Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Swedish term or phrase:
rustvagn
English translation:
transport wagon
Added to glossary by
Ian Giles
May 28, 2015 15:38
9 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Swedish term
rustvagn
Swedish to English
Art/Literary
History
In a text about the cholera epidemic in Gothenburg in the 1830s, it says the following:
Dessa kollektiva kistor ställdes på stora rustvagnar, som nattetid avpatrullerade gatorna.
SAOB says:
"[jfr d. rustvogn, mlt. rustwagen, t. rüstwagen) (numera bli skildring av ä. förh.) (av hästar dragen) större lastvagn använd för transport av militär utrustning (t. ex. vapen l. ammumtion), trossvagn; äv. om sådan vagn använd för civil transport (t. ex. av bagage o. d. vid resor l. av flyttsaker o. d.), flyttvagn, packvagn. "
But I'm at a total loss to think of what this might be in English. Suggestions?
Dessa kollektiva kistor ställdes på stora rustvagnar, som nattetid avpatrullerade gatorna.
SAOB says:
"[jfr d. rustvogn, mlt. rustwagen, t. rüstwagen) (numera bli skildring av ä. förh.) (av hästar dragen) större lastvagn använd för transport av militär utrustning (t. ex. vapen l. ammumtion), trossvagn; äv. om sådan vagn använd för civil transport (t. ex. av bagage o. d. vid resor l. av flyttsaker o. d.), flyttvagn, packvagn. "
But I'm at a total loss to think of what this might be in English. Suggestions?
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +2 | transport wagon |
Agneta Pallinder
|
| 5 +1 | supply wagon |
Sven Petersson
|
| 5 | Horse-drawn cart/wagon |
zebung
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| 5 -1 | rust wagon |
x1ansheng (X)
|
| 4 | hearse |
Hanne Rask Sonderborg
|
Proposed translations
+2
3 hrs
Agneta Pallinder
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in Swedish
&
English
Specializes in field
United Kingdom
Your bridge between Swedish and English
Native in: Swedish 
, English (Variants: UK, British)
Works in: Swedish to English, English to Swedish, English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
46
Selected
transport wagon
Just using "wagon" as George suggests might also be an option.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
x1ansheng (X)
: That makes the most sense, considering the logistical necessities during the Cholera Epidemic.
3 mins
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Thanks Nick!
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| agree |
Deane Goltermann
: This fits best, maybe 'army' (or 'military') in front. The 'rust' is definitely as the asker found. I read the context as that these wagons were commandeered into use because they were built for heavy transport and matched the task at hand.
10 hrs
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Thanks Deane!
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3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks - I've gone with this one because I think it fits my particular translation the best - but there were several good suggestions here."
-1
6 mins
rust wagon
I think you stumbled across the origin of the English term, "rustbucket".
During epidemics, such as the Black Plague, the Cholera Epidemic, and the Spanish Influenza of 1918, there was a great fear of spreading whatever was slaughtering people right and left.
And back then, they didn't use the best wagons to carry off the diseased dead -- they used rust wagons, which were literally beat-up, old, rusty wagons barely holding together.
Later on, with the invention of cars, "rust wagons" became "rust buckets". Hope this helps. Thanks for the grin.
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Note added at 8 mins (2015-05-28 15:46:35 GMT)
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Historical note: automobiles were originally called "wagons" or "horseless carriages". Eventually they started calling them "automobiles" and then "cars". "Buckets" referred to cars that had bucket seating, an early modification.
During epidemics, such as the Black Plague, the Cholera Epidemic, and the Spanish Influenza of 1918, there was a great fear of spreading whatever was slaughtering people right and left.
And back then, they didn't use the best wagons to carry off the diseased dead -- they used rust wagons, which were literally beat-up, old, rusty wagons barely holding together.
Later on, with the invention of cars, "rust wagons" became "rust buckets". Hope this helps. Thanks for the grin.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 mins (2015-05-28 15:46:35 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Historical note: automobiles were originally called "wagons" or "horseless carriages". Eventually they started calling them "automobiles" and then "cars". "Buckets" referred to cars that had bucket seating, an early modification.
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
Agneta Pallinder
: Nice idea, but the "rust" in "rustvagn" surely is cognate with "utrustning" and "rustmästare" not with "rost".
Additional comment: rustmästare is responsible for military equipment - see http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rustmästare
3 hrs
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Right. Except we're not dealing with an NCO in logistics (rustmästare), we're dealing with military logistical equipment (rustvagn). A "vagn", like George mentioned and I've translated, means "wagon". I simply didn't quite get "rust" and I own that.
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6 hrs
Horse-drawn cart/wagon
...
From a primary source in the article... "Then my brother Daniel died. My aunt saw the horse-drawn wagon coming down the street. The strongest person in our family carried Daniel’s body to the sidewalk. Everyone was too weak to protest.”
From a primary source in the article... "Then my brother Daniel died. My aunt saw the horse-drawn wagon coming down the street. The strongest person in our family carried Daniel’s body to the sidewalk. Everyone was too weak to protest.”
+1
16 hrs
Sven Petersson
Sweden
Sweden
Native in Swedish
&
English
Sweden
Medical Translator
Native in: Swedish , English
Works in: English to Swedish, Danish to Swedish, German to Swedish, and 13 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
47
supply wagon
:o)
Reference:
5 mins
Hanne Rask Sonderborg
Denmark
Denmark
Denmark
Professional Full-Time Translator
Native in: Danish 
Works in: English to Danish
hearse
Specifically for transporting dead people.
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Note added at 23 hrs (2015-05-29 14:42:05 GMT)
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The Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology says the word "hearse" meaning a funeral carriage dates back to 1700.
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Note added at 23 hrs (2015-05-29 14:42:05 GMT)
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The Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology says the word "hearse" meaning a funeral carriage dates back to 1700.
Reference:
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Diarmuid Kennan
8 mins
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| disagree |
zebung
: These were horse-drawn carriages for picking up dead bodies. A hearse is mmore for transporting a dead body to a formal funeral.
6 hrs
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See the wikipedia link I posted. They were horsedrawn and went to cemetaries.
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| agree |
Anna Herbst
: In this case I think this is the best translation.
13 hrs
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| disagree |
Sven Petersson
: Man får inte blanda ihop fordonsspecifikation och fordonsanvändning.
1 day 13 hrs
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Discussion