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Post by Verbivore on Jul 1, 2008 12:19:26 GMT
An unfortunate development in recent years is the increasing use of sewer for one who sews.
We used to have seamstress - a tad sex-specific - but did we ever have a suitable equivalent term for a male who sewed? (Tailor doesn't cover it: too narrow.)
In jobs ads now (in Oz), the usage of sewer is almost universal, yet I can't get over an initial perception of a smelly underground conduit whenever I encounter the word.
While watching an offering on Mercedes-Benz.tv (an IPTV service, not broadcast) this evening, I saw an item titled Sewer Demon and my first imagination was of someone such as Lewis Hamilton driving through London's sewers at 300 km/h in a Mercedes SLR Maclaren.
Of course, it turned out to be about the chap who hand-sews M-B Designo (the brand's top design label for its bespoke models) steering wheels: three hours from start to finish for one complete wood-and-leather wheel. I guess that makes him a speed demon of sorts.
I still think we need a better term for "person who sews". Anyone got an apt neologism tucked away looking for a home?
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Post by Dave M on Jul 1, 2008 12:50:21 GMT
Well, to pick up from another thread: sewor ? ;D
I think we have a historical, rather than linguistical, problem: a tailor used to design/cut/sew, as a highly-skilled activity. A seamstress used to be the one handsewing the seams. A saddler used to do the heavy stuff, as in leather cases and ... well ... saddles.
We've adjusted the roles and activities, and are therefore needing to use more often the simple word sewer. It's been around for a while as "one who sews" (Old English), whereas the version meaning "a conduit for waste" is Medieval English.
Having looked in the dictionaries to hand, I was surprised to find another meaning: "one who serves at table".
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Post by Vadim on Jul 1, 2008 12:55:53 GMT
What about... ... a Sewing Machinist? or would that be a manufacturer (machinist) of sewing machines? I'm confusing myself now
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Post by Dave M on Jul 1, 2008 13:54:13 GMT
"Machinist" is certainly the word typically used in factories, where sewing machines are involved.
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Post by Alan Palmer on Jul 1, 2008 14:26:35 GMT
Stitcher?
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Post by Barry on Jul 1, 2008 16:40:16 GMT
Stitchsmith? ;D
Not only trendy, but manages five consonants in a row ...
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Post by Pete on Jul 1, 2008 19:50:58 GMT
sewer. It's been around for a while as "one who sews" (Old English), whereas the version meaning "a conduit for waste" is Medieval English.. Surely this means that the use for a smelly conduit is the arriviste that requires a neologism.
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Post by Pete on Jul 1, 2008 19:54:13 GMT
Stitchsmith? ;D Not only trendy, but manages five consonants in a row ... Indeed. But also following another thread, he is neither a wright nor a smith. How about needlesman, cf swordsman?
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Post by Barry on Jul 1, 2008 20:15:24 GMT
Ah, but on the other thread, we also established exceptions: playwright; wordsmith.
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Post by Pete on Jul 1, 2008 20:34:15 GMT
Ah, but on the other thread, we also established exceptions: playwright; wordsmith.Are these exceptions? A playwright makes plays, as a cartwright makes carts. And a wordsmith makes things out of words, as a goldsmith makes things out of gold.
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Post by Geoff on Jul 1, 2008 22:44:36 GMT
"Machinist" is certainly the word typically used in factories, where sewing machines are involved. Agree, and it's the word I would choose. Why search for a new one?
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Post by Vadim on Jul 2, 2008 7:27:01 GMT
"Machinist" is certainly the word typically used in factories, where sewing machines are involved. Agree, and it's the word I would choose. Why search for a new one? Wow, Geoff! We agree on something; the world's gone mad!
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Post by Verbivore on Jul 2, 2008 9:18:06 GMT
[...] "Machinist" [...] Why search for a new one? Well, the bloke sewing those steering wheels has the job mounted on a flexible base (gimbal jointed?), uses scissors to cut the leather, and sews with a curved needle - but it's all manual, not mechanised, work so machinist doesn't do the job.
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Post by Vadim on Jul 2, 2008 9:28:55 GMT
[...] "Machinist" [...] Why search for a new one? Well, the bloke sewing those steering wheels has the job mounted on a flexible base (gimbal jointed?), uses scissors to cut the leather, and sews with a curved needle - but it's all manual, not mechanised, work so machinist doesn't do the job. Well, with the current trends in workplace names, I reckon a suitable name to cover any of these trades would simply be "Needle Engineer" ,after all, every other monkey has jumped on the "engineering" band wagon .
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noel
New Member
Posts: 14
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Post by noel on Jul 2, 2008 10:35:41 GMT
The Mercedes bloke should be a Lenkradledernähmeister. Obviously
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