cambrel ? Obs. exc. dial.
(ˈkæmbrəl)
Forms: 5–8 cambrel, 6 camborell, 7 cambrell, cambril, cammeril, 9 dial. camrel, cammeril, cambril, cameral. See also chambrel, gambrel.
[It is uncertain whether this is a mere variant or alteration of cambren (given as a synonym by Blount and Bailey, and really a Welsh word), or whether it is to be referred to the verb camber, F. cambrer; cf. camber n. 2. The lateness of these words is against their being the source of cambrel; on the other hand, the variant forms chambrel (in sense 2) and gambrel (in both senses) make the Welsh derivation difficult. Perhaps there has been contact of distinct words, and action of popular etymology.]
1. A bent piece of wood or iron used by butchers to hang carcases of animals on.
| c 1450 Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 612 Spatula, a Cambrel, and a sclyse. 1641 J. Jackson True Evang. T. ii. 116 He..was crucified..with his head downward, just like a sheep upon the Cambrell. 1731–1800 Bailey, Cambren, Cambrel. 1808 Jamieson, Camrel, Cammeril, a crooked piece of wood, passing through the ancles of a sheep, or other carcase, by means of which it is suspended. 1863 Glasgow Daily Her. 14 Nov., He said a cameral was a beef-tree or piece of wood used for hanging up carcases. 1863 Morton Cycl. Agric. II. Gloss., Cambril or Gambril, a butcher's stretch to hang carcases from or by. 1881 in Leicestersh. Gloss. (E.D.S.). |
2. The bend or joint of the upper part of a horse's hind leg; the hock. Now chiefly dial.
| 1610 Markham Masterp. ii. i. 212 The length of his hinder hough would be twelue inches, and his cambrell fiue inches. Ibid. 295 The hinder legges will be all swolne..from the cambrels or houghs vpward. a 1631 Drayton Nymphal x. Wks. 1519 (N.) A perfect goat below, His crooked cambrils arm'd with hoof and hair. 1725 Bradley Fam. Dict. II. 52/2 View his Cambrels, have an eye to the Joint behind. 1880 O.C. & Farm. Wds. (E.D.S.) 137 In the north the hocks of animals are called cambrils or gambrils. |
3. attrib.
| 1523 Fitzherb. Husb. §107 A courbe is an yll sorance..vnder the camborell place. 1611 Cotgr., Chapelet du iarret..the cambrell hogh of a horse. 1686 Lond. Gaz. No. 2121/4 Two hinder feet white towards the Cammeril Joint. 1877 E. Peacock N.-W. Lincoln. Gloss. (E.D.S.) Cameril stick, by which the carcase is suspended. |