Comments on: Ducks in a row, part 2 http://www.word-detective.com/2007/07/ducks-in-a-row-part-2/ Semper Ubi Sub Ubi Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:32:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: anitan1 http://www.word-detective.com/2007/07/ducks-in-a-row-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-36118 anitan1 Fri, 16 Mar 2012 19:03:24 +0000 http://word-detective.com/wordpress/?p=116#comment-36118 As an apprenticed shipbuilder, I want to chime in to agree with BikeLane on this. The phrase "ducks in a row" is a direct reference to the drafting of the ships contour line drawings using splines and weights. These splines were VERY long and would be held in place by a set of weights which were called "ducks" due to their shape: each weight was shaped like a duck head and bill. Assuming the spline was properly aligned along the ships contour, the ducks would all be in row representing the curve of the ships contour. At this point, the draftsman could move forward with drawing the line against the spline. As an apprenticed shipbuilder, I want to chime in to agree with BikeLane on this. The phrase “ducks in a row” is a direct reference to the drafting of the ships contour line drawings using splines and weights. These splines were VERY long and would be held in place by a set of weights which were called “ducks” due to their shape: each weight was shaped like a duck head and bill. Assuming the spline was properly aligned along the ships contour, the ducks would all be in row representing the curve of the ships contour. At this point, the draftsman could move forward with drawing the line against the spline.

]]> By: UncleMike http://www.word-detective.com/2007/07/ducks-in-a-row-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-2829 UncleMike Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:49:58 +0000 http://word-detective.com/wordpress/?p=116#comment-2829 Dear Word Detective: "Having one's ducks in a row" may also pertain to the bowling game of duck pins where having the "ducks" in a row makes them easier to knock down. I love Hodag194's explanation but it seems a little strained to me. Dear Word Detective: “Having one’s ducks in a row” may also pertain to the bowling game of duck pins where having the “ducks” in a row makes them easier to knock down. I love Hodag194′s explanation but it seems a little strained to me.

]]> By: BikeLane http://www.word-detective.com/2007/07/ducks-in-a-row-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-1385 BikeLane Wed, 01 Apr 2009 14:57:20 +0000 http://word-detective.com/wordpress/?p=116#comment-1385 I'll just chime in here (perhaps a little late!) with fxmaker. Years ago I worked in the field of aircraft design, and it was commonly remarked that the phrase originated with ship designer's needs to properly align their ducks holding a spline in place prior to drawing a contour on a design drawing. This translated to aircraft design, which today uses simplified mathematical models of the old wooden splines to represent the graceful lines of aerodynamic forms. It's somewhat interesting that this origin is apparently somewhat hard to find on the 'net, yet I believe it supplies perhaps the most reasonable explanation. I’ll just chime in here (perhaps a little late!) with fxmaker. Years ago I worked in the field of aircraft design, and it was commonly remarked that the phrase originated with ship designer’s needs to properly align their ducks holding a spline in place prior to drawing a contour on a design drawing. This translated to aircraft design, which today uses simplified mathematical models of the old wooden splines to represent the graceful lines of aerodynamic forms. It’s somewhat interesting that this origin is apparently somewhat hard to find on the ‘net, yet I believe it supplies perhaps the most reasonable explanation.

]]> By: Hodag194 http://www.word-detective.com/2007/07/ducks-in-a-row-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-143 Hodag194 Mon, 26 May 2008 00:30:59 +0000 http://word-detective.com/wordpress/?p=116#comment-143 I tried duck hunting here in Wisconsin in the late 70's and at that time a point system was used. Points were assigned to ducks relative to their abundance (or lack there of). One for a mudhen, 5 for a drake mallard and 8 for a hen mallard, for example. Hunters were allowed 8 points a day. However, due to the dark, foggy, rainy conditions that one hunted in, a concession was made for the hunters, they were allowed to keep hunting and exceed the 8 point limit. So you could harvest 2 mudhens and a drake mallard for 7 points and still shoot a hen mallard because you were under the 8 point limit at the time. To enforce this, a game warden would instruct the hunter to put his ducks in a row in the order they were taken. So if you saw a game warden coming your way you had better be careful putting your ducks in a row or you could get a big fine. I tried duck hunting here in Wisconsin in the late 70′s and at that time a point system was used. Points were assigned to ducks relative to their abundance (or lack there of). One for a mudhen, 5 for a drake mallard and 8 for a hen mallard, for example. Hunters were allowed 8 points a day. However, due to the dark, foggy, rainy conditions that one hunted in, a concession was made for the hunters, they were allowed to keep hunting and exceed the 8 point limit. So you could harvest 2 mudhens and a drake mallard for 7 points and still shoot a hen mallard because you were under the 8 point limit at the time. To enforce this, a game warden would instruct the hunter to put his ducks in a row in the order they were taken. So if you saw a game warden coming your way you had better be careful putting your ducks in a row or you could get a big fine.

]]> By: KenN http://www.word-detective.com/2007/07/ducks-in-a-row-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-105 KenN Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:51:19 +0000 http://word-detective.com/wordpress/?p=116#comment-105 I seem to recall that carnival shooting galleries used to have rows of targets on a belt that pulled them in a row across the back of the booth. Sometimes they were ducks. Shooting them was supposed to be easier because of being in order. Possibly this could be the origin of the term. I seem to recall that carnival shooting galleries used to have rows of targets on a belt that pulled them in a row across the back of the booth. Sometimes they were ducks. Shooting them was supposed to be easier because of being in order. Possibly this could be the origin of the term.

]]> By: fxmaker http://www.word-detective.com/2007/07/ducks-in-a-row-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-101 fxmaker Wed, 26 Sep 2007 22:20:31 +0000 http://word-detective.com/wordpress/?p=116#comment-101 Many phrases and idioms come to us from seafaring. I think having one's ducks in a row might also. Shipbuilders and other craftsmen have bent wood into "splines" using a form fitted with "ducks" to guide the wood being bent. Getting your ducks in a row means you've properly fitted the piece. Here's a link to a web site that's full of ducks :) http://www.splineweights.com/duck.htm Many phrases and idioms come to us from seafaring. I think having one’s ducks in a row might also. Shipbuilders and other craftsmen have bent wood into “splines” using a form fitted with “ducks” to guide the wood being bent. Getting your ducks in a row means you’ve properly fitted the piece.

Here’s a link to a web site that’s full of ducks :)

http://www.splineweights.com/duck.htm

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