Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Catalan term or phrase:
formiguer = boïc
English translation:
charcoal kiln (for making fertiliser)
Added to glossary by
Sheila Hardie
Aug 19, 2004 13:40
19 yrs ago
Catalan term
Spain
passion des mots
Native in: English 
Works in: Catalan to English, French to English, Spanish to English, and 2 more.
formiguer = boïc
Catalan to English
Other
Agriculture
fertiliser
El garrover (Ceratonia siliqua), l’ametler (Prunus dulcis), la figuera (Ficus carica) i l’olivera (Olea europaea var. europaea) són les espècies més emprades per a fer ***formiguers***. Per a fer-los, les branques exsecallades són acaramullades i tapades amb terrossos i terra per després prendre-hi foc, amb l’ajuda de branques d’estepa (Cistus sp). La cendra resultant s’empra per adobar el camp.
Not ant-hill or ant's nest here, obviously!
One explanation I found is:
Pilot de llenya seca i de brossa cobert de terra que hom crema i escampa com a adob; formiguer.
Another:
El formiguer o boïc era un munt de llenya cobert de terra que es cremava amb
la finalitat d'adobar la terra de conreu amb les seves restes. ...
I may just have to give the word in italics and an explain what it is... but, does anyone know of an English term to describe this???
Many thanks in advance for any ideas,
Sheila
Not ant-hill or ant's nest here, obviously!
One explanation I found is:
Pilot de llenya seca i de brossa cobert de terra que hom crema i escampa com a adob; formiguer.
Another:
El formiguer o boïc era un munt de llenya cobert de terra que es cremava amb
la finalitat d'adobar la terra de conreu amb les seves restes. ...
I may just have to give the word in italics and an explain what it is... but, does anyone know of an English term to describe this???
Many thanks in advance for any ideas,
Sheila
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 | kiln |
patrick32
|
| 4 | formiguers (piles of branches and earth for making wood-ash fertiliser) |
translatol
|
| 2 | some extra info |
Maria Rosich Andreu
|
Proposed translations
27 mins
Catalan term (edited):
formiguer = bo�c
Selected
kiln
just an idea as I mentioned to you on my comments and the webpage.
Here's a summary:
The first method for producing charcoal probably involved the pit kiln process in which wood was slowly burned in a shallow pit covered with soil. However, in many areas this eventually gave way to the more efficient and more manageable above ground forest kiln method. The charcoal maker, or collier, became an important figure. The demand for charcoal was such that in areas like Great Britain the woodlands were all but stripped and alternative fuel sources such as coke had to be sought. This was not initially the case in the heavily wooded United States.
Good luck!!
Here's a summary:
The first method for producing charcoal probably involved the pit kiln process in which wood was slowly burned in a shallow pit covered with soil. However, in many areas this eventually gave way to the more efficient and more manageable above ground forest kiln method. The charcoal maker, or collier, became an important figure. The demand for charcoal was such that in areas like Great Britain the woodlands were all but stripped and alternative fuel sources such as coke had to be sought. This was not initially the case in the heavily wooded United States.
Good luck!!
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Sorry I have taken so long to grade this! You have all been of great help, but since Patrick was the first to answer, I must give the points to him. Thanks again! Sheila"
37 mins
Maria Rosich Andreu
Spain
Spain
Native in Catalan
Works in field
Spain
Had I but world enough, and time!
Native in: Catalan 
, Spanish (Variant: Standard-Spain)
Works in: Dutch to Spanish, Danish to Spanish, English to Spanish, and 10 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Catalan term (edited):
formiguer = bo�c
some extra info
Més coses (no pels punts, però és que amb 255 caràcters de màxim no em cabia):
formiguers = boïc
Segons l'Alcover-Moll, boïga és una terra plena de boïcs
Segons el Termcat, boïga es tradueix com 'burnt land'
No sé com es deu dir 'boïc' en anglès, potser sí que el millor és deixar-ho sense traduir, però em costa d'imaginar que aquest mètode sigui propi només d'aquí. I si s'utilitza en altres llocs, deu tenir un nom.
