Dhan buoys, Dahn buoys or Dan buoys ?

[electrosys]

I've just finished making a couple of 9ft Dhan buoys, and will be including some photos of 'em in a webpage - but how to spell the name ?
I've always spelt the buoy's name as Dhan, but have noticed that other folk spell as 'Dahn' and even 'Dan' ...

Anyone happen to know the origins and maybe the 'correct' spelling ?

 

[Leighb]

No idea about origin, but I have always seen it spelt as Danbuoy in any adverts/sales info, and in the yachting press.

 

[Mariner69]

Used to be called Danbuoys when playing with mine sweepers.

 

[kesh]

the internet says etymology unknown but the word and its meaning has been around since 17th C

 

[Touchwood]

Oh Danny boy,

the pipes, the pipes are calling.

From glen to glen, and down the mountain side........

 

[Greenheart]

I'm very sure that any addition of an 'H' is mistaken. Makes it sound like a dish in a sub-continental restaurant.

Either way, the pipes, the pipes are calling... or should that be 'phipes'?

Oh, DAMMIT, Touchwood, you got in there seconds before me!!!

 

[rob2]

I have heard it said that the expression is a contraction of "danger buoy", which is what they have always been used for.

Rob.

 

[Greenheart]

I always understood that such was the buoy's typical, urgent reason for use, that language tended to colour-up a bit, and the popular wording was, at best, "...gimme that damn buoy...", and a marketable version of the phrase stuck.

No, no, I just made that up. Good one, though, wasn't it? ... No. Okay.

 

[Nigel_Ward]

It is spelt Dhan, and refers to a marker buoy used in commercial fishing. No idea of the origin but I wouldnot be surprised if it was not norse or gaelic.

I should think Dan is an americanism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_east_coast_fishery#Seine_netting

scan down this article for seine netting

 

[maxi77]

Used to be called Danbuoys when playing with mine sweepers.

That's what I thought but I was a baby stoker back then in the early 60s so I could have been wrong.

 

[maxi77]

It is spelt Dhan, and refers to a marker buoy used in commercial fishing. No idea of the origin but I wouldnot be surprised if it was not norse or gaelic.

I should think Dan is an americanism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_east_coast_fishery#Seine_netting

scan down this article for seine netting

Mind you another Wikipedia entry uses the spelling DAN only so even it is confused.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buoy

scan down to types of buoy

 

[electrosys]

Yep - 'tis confusing ...

MAIB, the MCA, and Seafish all use the spelling 'Dhan', as do GailForce Marine, Advanced Netting etc., whereas Kent & Essex Sea Fisheries byelaws refer to 'Dahn' buoys.

In the Dictionary of Ichthyology (http://www.briancoad.com/dictionary/d.htm) which appears to be quite comprehensive, both 'Dhan' and 'Dahn' are given, but not 'Dan' - even though the latter spelling appears to be quite common in the Americas.

Tracing the origins would appear to be the answer, if only this were possible. Strange - as most nautical terminology is reasonably well documented.

 

[electrosys]

OK, while I've been waiting for some epoxy to harden - I've been Googling around and may have a possible lead:

Dahn is a municipality in the Südwestpfalz district of Rhineland-Palatinate, in Germany. It's a sub-area of Dahner Felsenland which lies approx 25 km west of Landau, with the French border (Alsace) located some 10 km south of Dahn.

So what ? Well, the Coat of Arms of Dahn was re-hashed in the 1950's, but (and I quote) "the fir tree which formerly stood alone as the symbol of Dahn has been retained as a memorial to the name of the town, the old seal of the Court and the scenic location of the city in the Palatinate Forest".

A fir tree which stood alone .... a fir tree buoy - well, maybe - it's a seductive idea. Best so far.

 

[kesh]

a marker buoy in Danish seine fishing is more likely

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seine_fishing#Danish_seine

the history section singles out the use of a buoy in this form of fishing

 

[Rigger Mortice]

the internet says etymology unknown but the word and its meaning has been around since 17th C

That's what the OED says and gives the spelling as "Dan Buoy".

Personally, I would always give more credence to the OED than Wikipeadia.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

That's what the OED says and gives the spelling as "Dan Buoy".

Personally, I would always give more credence to the OED than Wikipeadia.

It also doesn't include either "dhan" or "dahn". I never saw either of these forms until recently; when I was a boy, it was universally "Dan buoy". I reckon people just can't believe it is that simple, and try and replicate a south of England pronunciation!

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Confusion

"MOB, throw the Dan Buoy"
"No need to use that tone on me young man"
"No the Dan Buoy, the MOB marker, throw the Dan Bouy"
"I told you stop using that tone, and there is no point being exasperated about it, repeating it wont make me do it any more, you can just say you are sorry"
"Sorry, now launch the bloody Dan Boy!"
"You have upset me now, I am going below"
"Hans, launch the Dan Buoy"
"Ve has a man in vater, vi you vant to mark a fissin net"
"This is why you lost the war"
"vat?"
"You lost the bloody war because you are pedantic"
"Vi cant you leev it alone, its avways abot her war wiv you"
"F*&k it"
"Ya F%$k you to, im going velo as vell"
"Can anyone see the MOB?"

 

[electrosys]

FWIW, the International Maritime Organization were consulted regarding the Marking of Fishing Gear, and in the resulting document: (http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/003/W3591E/w3591e04.htm)
the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation uses the spelling 'Dhan' buoy, whilst at the same time using the generic term 'Spar Buoy' which appears, as far as I can see, to be exactly the same thing.

 

[jellylegs]

has to be DAN,
regards,
dan!

 

[reeac]

baby stoker .

???