Dead light snobery?

Murdo I take it from your comments that you are Escosse, which is why the french look after you - wether from guilt or amusement I'm not sure but they used you cruelly in the bad old days, if only from the view that any enemy of the English can be used to our advantage no matter how stupid they are!! An example being the Jacobite debacle! One of the cheapest foreign policy adventures that the French were actually fairly sucessful in!!

 

Walrus, my earlier point about the French helping Brits in Africa was told to me by English ex-colonialists. The French have never had to help me although they are always there for any Europeans in need.
I don't think they helped old Ecosse that much either. We were not the enemy of the English, only the defenders of our country against your invading armies.
I know we are stupid, stupid enough to send our taxes to an ungrateful exchequer in a country that has been proven by the recent release of 30 year-old documents to have been telling us blatent lies.
The Jacobite debacle, as you call it, was to do with Religion and the Monarchy and happened after the union of our countries. Scots fought on both sides as did other nationalities.

Murdo

 

Murdo your right in your own way!! Talking of taxes and things it would appear that you are in the process of getting your revenge, our present goverment is run by the Scots who whilst lining their own pockets (in the traditional manner) are ruining the country, blinded by their hate for all things English. What they convienietly forget is that without the English their would be no Scotland, it would have sunk years ago, and the most damage done to the Scots was by other Scots, again the Jacobite rebellion and the Highland Clearances come to mind!!

 

Not returned to round deadlights yet, but those of us with Irish ancestry find it ironic, indeed, that one of our Scot cousins is raising taxes on the English. On his own also, true, but that's the price of unity.

The Scots, of course are descendents of the Irish who crossed the the narrow channel to the Mull of Kintyre from Ulster, then spread out, winning many battles against the Picts. Scotti is Latin, the name given by the Romans to the fierce warriors from Ireland who harassed them constantly. Much later the Brits returned the favor by means of Plantation. Neither the Irish nor the Scots have ever made life easy for the Brits.

 

We need to remember that the poor reputation the French have been given is, like the image of America in recent years, largely a product of government policy. Individuals in France are like the rest of us: some good, some bad, and some ugly.

And some damn good tri sailors!

 

I was hoping for some determination on what a "deadlight" is in the maritime context.... I was of the view that it was those rectangular glass cubes mounted on a raised box on the deck above the "galley" and the panels could open a bit to let out the smoke of cooking over a fire in a sandbox - but were mostly kept shut so the fire was not extinguished.... The few pics I have seen (I cannot find any now, even on google) - the box and related parts were of robust construction - sufficient that a sailor falling from the yards would not penetrate into the hull

 

Surprisingly, I've discovered 3 definitons:
1) A portlight which does not open.
2) A watertight glass or prism mounted in the deck or cabin top which lets light below.
3) A heavy cover over a porthole which keeps out light and water.

Then there is:
portlight (n): The heavy glass cover for a porthole that can be opened for air, or dogged shut when the seas are rough. See Also: deadlight

 

Talking of your Irish ancestors Charlie (fine warriors were the galloglass / Wild Geese, tho' of different era's - the English have locked horns with them on many occasion, not always to our advantage - enough!) you did realise they gav e the Scots the bagpipes - the Scots haven't seen the joke yet!! That'll get Bergalia back if nothing else will!

 

Thanks Charlie, Your point 2 was my understanding... I would gladly give you some points - but I am not allowed - maybe Safie will loan me a few so to speak and award you with some positive feedback - Please...

Safie, Bergs seems to sneak on briefly - in the more "sober" threads - and "disappear" suddenly - I guess he is pre-occupied with "serious womens business?"

 

Missy Lee your wish is my command, points transmitted (actually I was surprised I was allowed to give Charlie some as I gave him a few not long back, obviously longer than I thought!!) But I favour point number 3 - that's the way I was brought up!!

 

Ahhh so you are post "square rigger" - in education/indoctrination. - - I feel History is the thing & I recall (pictures from my early learning books - encyclopaedias) those grain/wool clippers doing the Aussy/Europe run.... I could read and write longhand before age 5 thanks to Great Grand Mother who was a teacher - and traveller -she taught in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), India, Japan and Croydon (Goldfields in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia)

 

Portlights, chips, and the French...

Hmm, "portlight (n): The heavy glass cover for a porthole that can be opened for air, or dogged shut when the seas are rough. See Also: deadlight"

I think I see the connection! Perhaps it was through the deadlight that the French were able to pass chips from one boat to another in bad weather, hence the "French Fry". All it took was a bit of logic and all of the helpful comments in my runaway thread

 

Glad we could be of assistance, - - clodgo - - I am inclined not to favour Safies choice on historical grounds - which after all is very important in things maritime...

 

clodgo,

We would not have been showing any respect if we had just told you the relationship. We knew you were bright enough to make The French Connection on your own!

 

OK, now I get it. A portlight is supposed to open. So a portlight that does not open is a ....(drum roll, brrrrrrrrrrrrrr) ... deadlight!