Sort,
Maria
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Note added at 39 mins (2004-08-19 14:19:18 GMT)
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BOÏC m.
Feix de llenya i brossa cobert de terra, al qual peguen foc i el deixen cremar sense flama per escampar després la terra i cendres com a femada (Bagà, Ll., Urgell, Segarra); cast. hormiguero.
BOÏGA f.
|| 1. Terra que cremen amb boïcs i conren de bell nou després d\'alguns anys de tenir-la inculta (Andorra, Ribagorça, Pla d\'Urgell, Solsona, Puigcerdà, Ripoll, Bagà, Pobla de L., Borredà); cast. arrompido, noval.
Sinòn.: || 1: artiga.
Etim.: del gàl·l. *bodīca, ‘guaret’, que té representants en nombrosos formes franceses i provençals
Potser pots treure alguna cosa dels noms en castellà (fins i tot preguntar a castellà-anglès).
formiguers = boïc
Segons l'Alcover-Moll, boïga és una terra plena de boïcs
Segons el Termcat, boïga es tradueix com 'burnt land'
No sé com es deu dir 'boïc' en anglès, potser sí que el millor és deixar-ho sense traduir, però em costa d'imaginar que aquest mètode sigui propi només d'aquí. I si s'utilitza en altres llocs, deu tenir un nom.
Sort,
Maria
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 39 mins (2004-08-19 14:19:18 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
BOÏC m.
Feix de llenya i brossa cobert de terra, al qual peguen foc i el deixen cremar sense flama per escampar després la terra i cendres com a femada (Bagà, Ll., Urgell, Segarra); cast. hormiguero.
BOÏGA f.
|| 1. Terra que cremen amb boïcs i conren de bell nou després d\'alguns anys de tenir-la inculta (Andorra, Ribagorça, Pla d\'Urgell, Solsona, Puigcerdà, Ripoll, Bagà, Pobla de L., Borredà); cast. arrompido, noval.
Sinòn.: || 1: artiga.
Etim.: del gàl·l. *bodīca, ‘guaret’, que té representants en nombrosos formes franceses i provençals
Potser pots treure alguna cosa dels noms en castellà (fins i tot preguntar a castellà-anglès).
30 mins
translatol
Native in English
Translations that read like originals
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, Catalan to English
Catalan term (edited):
formiguer = bo�ci
formiguers (piles of branches and earth for making wood-ash fertiliser)
This is a case where it's better to keep the original word because it represents something 'típic' but accompany it with a brief explanation. You're right that it has nothing to do with anthills!
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Note added at 37 mins (2004-08-19 14:17:48 GMT)
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\'Charcoal\' may be better than wood ash. However, \'kiln\' by itself loses the information that the product is intended as a fertiliser as well as losing local colour. Perhaps a compromise could be \'formiguers(charcoal kilns for making fertiliser).
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Note added at 3 hrs 12 mins (2004-08-19 16:52:55 GMT)
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Perhaps I should have added that the fertiliser function is shown by \"per adobar el camp.\" Also it\'s not quite true that there\'s no connection with anthills: obviously there\'s an analogy in the shape and composition. Both formiguer and boïc are found in Valencian, so the technique is (or was) widespread.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 37 mins (2004-08-19 14:17:48 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
\'Charcoal\' may be better than wood ash. However, \'kiln\' by itself loses the information that the product is intended as a fertiliser as well as losing local colour. Perhaps a compromise could be \'formiguers(charcoal kilns for making fertiliser).
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs 12 mins (2004-08-19 16:52:55 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Perhaps I should have added that the fertiliser function is shown by \"per adobar el camp.\" Also it\'s not quite true that there\'s no connection with anthills: obviously there\'s an analogy in the shape and composition. Both formiguer and boïc are found in Valencian, so the technique is (or was) widespread.
Discussion