the person responsible is found and punished.

Social Life in Northwest Alaska: The Structure of Iñupiaq Eskimo Nations
https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1889963925 -
Ernest S. Burch - 2006 - ‎History
The gorget was a small spike of antler, bone or ivory sharpened at both ends, with a groove for lashing in the center. It was embedded in a piece of fish or meat, and connected via a piece of twine tied around the groove to a shrub or anchor of some kind. The bird ate the piece of meat or fish and tried to fly away, turning the spike in its throat. This prevented the bird's escape, and often killed it.

andres-larsen
Venezuela
Does not meet criteria
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Note to reference poster
Asker: Saw your reference posting after I'd found this myself. You have found more references to the technique than I did. It seems very likely to be the answer. I don't think I can use the term "gorget" (though it would have been useful), because it usually means either a neckerchief or armour that protects the throat.

Asker: Thanks Andres!


Peer comments on this reference comment (and responses from the reference poster)
agree  ph-b (X)
34 mins
  -> Thanks
agree  philgoddard: Looks like your 1789 reference is plagiarized from your 1770 one!
42 mins
  -> Thanks, your assumption could be possible
agree  Yolanda Broad: Sure sounds nasty!
5 hrs
  -> Thanks
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