Peter, The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary does not give 'steng' but gives 'stang' as simpley 'a measure of land'. How Heavy,How Much, and How Long?' by Colin R Chapman, Lochin Publishing, 1995. ISBN 1 873686 09 9 defines a 'stang' as equivalent to one acre, though the exact area would vary according to the type of soil, since the definition is 'the area that a team of 8 oxen could plough in a morning. Regards, Chris Watson
Dear Chris Thanks for your research which is interesting as it contradicts what I found in Websters Unabridged Dictionary of 1913 which is on the web: Stang, n. [OE. stange, of Scand. or Dutch origin; cf. Icel. stöng, akin to Dan. stang, Sw. stång, D. stang, G. stange, OHG. stanga, AS. steng; from the root of E. sting.] 1. A long bar; a pole; a shaft; a stake. 2. In land measure, a pole, rod, or perch. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Swift. To ride the stang, to be carried on a pole on men's shoulders. This method of punishing wife beaters, etc., was once in vogue in some parts of England. I like the last bit but definition 2. fits my context very well. The deed I have says '3 acres and 3 steng in East Field' at Tunstall. It does look as if 'steng' is just an alternative spelling of 'stang' that that it means 'rod,pole or perch' presumably in the local Holderness vernacular. Regards, Peter --- "C. J. Watson" <cjw283@cjw283.fsnet.co.uk> wrote: > Peter, > > The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary does not give 'steng' but gives > 'stang' as simpley 'a measure of land'. > > How Heavy,How Much, and How Long?' by Colin R Chapman, Lochin > Publishing, 1995. ISBN 1 873686 09 9 defines a 'stang' as equivalent > to one acre, though the exact area would vary according to the type of > soil, since the definition is 'the area that a team of 8 oxen could > plough in a morning. > > Regards, > Chris Watson > ===== P O Box A 2327 Sydney South NSW 1235 Australia tel (Int) +612 9363 5195 (Aus) (02) 9363 5195 fax (Int) +612 9326 1737 (Aus) (02) 9326 1737 email rookepb@yahoo.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Everything you'll ever need on one web page from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts http://uk.my.yahoo.com