Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Sep 23, 2005 11:36
18 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Spanish term
cisco (here)
Spanish to English
Other
Environment & Ecology
Tenerife - traditional activities
La madera de retama, especie vegetal que crece abundante en la zona de Las Cañadas, fue utilizada en tiempos pasados para elaborar carbón. La técnica era la habitual en estos casos: acumular la leña en las llamadas carboneras, cubrirla de arena y prenderle fuego, de manera que ardiese la madera con muy poco oxígeno. Así se conseguía carbón vegetal.
También recogían el ***cisco***, que no era sino hojarasca y restos vegetales caídos y acumulados al pie de los arbustos. Se utilizaba para abonar los campos de plataneras. A menudo, se hacía servir previamente como cama del ganado, de manera que se acumulasen en él los nutrientes contenidos en la orina de las reses. La demanda de retama y de ***cisco*** era tal, que el Ayuntamiento de Orotava convocaba periódicas subastas de estos productos ante la demanda de los agricultores.
***
I had thought that 'cisco' meant 'small pieces of charcoal' - and the RAE defines it as: 'carbón vegetal menudo'. However, this does not seem to be the definition they give in my text. It sounds more like some kind of mulch. Or am I misunderstanding the text - when they say 'hojarasca y restos vegetales caídos y acumulados al pie de los arbustos' , maybe they are referring to small pieces of charcoal (made of broom) that have been blown out of the charcoal fire and landed amongst the shrubs? I am not 100% sure. This text I found on the Internet, also talks about 'cisco de retama' being used as fertiliser:
***
http://nti.educa.rcanaria.es/penelope/confcoderch.htm
De igual manera se puede detectar la explotación del azufre de las fumarolas del Teide, y en el primer cuarto del siglo XX la explotación del ***cisco de retama***, usado como mantillo orgánico en las fincas de plataneras. Por otra parte, las extensas formaciones de retamar, tajinaste y hierba pajonera de Las Cañadas, suponían el traslado de las colmenas a las cumbres durante la primavera y comienzos del verano para explotar la miel de retama.
So, I am still not sure how to translate 'cisco' in my text.
And ideas would be greatly appreciated!
Many thanks in advance,
Sheila
También recogían el ***cisco***, que no era sino hojarasca y restos vegetales caídos y acumulados al pie de los arbustos. Se utilizaba para abonar los campos de plataneras. A menudo, se hacía servir previamente como cama del ganado, de manera que se acumulasen en él los nutrientes contenidos en la orina de las reses. La demanda de retama y de ***cisco*** era tal, que el Ayuntamiento de Orotava convocaba periódicas subastas de estos productos ante la demanda de los agricultores.
***
I had thought that 'cisco' meant 'small pieces of charcoal' - and the RAE defines it as: 'carbón vegetal menudo'. However, this does not seem to be the definition they give in my text. It sounds more like some kind of mulch. Or am I misunderstanding the text - when they say 'hojarasca y restos vegetales caídos y acumulados al pie de los arbustos' , maybe they are referring to small pieces of charcoal (made of broom) that have been blown out of the charcoal fire and landed amongst the shrubs? I am not 100% sure. This text I found on the Internet, also talks about 'cisco de retama' being used as fertiliser:
***
http://nti.educa.rcanaria.es/penelope/confcoderch.htm
De igual manera se puede detectar la explotación del azufre de las fumarolas del Teide, y en el primer cuarto del siglo XX la explotación del ***cisco de retama***, usado como mantillo orgánico en las fincas de plataneras. Por otra parte, las extensas formaciones de retamar, tajinaste y hierba pajonera de Las Cañadas, suponían el traslado de las colmenas a las cumbres durante la primavera y comienzos del verano para explotar la miel de retama.
So, I am still not sure how to translate 'cisco' in my text.
And ideas would be greatly appreciated!
Many thanks in advance,
Sheila
Proposed translations
(English)
3 +1 | litter |
Rachel Fell
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5 | tinder (or brush) |
Luis Zepeda
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4 +1 | slack |
David Brown
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5 | husk |
Giovanni Rengifo
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4 +1 | organic litter |
Michele Fauble
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4 | breeze |
Ezequiel Fernandez
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3 | mulch |
Kyle Burk (X)
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Proposed translations
+1
1 hr
Selected
litter
leaf litter - ?
differences in
the rate of leaf litter breakdown or accumulation within a
particular vegetation type
http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayFulltext?type=1&...
woody weeds, gorse, broom and rhododendron, for coniferous plantations, ...
