I could probably Google it , but I'd get a more interesting answer here I hope , but why is fishing know as angling something I've never got since I was a kid ?
In reply to Post #1
The original rods and lines used together were called angles. People used all sorts of methods to catch fish. Fishing with nets, traps, set lines and spears. The most sporting and enjoyable way was to fish with an angle.
The earliest book on angling was written by a woman called Juliana Berners in about 1450. It was called " A Treatyse on Fyshing with an Angle"
People who fished with angles became known as anglers. As in "what's your angle baby doll?"
The original rods and lines used together were called angles. People used all sorts of methods to catch fish. Fishing with nets, traps, set lines and spears. The most sporting and enjoyable way was to fish with an angle.
The earliest book on angling was written by a woman called Juliana Berners in about 1450. It was called " A Treatyse on Fyshing with an Angle"
People who fished with angles became known as anglers. As in "what's your angle baby doll?"
In reply to Post #1
I was told rightly or wrongly that hooks were originally called angles, hence fishing with hooks is called angling. As with most of the English language it derives from old French.
I was told rightly or wrongly that hooks were originally called angles, hence fishing with hooks is called angling. As with most of the English language it derives from old French.
In reply to Post #3
English is more derived from old german saxons angles and jutes
English is more derived from old german saxons angles and jutes
In reply to Post #1
Like what Halfcentury has already said the rod was usually held at a right angle to the body hence "Angling "
Like what Halfcentury has already said the rod was usually held at a right angle to the body hence "Angling "
I find words fascinating and this one(angling) is very old. In old manuscripts hooks can be called angles, so can a line and hook and also a rod, line and hook. At the time there were very few books and even fewer people who could read them. In the 200 years between the Treatysse and Isaac Waltons "Compleat Angler" things had progressed to where angling had become clearly defined as a sport or pastime in which anglers were people who pursued fish using only a rod, line and hook with a few ancillaries like floats and weights. The use of nets traps, gorges, set lines and spears were deliberately ignored and the "gentle art of angling" was established. The sporting ethic of angling by an agreed fair method had arrived.
Hooks were called angles long before angling as a sport existed. By the time people were "angling" for fish I think its fair to say an angle was a rod, line and hook which may originally have taken its name from an old word for hook.
Interestingly(or not, as the case may be) in the 19th and early 20th century treble hooks were called triangles
Hooks were called angles long before angling as a sport existed. By the time people were "angling" for fish I think its fair to say an angle was a rod, line and hook which may originally have taken its name from an old word for hook.
Interestingly(or not, as the case may be) in the 19th and early 20th century treble hooks were called triangles
In reply to Post #6
Very informative Halfcentury.
Very informative Halfcentury.
In reply to Post #7
That's very kind of you.
That's very kind of you.
In reply to Post #1
a refreshingly wonderful thread to read. Really informative.
a refreshingly wonderful thread to read. Really informative.
In reply to Post #1
hooks were originally called angles i believe
hooks were originally called angles i believe
In reply to Post #10
Yes
According to: The Treatyse of Fyshynge with an Angle - a new translation, by Andrew Herd, 1999
"The term ‘angling' is derived from the ancient word for a hook: an angle".
Yes
According to: The Treatyse of Fyshynge with an Angle - a new translation, by Andrew Herd, 1999
"The term ‘angling' is derived from the ancient word for a hook: an angle".
In reply to Post #11
Very interesting. Similarly, I have wondered whether 'sportfishing' could also be traced back to Berners or even earlier, given her intro:
I aske this questyon, whiche ben the meanes and the causes that enduce a man in to a mery spyryte: Truly to my beste dyscrecon it seemeth good dysportes and honest gamys in whom a man Joyeth without any repentaunce after. Thenne folowyth it yt gode dysportes and honest games ben cause of mannys fayr aege and longe life. And therefore now woll I chose of foure good disportes and honest gamys, that is to wyte: of huntynge: hawkynge: fysshynge: and foulynge.
Very interesting. Similarly, I have wondered whether 'sportfishing' could also be traced back to Berners or even earlier, given her intro:
I aske this questyon, whiche ben the meanes and the causes that enduce a man in to a mery spyryte: Truly to my beste dyscrecon it seemeth good dysportes and honest gamys in whom a man Joyeth without any repentaunce after. Thenne folowyth it yt gode dysportes and honest games ben cause of mannys fayr aege and longe life. And therefore now woll I chose of foure good disportes and honest gamys, that is to wyte: of huntynge: hawkynge: fysshynge: and foulynge.
In reply to Post #12
anyone from Yorkshire who can translate that lot?
anyone from Yorkshire who can translate that lot?
We call it angeln here in Germany, maybe it comes from the german language
In reply to Post #13
I had to make do with a free online version there mate
As a non-native speaker, I had the feeling I understood most of the book. But maybe that's wishful thinking after all. As far as I came to understand, 'to dysporte' meant something along the lines of 'to take one's ease' or 'recreate'. Hence I always wondered about the link with sportfishing/recreational fishing.
I had to make do with a free online version there mate
As a non-native speaker, I had the feeling I understood most of the book. But maybe that's wishful thinking after all. As far as I came to understand, 'to dysporte' meant something along the lines of 'to take one's ease' or 'recreate'. Hence I always wondered about the link with sportfishing/recreational fishing.