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Glossary entry

Deutsch term or phrase:

Burgschützen

Englisch translation:

castle's marksmen

Added to glossary by Rachel Ward
Jan 2, 2007 11:17
17 yrs ago
Deutsch term

Burgschützen

Deutsch > Englisch Kunst/Literatur Dichtung und Belletristik
This is from the afterword to Kafka's "A Country Doctor", to be published following the stories. It describes the "Goldene Gässchen" in which he wrote them.

"Unter Kaiser Rudolph II. (1552-1612) wurden
die Häuser von einer bunten Schar von Bewohnern
-Glöcknern, **Burgschützen**, Wächtern - genutzt."

I've got "castle riflemen" at the moment, but wondered if there was a more precise term. Thanks!
Proposed translations (Englisch)
4 +4 castle's marksmen
3 castle soldiers
3 sharpshooters
3 castle guards

Discussion

David Moore (X) Jan 2, 2007:
@Frosty: I agree entirely; I still think it would have been a long, long time before muskets had driven out the crossbow. It would be interesting to know just when that DID happen, wouldn't it? Still, "marksmen" does cover both types of arms, doesn't it?
Frosty Jan 2, 2007:
@David again - About the Author: William Reid is director of the National Army Museum in London. Author of ARMS THROUGH THE AGES and numerous articles on military subjects. Impeccable pedigree, don`t you think?
Frosty Jan 2, 2007:
@ David: Source - "The Lore of Arms - A Concise History of Weaponry": Quote; "The invention of the matchlock, sometime before 1411, was the first major improvement in firearms design." The book starts with slingshots and ends with Carl Gustav M2!!
BrigitteHilgner Jan 2, 2007:
Try: www.google.de. Type in: "castle marksmen" - and the result might be what you are looking for.
David Moore (X) Jan 2, 2007:
I suspect the Wiki "rifle" entry was made by someone who didn't read the dictionary too well; the OED says the word in use from 1459 meant a stick, or billet of wood, and the word was only used in its present sense as from 1751 (and rifleMAN from 1775).
Rachel Ward (asker) Jan 2, 2007:
Wiki (I know, I know) says that they date from the mid-15th century but weren't used by the infantry until the 18th.
BrigitteHilgner Jan 2, 2007:
With Francis - I have my doubts about the rifles, I think that needs checking. The most "neutral" (in regard to weapons) term I can come up with is "marksmen". And what about artillerymen?
Francis Lee (X) Jan 2, 2007:
Isn't the era specified a tad early for rifles?

Proposed translations

+4
1 Stunde
Selected

castle's marksmen

According to the dictionary, a marksman is defined as one who can shoot a rifle OR OTHER WEAPON accurately.

Since we are looking at the late 16th. century, and the castle defenders would have been armed with bows and arrows, I think marksman has to be favourite - I'm sorry Brigitte didn't post her suggestion, to which I would certainly have agreed.
Peer comment(s):
agree franglish : Why not 'archers', in this case?
13 Min.
agree BrigitteHilgner : I was in a hurry (looking for something completely different), so this is quite alright. Actually, if you use www.google.de and type in "castle marksmen" (no 's) you get quite a few references to Prague!
14 Min.
agree Frosty : With guns, not bows! The matchlock musket was invented ca. 1411, so at this point in time firearms had been around for almost 150 years! // See above - and a musket can be very accurate if you know how to shoot it.
34 Min.
OED states "musket" was first used in 1587 (and was formerly used for the bolt from a crossbow) and flintlock in 1683, so what were they called before that? With respect, I think "1411" is highly suspect.
agree DDM
2 Stunden
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Marksmen does indeed cover both types of arms! Thanks, everyone."
33 Min.

castle soldiers

To keep it even simpler, perhaps?
Something went wrong...
57 Min.

sharpshooters

marksmen also appears, as do lots of other words from random visitors to Prague:

Golden Lane is a short, little street with colorful houses that were built during the 16th century. First they were occupied by the sharpshooters of the castle, then squatters and later by some famous artists like Franz Kafka. Most of them serve as souvenir shops now and the street is constantly full of tourists. I enjoyed the visit in 1997, but was disappointed to return

http://209.85.129.104/search?q=cache:iMPJy7H-2BsJ:www.virtua...

http://www.google.de/search?hl=de&q=Rudolph II guards Golden...
Something went wrong...
1 Stunde

castle guards

seems to be a familiar general term:

'A knight's wages were 8d a day and he would be expected to serve for 40 days a year. Sometimes, this service would be as castle guard in a castle.'
http://www.castles-of-britain.com/castle35.htm

http://www.armadilloarmory.com/Publish/cat33.htm

unless you can pin down their specific responsibilities as here:

'...houses in other parts of the town held custom-free by men associated with the castle-guard (e.g. crossbowmen, watchmen).'
http://www.trytel.com/~tristan/towns/norwich3.html

although you seem to have 'watchmen' already...
Peer comment(s):
neutral BrigitteHilgner : The problem is that "Wächter" are also mentioned - I would call them "castle guards".
21 Min.
Something went wrong...
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