Suitable mulching materials include: leaf litter; spoiled hay (often ...
www.treecouncil.org.uk/info/manage.html
will produce between 3 and 4 tonnes of leaf litter per hectare per year. ...
and the witches' broom fungus (Taphrina betulina) is parasitic on birch ...
www.treesforlife.org.uk/tfl.birch.html
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Note added at 1 hr 29 mins (2005-09-23 13:06:39 GMT)
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or plant litter
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs 8 mins (2005-09-23 13:45:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
or plant litter
differences in
the rate of leaf litter breakdown or accumulation within a
particular vegetation type
http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayFulltext?type=1&...
woody weeds, gorse, broom and rhododendron, for coniferous plantations, ...
Suitable mulching materials include: leaf litter; spoiled hay (often ...
www.treecouncil.org.uk/info/manage.html
will produce between 3 and 4 tonnes of leaf litter per hectare per year. ...
and the witches' broom fungus (Taphrina betulina) is parasitic on birch ...
www.treesforlife.org.uk/tfl.birch.html
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr 29 mins (2005-09-23 13:06:39 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
or plant litter
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs 8 mins (2005-09-23 13:45:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
or plant litter
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Catalina Connon
: sounds correct, considering they used it as ferilizer.The uppermost slightly decayed layer of organic matter on the forest floor. (Webster's)
1 hr
|
Thanks bariloche
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks everyone for your suggestions, and Rachel in particular! I think I'll use the original in italics and then describe it as some kind of litter - not sure which yet. Thanks again!
Sheila"
29 mins
breeze
As per definition in Concise English Dictionary. Hope it helps !
1 hr
tinder (or brush)
Literalmente.
+1
1 hr
slack
Definition of slack in the Online Dictionary. Meaning of slack. ... Noun, 1. slack - dust consisting of a mixture of small coal fragments and coal dust and...
The slack coal used in coking was loaded from tipples into railway dump cars, called "dinkys", then transported to large slack storage bins near the ovens
The slack coal used in coking was loaded from tipples into railway dump cars, called "dinkys", then transported to large slack storage bins near the ovens
Peer comment(s):
agree |
MPGS
: i didn't know the English term, but according to the definition, i've seen my mother using it (long time ago!) :)
6 hrs
|
1 hr
mulch
I agree that it sounds like mulch.
2 hrs
husk
Based on your explanation, I think "husk" fits the context. Please take a look at this definitions, especially the second one:
Definition of husk: [n] outer membranous covering of some fruits or seeds
[n] material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds
[v] remove the husks from, as of ears of corn
+1
11 hrs
organic litter
They have formed a colorful carpet beneath the trees and it would appear that ... the soil from the organic litter. Natural, self-sustaining fertilizer! ...
www.menunkatuck.org/pages/leaves.htm
... Leaf drop and organic litter that decompose under the oak canopy provide a ...
www.ledger-dispatch.com/life/lifeview.asp?c=121681
All deciduous trees produce organic litter in the form of buds, flowers, seeds, small bits of bark, twigs and leaves on a never-ending annual cycle until ...
www.askthebuilder.com/541-Gutter-Guards-and-the-Whole-Truth...
... away from the main stem the uppermost layer is 2-4 cm organic litter ...
www.uni-regensburg.de/Fakultaeten/phil_Fak_III/Geographie/p... -
www.menunkatuck.org/pages/leaves.htm
... Leaf drop and organic litter that decompose under the oak canopy provide a ...
www.ledger-dispatch.com/life/lifeview.asp?c=121681
All deciduous trees produce organic litter in the form of buds, flowers, seeds, small bits of bark, twigs and leaves on a never-ending annual cycle until ...
www.askthebuilder.com/541-Gutter-Guards-and-the-Whole-Truth...
... away from the main stem the uppermost layer is 2-4 cm organic litter ...
www.uni-regensburg.de/Fakultaeten/phil_Fak_III/Geographie/p... -
Peer comment(s):
agree |
RSK (X)
2 days 18 hrs
|
thanks
|
Discussion