pijnder

English translation: porter; docker

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Dutch term or phrase:pijnder
English translation:porter; docker
Entered by: Michael Beijer

20:48 Aug 11, 2011
Dutch to English translations [PRO]
Ships, Sailing, Maritime / Dockworkers
Dutch term or phrase: pijnder
The term "pijnder" is an old (14th century) term for a dockworker who belonged to a guild that had privileged or exclusive access to ships for loading and unloading.
They also were responsible for filling wine cellars.

In Belgium (Dendermonde), there is festival of the Ros Beiaard, where a huge horse is carried through the town with 4 brothers atop. The people who carry this horse are also called "Pijnders".

I cannot find an equivalent English word. Anyone out there who can help?
Thanks.
Christopher Gemerchak
Belgium
Local time: 09:21
porter
Explanation:
"Several craft guilds in Ghent and Bruges, such as the weavers’ and fullers’ guilds in both cities, established hospitals for the infirm (godshuus). These institutions were financed by charitable gifts and the real estate holdings of the hospital – comparable to the revenue sources of the ‘poor tables’.62 This institutionalized solidarity provided needy craftsmen, usually sick, widowed or old, with various benefits, including financial support for the funerals of deceased members. But, as was common in this corporate society, only guild members were allowed to enjoy these services. The 1291 privilege of the porters (the ***pijnders***) of Bruges, for example, stipulates that each member (and only members) would receive a replacement income of 0.5 d.gr.Fl. from the guild administration if he fell ill." "A targeted public: public services in fifteenth-century Ghent and Bruges", by Jelle Haemersa and Wouter Ryckboscha (http://goo.gl/yVKBK) ()

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Note added at 49 mins (2011-08-11 21:38:10 GMT)
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It seems the terms "porter" and "docker" are used interchangeably for "pijnder".

See e.g.,

"This magnificent square dominated by the statue of Jan van Eyck, one of Bruges’ greatest painters, is located at the end of a canal called the Spiegelrei, the ‘Mirror Canal’. We can see the Porter’s Lodge, the Old Toll House and the Pijndershuis. The Porters’ Lodge at present serves as the Royal Archives, but was at the time a gathering place and relaxation centre for well-to-do Bruges burghers, porters and foreign merchants. From a niche in the façade the little Bear-of-Bruges, one of the oldest and most prominent inhabitants of the city, looks down on the street. The building dates from the 15th century and has a richly decorated spire.
(...)
The more richly decorated buildings are the Pijndershouse and the old Toll House.They are yet another reminder of the busy trade which was once carried out here. In 1477, the Lords of Luxembourg used to exact a toll on the ship’s cargoes which passed through the hands of the ‘pijnders’ or dockers, a company of men who had sworn an oath to accurately register all handled goods." (http://www.impressionsofbrugge.be/pdf/IOBBookletsmall.pdf)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 50 mins (2011-08-11 21:39:49 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"On the left of the Tonliew is the slightly more modest edifice and it belonged to the guild of the Pijnders (porters and dockers). Its patron saints, St. John the Baptist, St. John the Evangelist, St. George and St. Lambert, can be seen just above the entry door."(http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Belgium/Provinci...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 52 mins (2011-08-11 21:41:37 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"On the corner 16th-century Huis De Roode Steen has been sparkling in all its glory since its restoration in 1877. At numbers 1-2 is the Old Tollhouse (1477) 38 , where all tollage was settled. To the left of this monumental building is Pijndershuisje, Bruges' narrowest dwelling. The house belonged to a pijnder or docker, a name that you r can easily derive from its telling façade, that is if you keep your eyes peeled. The hunched pijnders were employed to load and unload sacks and casks. A gleaming terrestrial globe proudly sits on top of Boechoute, the house on the corner." (http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:a9RdUiL...
Selected response from:

Michael Beijer
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:21
Grading comment
Nice work. Thanks.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1porter
Michael Beijer
3Stevedore
Clair Richards
3bearer
FionaT


  

Answers


17 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Stevedore


Explanation:
A stevedore unloads ships but maybe stevedore alone doesn't quite describe the priviledged status of the pijnder.

