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springboard
DCHP-2 (Jul 2016)
n. & adj. — historical, Forestry
a board inserted into a cut in a tree for loggers to stand on while they saw (see Image 1).
Type: 4. Culturally Significant — The image of the Canadian lumberjack has endowed logging terms with particular importance in Canada, particularly in British Columbia, where "logger sports" are a feature of summer festivals (see the 1974, 2001 and 2010 quotations).
Although historically the term has been used in the US and Australia (see OED-3, s.v. "springboard" [3], DARE, s.v. "springboard", and AND, s.v. "springboard"), it is used most frequently in Canada (see Charts 1 and 2).
See also COD-2, s.v. "springboard"(3), which is marked "Cdn & Austral".
Although historically the term has been used in the US and Australia (see OED-3, s.v. "springboard" [3], DARE, s.v. "springboard", and AND, s.v. "springboard"), it is used most frequently in Canada (see Charts 1 and 2).
See also COD-2, s.v. "springboard"(3), which is marked "Cdn & Austral".
Quotations
1893
On Thursday week James Mulhall injured an intestine by jumping from a springboard at Buchanan's old sawmill. He was bured [sic] on Wednesday last.
1913
The sawyers would cut notches some five feet above ground in a suitable tree (a notch on both sides) and a spring-board would be inserted. On these boards each side sprang a lumberjack, and with his cross-cut saw swiftly at work a tree four or five feet thick would be sawn through three parts or more.
1974
The Greatest Logger of them all will be named and awarded the Panicky Bell trophy, named after a legendary B.C. woodsman. Defending champion is Ron Hartill of Sooke, B.C.
The nine relay events are: tree climbing (100 feet); underhand chop; single bucking; choker setting; standing block chop (12-inch alder); pole falling; axe-throwing; double bucking (24-inch fir); and the springboard chop.
1993
Even on a sunny day, Lynn Canyon has its own unique climate -- damp rainforest.
The trees are second-growth fir, hemlock and cedar. Here and there are the giant stumps of their ancestors, some still showing the loggers' springboard notches from 100 years ago.
2001
Participants compete in a series of events on the day, including under-hand chop, obstacle pole, pole climb, spring board chop, double buck, axe throw choker race, log burling, hot saw, standing chop and single buck.
The Logger sports competition is part of the May Day's celebrations. The competition attracted competitors from as far away as Australia. The event is part of the Canadian Lumberjack Challenge Series.
References
- COD-2
- OED-3
- DARE
- AND
Images
Image 1: Loggers posing on springboards, c. 1890s. Source: City of Vancouver Archives. Photo: P. Timms
Chart 1: Internet Domain Search, 16 Oct. 2012
