Canaller’s Dictionary
berm side
tow side
feeders – channels to bring water into the canal to maintain a certain level
waste weirs – used to dispose of excess water from the canal
tuble-bays – carried water around the locks
lock-tenders/lock-keeps – did just that Tended locks to open and close gates, direct traffic
structure =combination house/office. Doubled as fight referee, salesman, grocery
tavern to boaters. “An American type cut from the mold of B. Franklin and the
Yankee Trader
sidecut – waterway connecting the canal with a stream, river or another canal
long level – stretch of canal without a break or lock (roch, Fairport, Genesee)
boaters – canallers, canawlers, steersmen
hoggee – “driver boy” (derived from hogler, a field hand of the lowest class)
trippers – long haul workmen who stayed on the canal from east to west; often know for
as troublemakers; individuals usually loved the canal, worked summers (stories of
some who would try to be thrown in jail in winter)
fog-gang – workers who clean out the canal annually
jigger-boss – boy who would provide whisky to workers at “appropriate intervals”
runners – seek out passengers
scalpers – when the canal was being used primarily to ship freight, they would assign
cargo to boats; similar to present meaning
foo foo – a foreigner or immigrant worker
grog – any kind of alcoholic beverage (originated as a British admiral’s drink)
foamer – a mug of ale
fip -- a coin (six cents)
rhino – cash on hand
rhino-fat – rich
canal scrip – IOUs
prog – general term for food
pritties – boiled or baked potatoes
skimmagig – buttermilk
packets – passenger boats, or a cabin for passengers
line boats – carried mixed freight
bullhead – a boat with a rounded front
shanty – house boat
durham – a long, clumsy boat
mudlarked – grounded due to a shortage of water
squeezer – a two sectioned boat or “double barge”
hoodledasher – multiple boats tied together to be pulled by one team of horses or mules
“along the tow line” – how news/gossip traveled
long-eared robin – mule
hayburner – mule
shunpike – avoid tolls by detouring around the toll booth
Some terms were unique to the Erie, some were used on canals in general
Give credit to Wyld
Among the many names for the canal were Clinton’s Ditch (contempt), Big Ditch (awe),
Clinton’s Folly, Grand Western Canal, Grand Canal, Old Erie.