Dictionary of Old Occupations

Definitions of jobs Child Bed Linen Warehouse Dealer - Clay Grinder

Child Bed Linen Warehouse Dealer: kept a store of bed linen to be rented by expectant families, to be used during childbirth at home.

Chimney Sweep: swept soot from chimneys, a dangerous and low paid job often involving child labour from a very early age. A chimney sweep could have several child apprentices. Soot could be sold for use in gardens to protect plants from slugs.

China Dish Maker: worked in the pottery industry making flatware.

China Door Furniture Maker: a pottery industry worker who made finger plates and door handles from china.

Chinglor: alternate spelling for Shingler, a man who installed or maintained shingled roofing.

Chippy: nickname for a carpenter, a skilled craftsman who worked with wood.

Chiropodist: a podiatrist; a person who treated foot disorders including calluses, corns etc. The occupation is thought to date back to ancient Egypt.

Chirugeon: archaic term for a surgeon.

Chowder: a fishmonger. The occupation name derives from the archaic word Jowter.

Chronologist: keeper of historical records.

Cigar Roller: a 19th century home based occupation for people who made (rolled) cigars. By early 20th century In the US family shops made and sold cigars.

Cinder Wench: woman who collected ash produced by factories and sold it to households for use in the garden as an additive to compost.

Circuit Rider: a nickname for travelling clergy in the US who rode on horseback to preach to populations in remote areas.

Cissor: alternate term for a tailor.

City Meter: a junior or assistant Weights and Measures Inspector. The UK has had a series of Weights and Measures Acts dating back to the 18th century which were designed to ensure that traders accurately described the quantity of goods being traded.

Civil Engineer: a term used from the 18th century to describe an engineer who worked on public projects as opposed to a military engineer.

Civil Servant: held a civilian job as a crown employee. A rather vague title which does not tell us much about what the individual actually did.

Copyright: Jane Hewitt. This dictionary is authorised for use on www.familyresearcher.co.uk only.

Clagger: combed out knots and muck from woollen fleece.

Claker: according to a great many internet sites this means a magician or astrologer. Have yet to find evidence to confirm this.

Clapman: possibly an early term for a Town Crier, similar to Bellman. The name may be a reference to the clapper inside the bell rung by a Town Crier.

Classman: an unemployed labourer, although in other contexts the word can also refer to a classmate or a graduate in Arts in a honour class.

Claviger: a Doorman or servant. The word has a French origin, meaning key carrier.

Clay Bearer: a pottery industry worker who carried clay to the thrower or pug mill.

Clay Blunger: a pottery industry worker who tended a machine which stirred slip, a suspension of clay in water used to produce ceramics.

Clay Grinder: a pottery industry worker who operated a machine called a disintegrator.

This dictionary is my own work, and copyright Jane Hewitt. I sometimes find unauthorised (i.e. stolen) copies of my website content appearing on other people's websites. If you should read a group of identical glossary definitions elsewhere on the web, consider whether such sites are reputable or not.

Further information