Etymology

[János]

Hello,

The blade holder of Bailey pattern bench planes is called "frog" in English. Does anybody know, how could this have happened? I find this name quite mysterious, as the aforementioned part does not resemble a real frog at all.

Have a nice day,

János

 

[Jacob]

I thought it did look vaguely frog shaped - a triangular lump tapering towards the top, crouched between the sides of the plane. My money is on the actual frog!

 

[János]

Hello,

I understand what you have mean: in a side view it very, very loosely and vaguely resembles a crouching frog, maybe... All my fault, I associate "frog" with something like this:

Or the Brazilian dart frog, maybe:

Have a nice day,

János

 

[János]

Hello,

And Leonard Bailey... was he himself the godfather? Or was the name given by the journeymen? After some drink, perhaps...

Have a nice day,

János

 

[Jacob]

...

There you go! That reminds me very much of a rusty old no5 which I found in a pond!

 

[Phil Pascoe]

The frog on a plane doesn't look like a frog (amphibian) or a frog (part of a horses hoof) or a frog (the hollow in a brick) or a frog (on the shoulder of a uniform).........I think there's more.

 

[Anima]

The device that attaches a bayonet scabbard to your belt is also called a frog.

 

[Jacob]

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=frog
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frog#Etymo ... d_taxonomy

Hey Janos there is a Y in etymology! Fixed

http://www.violinist.com/discussion/res ... fm?ID=8725

 

[baldpate]

Even that font of all knowledge on the English Language - the Oxford English Dictionary - doesn't mention this sense of the noun "frog", let alone it's etymology. I've submitted it as a new sense : wait 10 years and you'll probably find this thread cited! Meanwhile, I'm with Jacob - shape of the crouching amphibian.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

The device that attaches a bayonet scabbard to your belt is also called a frog.

As is the wire/steel device steel erectors wear on the belt to carry spanners, now I think about it.

 

[János]

Dear Jacob,

Forgive me, but I am a little bit overloaded with the different spellings of greco-roman words in the different European languages. In my mother tongue, we write/spell the Greek word "etymología" as "etimológia". In German it is "etymologie", in French "étymologie", and "etymology" in English. I lose control of this "orderly chaos" at times.

Have a nice day,

János

 

[AndyT]

So if it's not in the OED is the field really open for us to find the earliest recorded use? A Bailey patent perhaps? A Stanley catalogue? I've no idea!

 

[Vann]

The device that attaches a bayonet scabbard to your belt is also called a frog.

As is the wire/steel device steel erectors wear on the belt to carry spanners, now I think about it.

As is part of a set of railway points (or "turnout" if Americanisms are allowed). It's the part where two rails "cross" over each other forming a triangular or Vee shape.

I wonder if that's related to the triangular or Vee shape of a woodplane frog?

Cheers, Vann.

 

[János]

Hello,

I have searched Leonard Bailey and Stanley patents. What I have found so far:

Have a nice day,

János

 

[János]

Hello,

Two other patents describe the Bedrock style frog, and the standard Bailey frog, but these call it "knife carrier".

The US536746, applied in 1895 by Traut, Justus E.
The US545732, applied in 1895 by Schade, Edmund A.

I am quite sure now, that the use of the term "frog" to denote the "knife carrier" (which it is, in fact) was a "Stanleyizm"... the bloody Americans... "commonly termed a frog".... as we call it. :wink:

"Knife carrier" was not sexy enough for the marketing dept, I suspect.

Have a nice day,

János

 

[GazPal]

Hello,

Two other patents describe the Bedrock style frog, and the standard Bailey frog, but these call it "knife carrier".

The US536746, applied in 1895 by Traut, Justus E.
The US545732, applied in 1895 by Schade, Edmund A.

I am quite sure now, that the use of the term "frog" to denote the "knife carrier" (which it is, in fact) was a "Stanleyizm"... the bloody Americans... "commonly termed a frog".... as we call it. :wink:

"Knife carrier" was not sexy enough for the marketing dept, I suspect.

Have a nice day,

János

The shape of older bayonet frogs may help explain, as they do look similar to the top view of a frog.

Thankfully we no longer use the latin name for knife/sword sheath or scabbard, because it would get us into all sorts of trouble with the fairer sex.

 

[János]

Hello,

Dear Gary, the ******rius was a respected craftsman in old Britain.

Perhaps my imagination is not keen enough,

but this lump of cast iron is neither "frogish", nor "scabbardish", so to speak.

The boys at Stanley invented the movable "knife carrier" in 1895, and in 1902 they said it was "commonly termed a frog".

It would be great to find the firs appearance of the use of "frog", I am sure it appeared in an early printed advert.

Have a nice day,

János

 

[GazPal]

I already knew scabbard makers were highly valued by those owning knives and swords

Frog

Frog

Unsure which is which :lol:

 

[graduate_owner]

So does anyone know why the indentation in house bricks are referred to as frogs? It seems to me these amphibians get around a bit. And if you have one of those small planes that fit snugly in the hand, would the corresponding part be a tadpole?

K

 

[GazPal]

So does anyone know why the indentation in house bricks are referred to as frogs? It seems to me these amphibians get around a bit. And if you have one of those small planes that fit snugly in the hand, would the corresponding part be a tadpole?

K

The mould used when making frogged house bricks is shaped to form a hollow which saves clay during the brickmaking process. In the Netherlands the central element of the mould - which forms the hollow - is called kikker. When translated to English it means frog. :wink:

Tadpole planes should never be taken from the wild, due to their growing scarcity. If ever you happen to see a tadpole plane for sale on evilbay, or elsewhere, please report the seller asap to the "Tadpoles In Trouble Society" and they'll hop, skip and jump at the chance to prosecute.