schammel, noun

Forms:
Also schamel, skammel.
Origin:
South African Dutch, AfrikaansShow more South African Dutch (later Afrikaans skamel).
historical, Wagon-making
The base-frame of the undercarriage of a wagon.
1822 W.J. Burchell Trav. I. 150On the top of each axletree lies a strong piece of timber, called the skammel, upon which the buik plank or bottom of the waggon rests.
1899 Natal Agric. Jrnl 31 Mar. 4All the words in connection with trekking are of Dutch origin..besides the parts of the wagon, such as ‘draaibors,’ ‘voortang,’ ‘schammel,’ etc.
1919 Dunell, Ebden & Co.’s Price List Aug. 34 (captions)Front schamel. Hind schamel. False schamel or short brake bar.
1919 J.Y. Gibson in S. Afr. Jrnl of Science July 6The upper rails of the sides, leerboomen, were curved upwards from about the second third...The sides stood upon the schammels, and were supported outwardly by the rongen, or struts, which were tightly morticed into the projecting ends of these.
1958 S. Cloete Mask 84All these woods except for the bed were iron hard...They were the working parts of the wagon — the wheels, the schamel and tongue or forecarriage as it were, which enabled the wagon to turn sharply.
The base-frame of the undercarriage of a wagon.
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18221958