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Examples
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He was a "spragger," whose duty it was to thrust a stick into the wheel of a loaded car to hold it; and he was a little chap, and the car was in motion when he made the attempt.
King Coal : a Novel Upton Sinclair 1923
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I was a spragger when I was ten years old, and I ain't been out of the pits so long that I've forgot the feeling.
King Coal : a Novel Upton Sinclair 1923
yarb commented on the word spragger
Can anyone shed light on this?
October 2, 2008
reesetee commented on the word spragger
Found this in OED, yarb: "1884 Times 8 Jan. 2/6 A 'spragger' is to be found on all mineral railways and tramways, his business being to 'sprag' the wheels when going down an incline."
Sprag in this case meaning: "A stout piece of wood used to check the revolution of a wheel (or roller), usually by inserting it between two of the spokes. Also U.S., a rod or bar which can be dropped so as to prevent a vehicle from running backwards. More widely, any of several devices formerly fitted to motor vehicles to prevent them from running backwards down a hill."
Who knew? :-)
October 2, 2008
yarb commented on the word spragger
Brilliant, thanks rt. Sounds like rather an important job, actually.
October 2, 2008
reesetee commented on the word spragger
Yes. Important and dangerous!
October 2, 2008
sionnach commented on the word spragger
Confirmation from Michael Quinion's "Gallimaufry" (page 210):
spragger, a man who inserted "lockers, scotches, sprags, or snibbles" (short billets of wood) into the wheels of a railway vehicle or mine tram to prevent its moving
October 3, 2008
reesetee commented on the word spragger
What a great phrase: "lockers, scotches, sprags, or snibbles"!
October 3, 2008