A cordwainer is a shoe maker - apparently. Originaly a sandal was made of cord or string. So a wainer is presumable a maker. We have a
-monger who sells, a -wright who makes (cartwright, wheelwright...) and a -wainer who makes (not to be confused with a smith who works stuff).
So what's the difference between a wainer and a wright?
Stop press! I have just done some research and of course a wainwright is a person who makes carts or wagons. So wain is presumably a wagon. So now I am confused: why is a cordwainer a shoe maker?
Wainer
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- Grand Panjandrum
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- Slava
- Great Grand Panjandrum
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Re: Wainer
Because the first cordwainers were shoemakers using Cordovan leather. Cordwain's just an accident of linguistic tampering.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.
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- Grand Panjandrum
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Re: Wainer
Thanks Slava, once again. Amazing. We came across a shoe shop promoting itself as a cordwainer and explaining the distinction between a cobbler - a repairer, and a cordwainer - a maker. I must have just assumed the origin. All very interesting. Cordoba leather. Well, well, well.
- Slava
- Great Grand Panjandrum
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- Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 9:31 am
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Re: Wainer
To which I must reply, 'three holes in the ground'.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.
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