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Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

Destraler

English answer:

axeman

Added to glossary by Lisa McCarthy
Jul 5, 2018 08:24
5 yrs ago
1 viewer *
English term

Destraler

English Other History Moros y Cristianos festival
This is actually a Catalan word but I can't find an English equivalent so I thought I would provide a definition in the hope that someone can come up with the right term, if one specific term exists in English.

A 'destraler' is a soldier who, in battles, clears the passage of obstacles for the other soldiers as they march, using various tools such as axes, sticks, hammers, etc.
Responses
3 +3 axeman
3 +5 path-clearer
4 trail clearer

Discussion

Alison MacG Jul 11, 2018:
@Lisa Thanks. I have now posted axeman. I was reluctant to do so earlier, feeling a bit out of my comfort zone having no Catalan or Spanish. Glad I was able to help.
Lisa McCarthy (asker) Jul 11, 2018:
Axemen Hi Alison, can you post your comment re 'axemen'? I've decided on this term for my translation and would like to give you the points and enter it into the glossary :-)
airmailrpl Jul 6, 2018:
"hatchet men" "Destralers" -> "Hacheros" + 'destral' -> small axe -> hand-axe => hatchet ...thus it would seem that they were "hatchet men" - though that term has a different meaning now
JohnMcDove Jul 5, 2018:
Here is a picture - http://fiestademorosycristianos.blogspot.com/2014/07/
https://www.google.com/search?biw=1536&bih=854&tbm=isch&sa=1...

Tras los mercenarios del mar, Destralers, también marchando a ritmo de batukada, y con su capitán, Fran Tonda, liderando el contingente a hombros de un ariete gigante.
The 3rd picture here, https://www.diarioinformacion.com/servicios/multimedia/image...
JohnMcDove Jul 5, 2018:
Pues, sí. Y obviamente, la etimología es esta: (Aunque sea en manchego...) http://etimologias.dechile.net/?destral. Existe en español también con el mismo significado: http://dle.rae.es/?id=DUifeAM Pero "destralero" en español es el que las fabrica. En la otra respuesta, también se habla de "zapador"... https://www.proz.com/kudoz/catalan_to_english/tourism_travel... Ooops, I went "native" on my comment here. The first image here, is applicable, https://www.google.com/search?biw=1536&bih=854&tbm=isch&sa=1...
Helena Chavarria Jul 5, 2018:
@Charles Yes, farmers use them to get rid of suckers or relatively slim branches that get in the way. They also use them to 'peel' branches used to prop up heavy branches that are laden with fruit.
Charles Davis Jul 5, 2018:
But when it's an axe it seems to be a hand-axe, the kind you can use with one hand, not a felling axe.
Charles Davis Jul 5, 2018:
@Helena It seems to be standard Catalan:
http://www.enciclopedia.cat/EC-GEC-0098566.xml

There is a Valencian variant, "estral":
https://ca.wiktionary.org/wiki/estral
Helena Chavarria Jul 5, 2018:
In Tortosa, a town lying between Castellón and Tarragona, a 'destral' is a small axe. My husband's got one!

https://glosbe.com/ca/en/destral
Charles Davis Jul 5, 2018:
Well done, Alison! We've been working from the wrong definition. There are festivals of Moors and Christians in many places, but now that I look I see that the only place where "destralers" are mentioned is Vila Joiosa in Alicante. And they are a company, which used to be called the "hacheros", which means axemen:

""Destralers" es una de las formaciones más antiguas de la localidad ya que fue refundada en 1983 a partir de la antigua compañía "Hacheros". "
https://ocio.diarioinformacion.com/agenda/noticias/nws-25021...

I think you should post this. It's clearly right. But also the question should probably be changed to Catalan-English (or perhaps Valencian-English).
Alison MacG Jul 5, 2018:
Could it simply be axeman? Diccionari enciclopèdic català
DESTRALER m. Mil. Soldat armat d'una destral Hachero
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=9whPAAAAYAAJ&q="destrale...
MOORS AND CHRISTIANS 2016
At 9 PM. CHRISTIAN PARADE.
The parade will start from C/Colón and will continue through Avenida País Valencià to Plaza de la Generalitat, where it will end.
The Christian Troops will march in the following order: Drums, Associació Santa Marta Flag, “Caçadors” (Hunters), “Pescadors” (Fishermen), Catalans (Catalonians) , Artillería Cristiana (Christian Artillery), Contrabandistes (Smugglers), Pirates, Destralers (Axemen), Llauradors (Peasants), Almogavers, “Marinos” (Sailors), to finish with “Voluntaris” (Volunteers) and the Christian King with his escort.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?complete=0&biw=1280&bih=845&...
Jack Doughty Jul 5, 2018:
Pioneer "Pioneer" might do, or "pioneer troops", but not confident enough about this to enter it as an answer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Pioneer_Corps
Lisa McCarthy (asker) Jul 5, 2018:
Moors & Christians The term is mentioned is the context of the battle between the Moors and Christians (I'm translating a text about the 'Moros y Cristianos' festival in Spain), so the term may not even exist today. Or maybe no English equivalent ever existed.
Arabic & More Jul 5, 2018:
Perhaps it depends on the specific environment in which this is taking place. "Jungle clearer" comes to mind as one possibility (for the jungle). (Not saying that's the official term, though.)
Tony M Jul 5, 2018:
In modern terms... ... I guess that would be done by the Royal Engineers (GB)

