Pushing and pulling (idle curiosity)

[Twister_Ken]

Anybody know the origin of the words pulpit and pushpit?

I can see that pulpit might come from the ecclesiastical 'where a preacher rants from' - or is it vice-versa?

 

[Guest]

Hi I have an old book back in uk which explains all the terminology (not the latest acronyms as used on these forums tho) and its very intresting but i can never remember them. the amount of different names for a rope is amazing so i just say "pull that string or string it up" (it realy gets up the noses of the politicaly correct) a good thread

Beth

 

[SimonD]

According to the OED, the origin of "pulpit" is Middle English, from the Latin "pulpitum" meaning scaffold or platform. That same worthy tome tells us that "pushpit" is a humorous formation suggested by pulpit, originating in the 1960's. Doesn't say how they knew that or who the humorist was!

Curiosity satisfied?

 

[AndrewB]

Quote from Moby Dick

Not sure whether it has any relevance, but interesting:

"Like most old fashioned pulpits, it was a very lofty one, and since a regular stairs to such a height would, by its long angle with the floor, seriously contract the already small area of the chapel, the architect, it seemed, had acted upon the hint of Father Mapple, and finished the pulpit without a stairs, substituting a perpendicular side ladder, like those used in mounting a ship from a boat at sea. The wife of a whaling captain had provided the chapel with a handsome pair of red worsted man-ropes for this ladder, which, being itself nicely headed, and stained with a mahogany color, the whole contrivance, considering what manner of chapel it was, seemed by no means in bad taste. Halting for an instant at the foot of the ladder, and with both hands grasping the ornamental knobs of the man-ropes, Father Mapple cast a look upwards, and then with a truly sailorlike but still reverential dexterity, hand over hand, mounted the steps as if ascending the main-top of his vessel.

"The perpendicular parts of this side ladder, as is usually the case with swinging ones, were of cloth-covered rope, only the rounds were of wood, so that at every step there was a joint. At my first glimpse of the pulpit, it had not escaped me that however convenient for a ship, these joints in the present instance seemed unnecessary. For I was not prepared to see Father Mapple after gaining the height, slowly turn round, and stooping over the pulpit, deliberately drag up the ladder step by step, till the whole was deposited within, leaving him impregnable in his little Quebec.

"I pondered some time without fully comprehending the reason for this. Father Mapple enjoyed such a wide reputation for sincerity and sanctity, that I could not suspect him of courting notoriety by any mere tricks of the stage. No, thought I, there must be some sober reason for this thing; furthermore, it must symbolize something unseen. Can it be, then, that by that act of physical isolation, he signifies his spiritual withdrawal for the time, from all outward worldly ties and connexions? Yes, for replenished with the meat and wine of the word, to the faithful man of God, this pulpit, I see, is a self-containing stronghold - a lofty Ehrenbreitstein, with a perennial well of water within the walls.

"But the side ladder was not the only strange feature of the place, borrowed from the chaplain's former sea-farings. Between the marble cenotaphs on either hand of the pulpit, the wall which formed its back was adorned with a large painting representing a gallant ship beating against a terrible storm off a lee coast of black rocks and snowy breakers. But high above the flying scud and dark-rolling clouds, there floated a little isle of sunlight, from which beamed forth an angel's face; and this bright face shed a distinct spot of radiance upon the ship's tossed deck, something like that silver plate now inserted into the Victory's plank where Nelson fell. "Ah, noble ship," the angel seemed to say, "beat on, beat on, thou noble ship, and bear a hardy helm; for lo! the sun is breaking through; the clouds are rolling off - serenest azure is at hand."

"Nor was the pulpit itself without a trace of the same sea-taste that had achieved the ladder and the picture. Its panelled front was in the likeness of a ship's bluff bows, and the Holy Bible rested on the projecting piece of scroll work, fashioned after a ship's fiddle-headed beak.

"What could be more full of meaning? - for the pulpit is ever this earth's foremost part; all the rest comes in its rear; the pulpit leads the world. From thence it is the storm of God's quick wrath is first descried, and the bow must bear the earliest brunt. From thence it is the God of breezes fair or foul is first invoked for favorable winds. Yes, the world's a ship on its passage out, and not a voyage complete; and the pulpit is its prow."

 

[Twister_Ken]

Re: Quote from Moby Dick

Andrew, many, many thanks. Uplifting to be sure.

 

[chrisc]

Re: Quote from Moby Dick

thank you I enjoyed that.....must read the book again

 

[Guest]

What the hell is a \"pushpit\"

Pushpit is a nasty word - surely it is a stern pulpit? I think it is only used in the UK. There are other really naff words in our sport , such as "repowering" ... this to be a less painful way of saying "I just spent £9000 having my engine replaced".

 

[brian_neale]

Re: What the hell is a \"pushpit\"

I can remember all the arguments about the use of "pushpit" (which I am sure is a "humourous" derivation from pulpit) many years ago in the magazines, where the good old-fashioned "taffrail" was the approved word.

 

[Mirelle]

Re: What the hell is a \"pushpit\"

But surely the taffrail is a differen bit of boat altogether? I think it is the continuation of the bulwark rail round the stern. I have a taffrail log - a Walker Excelsior - which certainly fits to the taffrail and certainly would not fit to a pushpit.

 

[tristan]

I think the main point is, is doesn't matter what it is called as long as every body on board knows exactly what you are talking about; a friend of mine quite frequently goes 'downstairs' to the 'toilet' - as he so elequently puts it. It annoys the hell out of me, but doesn't really matter a damn; sailing, after all, is for fun is it not??

 

[alant]

A 'pushpit'surely is what you grip onto when trying to 'bump start' your engine. remembering of course to slip it into forward gear when the crew (running on the wavetops) have got your boatspeed up to 3 knots+, otherwise the prop won't turn quickly enough to get a result !!