Mining etymology perhaps

[Jim MacPherson]

It has been suggested that the term "busty" relating to (coal?) mining means friend/friendly/companionable that kind of idea.

There are some mines eg Morrison Busty near Stanley and a/some seam(s) of coal exploited in pits eg Esh Winning and Hamsterley (River Derwent) use the word.

Does anyone know about this usage, it seems a common(ish) word in North-West Durham coal mines suggesting a purpose but as yet I have found no clear derivation and I've not seen it in use elsewhere in other coalfields.

The seams in question were generally quite big for the western end of the Durham coalfield, 5ft or there abouts which probably made coal winning relatively easy or at least comfortable to work in. In that sense there may be a link to the more common current usage of the word!

Anyone know any 80+ year old ex-coal miners to ask?

Jim

 

[mikem]

Apparently " Busty Bank was so named because a hilly bankside in the village burst and exposed a seam of coal. This hilly road became known as Bursty Bank and later as Busty Bank." (Source: The Durham Village Book, written by members of the Durham Federation of Women's Institutes) .

Barcus Close

Barcus Close Colliery was located to the right off Busty Bank just after the Derwent Bridge and the turn off for Friarside Farm (direction Rowlands Gill - Burnopfield). Apparently " Busty Bank...

thegillbottoms.weebly.com

Although I wouldn't be surprised to find that it ignited easily & was a corruption of combustible...

 

[Jim MacPherson]

I managed to mishear the comment, I think the word used was "butty" which seems to derive from the welsh word "byti" which perhaps means little mate/pal. So nothing to do with the Durham coalfield and coal seams.

It also seems to be the source of the butty boat on the canals.

Jim

 

[tomferry]

I have read a lot of black gold stuff. I must admit the south wales coal field I haven’t read about, what I am sure of though each coal field used its own terms, it’s very similar to drainage levels -daylight level - sough etc.

Cog-pigstie-pack

It goes on and on

 

[mikem]

Voices in the Coalshed: Butty System - National Coal Mining Museum

What do you think when you hear the word 'butty'? In this week's Voices in the Coalshed, explore the connection between butty and mining.

www.ncm.org.uk

For other terms:

Pit Talk: the secret coal mine language that’s now going extinct

Remembering the powder monkeys, sparkies and dinters and their remarkable linguistic legacy.

theconversation.com

 

[ChrisB]

Much of that "secret coal mine language" is used much more widely than in coal mines. I've never beendown a coal mine but I know snap, bait, piece, marra, sparky, fitter, shot firer, banksman, etc.

 

[Cantclimbtom]

And indeed common words like gob come from coal mining (I think I read some complex etymology about middle french and a common root with gouffre, via mining to everyday English) but there's so more words that remain obscure to us non coal miners.

 

[legendrider]

When my daughter was about three, I was reading her a bedtime story book, about Ariel the Little Mermaid. Ursula the wicked sea-witch had just monologued her plot to kidnap Ariel. "Ariel will be the perfect bait when I go fishing for her father, King Neptune" she cackled.
I asked my daughter if she understood what the word 'bait' meant. "yes' she replied, "its like a packed lunch" 🥰

MARK