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Glossary entry

Italian term or phrase:

argani mossi da buoi

English translation:

capstans turned by oxen

Added to glossary by Lucrezia Amedeo
Apr 22, 2010 18:03
14 yrs ago
Italian term

argani mossi da buoi

Italian to English Science Mechanics / Mech Engineering (ancient engineering)
A text about ancient boats and ships (from 5th century to Middle Ages) Keep finding the word 'argano' but my dictionaries and proz.com glossaries I have consulted all seem to associate this with lifting (winch, capstan, windlass etc)
Here I have

Nave con ruote a pale connesse ad argani mossi da buoi

so it would seem the 'argano' is the whole device by which oxen walking in a circle turn a shaft and/or other intermediate connectors to the paddle wheels. I have no idea how to say this (nor do I have a picture). Any suggestions, or should I just say 'ship with paddle wheels with shaft turned by oxen' ? Is 'argano' sometimes used to mean shaft or similar?
Many thanks for any help you can offer!
Proposed translations (English)
5 oxen-powered capstans
3 oxen powered winch (that powers the paddle wheel)
Change log

Apr 27, 2010 06:54: Lorraine Buckley (X) Created KOG entry

Apr 27, 2010 18:34: Lucrezia Amedeo changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/1081837">Lorraine Buckley (X)'s</a> old entry - "argani mossi da buoi "" to ""capstans turned by oxen""

Discussion

Cedric Randolph Apr 22, 2010:
The picture seems clear Clearly here you ned to simplify a little. The argano is clearly a pulley assembly of some sort, rather than a lifting winch, but winches on sail boats are powered pulleys of a sort in any rate so the term fits.

Proposed translations

1 hr
Selected

oxen-powered capstans

Ancient Roman paddle ships were known for their speed and maneuverability. Where other ships relied solely on sails or galley slaves to row across the water, this type of ship had a team of oxen strapped to a series of paddle wheels located on the sides, which added extra propulsion. An image of an oxen-powered paddle wheel ship can be seen in a 4th-century Roman military treatise titled "De Rebus Bellicus

In its hull, or hollow interior, oxen, yoked in pairs to capstans, turns wheels attached to the sides of the ship; paddles, projecting above the circumference or curved surface of the wheels, beating the water with their strokes like oar-blades as the wheels revolve
Note from asker:
Brilliant as ever, Lucrezia.... in fact, one of my pieces refers precisely to De Rebus Bellicis, but I had stupidly Googled all sorts of sentences with ox-powered, etc but not De Rebus itself. Many thanks!
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "thanks again to Lucrezia and Cedric"
20 mins

oxen powered winch (that powers the paddle wheel)

Maybe someone will come up with something better, but this is my take on this .

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Note added at 12 hrs (2010-04-23 06:40:28 GMT)
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Yes, the wording and precision of Lucrezia's answer is what you were looking for, not to mention the references - Cheers.
Note from asker:
Thanks, Cedric, also for your sailing explanation. My problem is I have limited vocab in English on these matters, and didn't want to use a term that was unsuitable. I think Lucrezia has got it pretty much sized up, though winch would probably fit too.
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