Clair Richards
Netherlands
Local time: 09:21
Native speaker of: English
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42 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
porter


Explanation:
"Several craft guilds in Ghent and Bruges, such as the weavers’ and fullers’ guilds in both cities, established hospitals for the infirm (godshuus). These institutions were financed by charitable gifts and the real estate holdings of the hospital – comparable to the revenue sources of the ‘poor tables’.62 This institutionalized solidarity provided needy craftsmen, usually sick, widowed or old, with various benefits, including financial support for the funerals of deceased members. But, as was common in this corporate society, only guild members were allowed to enjoy these services. The 1291 privilege of the porters (the ***pijnders***) of Bruges, for example, stipulates that each member (and only members) would receive a replacement income of 0.5 d.gr.Fl. from the guild administration if he fell ill." "A targeted public: public services in fifteenth-century Ghent and Bruges", by Jelle Haemersa and Wouter Ryckboscha (http://goo.gl/yVKBK) ()

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 49 mins (2011-08-11 21:38:10 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

It seems the terms "porter" and "docker" are used interchangeably for "pijnder".

See e.g.,

"This magnificent square dominated by the statue of Jan van Eyck, one of Bruges’ greatest painters, is located at the end of a canal called the Spiegelrei, the ‘Mirror Canal’. We can see the Porter’s Lodge, the Old Toll House and the Pijndershuis. The Porters’ Lodge at present serves as the Royal Archives, but was at the time a gathering place and relaxation centre for well-to-do Bruges burghers, porters and foreign merchants. From a niche in the façade the little Bear-of-Bruges, one of the oldest and most prominent inhabitants of the city, looks down on the street. The building dates from the 15th century and has a richly decorated spire.
(...)
The more richly decorated buildings are the Pijndershouse and the old Toll House.They are yet another reminder of the busy trade which was once carried out here. In 1477, the Lords of Luxembourg used to exact a toll on the ship’s cargoes which passed through the hands of the ‘pijnders’ or dockers, a company of men who had sworn an oath to accurately register all handled goods." (http://www.impressionsofbrugge.be/pdf/IOBBookletsmall.pdf)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 50 mins (2011-08-11 21:39:49 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"On the left of the Tonliew is the slightly more modest edifice and it belonged to the guild of the Pijnders (porters and dockers). Its patron saints, St. John the Baptist, St. John the Evangelist, St. George and St. Lambert, can be seen just above the entry door."(http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Belgium/Provinci...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 52 mins (2011-08-11 21:41:37 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"On the corner 16th-century Huis De Roode Steen has been sparkling in all its glory since its restoration in 1877. At numbers 1-2 is the Old Tollhouse (1477) 38 , where all tollage was settled. To the left of this monumental building is Pijndershuisje, Bruges' narrowest dwelling. The house belonged to a pijnder or docker, a name that you r can easily derive from its telling façade, that is if you keep your eyes peeled. The hunched pijnders were employed to load and unload sacks and casks. A gleaming terrestrial globe proudly sits on top of Boechoute, the house on the corner." (http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:a9RdUiL...

Michael Beijer
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:21
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 15
Grading comment
Nice work. Thanks.
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks for this! It is exactly what I was looking for, as the environment of the text is Bruges in the Van Eyck time period. Only cause for slight doubt is the distinction made between the "Porters' Lodge" and the "Pijnders' House", but this is likely insignificant.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Alexander Schleber (X): excellent references! ;-)
9 hrs
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10 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
bearer


Explanation:
I don't really think there is a translation that covers all aspects. In this specific context in which they carry the woorden horse, 'bearers' (dragers) might be worth considering. The wikipedia page on Ros Beiaard Dendermonde uses "a guild of bearers" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ros_Beiaard_Dendermonde) . The use of the word 'guild' does express the privileged status to some extent, so if the context permits, it may be a good idea to add it.
Or you may have to consider leaving it untranslated.

FionaT
Netherlands
Local time: 09:21
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in DutchDutch
PRO pts in category: 8
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks. The Dendermonde reference was more of a side reference, as I am really looking for the term for the dockers. Could have made that more clear.

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