Responses

+3
6 days
Selected

axeman

Please see discussion

Diccionari enciclopèdic català
DESTRALER m. Mil. Soldat armat d'una destral Hachero
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=9whPAAAAYAAJ&q="destrale...

MOORS AND CHRISTIANS 2016
At 9 PM. CHRISTIAN PARADE.
The parade will start from C/Colón and will continue through Avenida País Valencià to Plaza de la Generalitat, where it will end.
The Christian Troops will march in the following order: Drums, Associació Santa Marta Flag, “Caçadors” (Hunters), “Pescadors” (Fishermen), Catalans (Catalonians) , Artillería Cristiana (Christian Artillery), Contrabandistes (Smugglers), Pirates, Destralers (Axemen), Llauradors (Peasants), Almogavers, “Marinos” (Sailors), to finish with “Voluntaris” (Volunteers) and the Christian King with his escort.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?source=hp&ei=OMlFW4SEBsLjsAf...

(hopefully the links will work this time)

Note from asker:
Many thanks for your help, Alison!
Peer comment(s):
agree Charles Davis : With research skills of this quality, you don't really need to know the language :-)
5 mins
Thank you very much, Charles!
agree Helena Chavarria
29 mins
Thanks, Helena
agree JohnMcDove : Ditto. :-) /.../ You're welcome! :-)
1 day 5 hrs
Many thanks, John - and also for the useful links and pictures!
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you all for your help with this!"
+5
43 mins

path-clearer

I don't think this is a formal army term, but I can't think of/find one that refers specifically to this function. It does at least describe what these people do. I once saw a Festival of Moors and Christians in Spain, and I remember there was a person who walked from side to side in front of his group in the procession with a broom, sweeping their path in a more or less symbolic way. That must be the "destaler".

"Path-clearers" are mentioned by John Masefield in his (first-hand) account of the Battle of the Somme in 1916, so perhaps it is or was a recognised job:

"All over the field the glimmers and bursts of fire lit little places and showed groups of men at work -- path-clearers, signalers, carriers -- preparing for the morrow. In parts of the field, even at midnight, hand-to-hand fighting went on for trenches, and bits of trenches which the fighters could not see."
http://leoklein.com/itp/somme/texts/masefield_1919.html


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Note added at 7 hrs (2018-07-05 15:25:32 GMT)
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I am sure Alison is right and that the translation in this context is "axemen". I hope she posts this answer.
Peer comment(s):
agree Tony M
25 mins
Thanks, Tony!
agree Jack Doughty
48 mins
Thanks, Jack!
agree B D Finch
2 hrs
Thanks, Barbara
agree JohnMcDove : http://dilc.org/destraler/ Soldat proveït de les eines adequades, com destrals, pales, etc., per a netejar els camins i preparar-los per al pas de les tropes. / Either way, "axemen" or "X-men"... ;-))
7 hrs
Thanks, John, but yes, axemen: they used to be called the "hacheros" until they were Catalanised/Valencianised in the 1980s (see discussion).
agree NishantM
4 days
Thanks, Nishan :-)
Something went wrong...
3 hrs

trail clearer

destraler => trail clearer

CIA ANALYST JOHN SEABURY THOMSON DIES AT 77 - The ...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/...at.../055d12b5-0c6c-44a4-b...
Aug 5, 1998 - ... who was captured while on an intelligence assignment for the Army Air ... Mr. Thomson volunteered as a trail clearer on the Appalachian Trail ...

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Note added at 1 day 2 hrs (2018-07-06 11:08:05 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Bloody Pacific: American Soldiers at War with Japan
https://books.google.com.br/books?isbn=0230292305
P. Schrijvers - 2010 - ‎History
Men from the 1st Marine Division, for instance, lauded the raccoon, coyote, and ... their stalking skills, and their crucial roles as camp protectors and trail clearers. ... You have the feeling he would go out in the woods with an axe and build a ...
Something went wrong...
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