[Pg 151] The Latin and old German terms for these tools were:—
| First | Iron tool | = | Ferramentum | primum | = | Bergeisen. |
| Second | " | = | " | secundum | = | Rutzeisen. |
| Third | " | = | " | tertium | = | Sumpffeisen. |
| Fourth | " | = | " | quartum | = | Fimmel. |
| Wedge | = | Cuneus | = | Keil. | ||
| Iron block | = | Lamina | = | Plôtz. | ||
| Iron plate | = | Bractea | = | Feder. | ||
The German words obviously had local value and do not bear translation literally.
[Pg 153][3] One metreta, a Greek measure, equalled about nine English gallons, and a congius contained about six pints.
[4] Ingestores. This is a case of Agricola coining a name for workmen from the work, the term being derived from ingero, to pour or to throw in, used in the previous clause—hence the "reason." See p. [xxxi].
[Pg 154][5] Cisium. A two-wheeled cart. In the [preface] Agricola gives this as an example of his intended adaptations. See p. [xxxi].
[Pg 156][6] Canis. The Germans in Agricola's time called a truck a hundt—a hound.
[7] Alveus,—"Tray." The Spanish term batea has been so generally adopted into the mining vocabulary for a wooden bowl for these purposes, that we introduce it here.
[Pg 157][8] Pliny (XXXIII., 21). "The fragments are carried on workmen's shoulders; night and day each passes the material to his neighbour, only the last of them seeing the daylight."