Word of the day

[shewhomust]

dabberlocks

Alaria esculenta, an edible seaweed, also known as badderlocks, or winged kelp (according to Wikipedia

Example of a sentence including the word 'dabberlocks':

"In some of the most exposed areas below the dabberlocks where it is too turbulent for cuvie to develop or where it has been lost due to storms the kelp forest comprises the opportunistic, fast growing sugar kelp and furzebellows."

From Revised nomination of St Kilda for inclusion in the World Heritage Site List

I picture Dabberlocks as a relative of Jenny Greenteeth: children could be warned of the risks of playing on the rocky shore, "don't fall in, or old Dabberlocks'll get you..."

Bonus word 'furzebellows' is evidently, from the context, also a variety of kelp, but this is the only occurrence known to the internets.

Comments

[sovay]

I picture Dabberlocks as a relative of Jenny Greenteeth: children could be warned of the risks of playing on the rocky shore, "don't fall in, or old Dabberlocks'll get you..."

I like that a lot.

I knew about dabberlocks, although I can't remember where, but I don't know if I've ever heard "furzebellows" before. Thank you!

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

You're welcome!

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

I'm boggled that St Kilda isn't already a world heritage site!

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

Oh, it is. And already was, when that document was drawn up (about 2003), under the 'natural heritage' qualification. It's now one of the few double listings, for both natural and cultural heritage.

They produced rather a nice volume of the submission (pretty pictures and technical detail, a rare combination) and I've been reading a copy I picked up secondhand.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

What a vibrant underwater landscape it conjures--gently swaying fields of sugar kelp and furzebellows. "Furzebellows" makes me think of "furze, below"--underwater furze.

I found that PDF that references it! I was hoping for a picture of the furzebellows; wanted to find out if it was yellow :-)

As you say, though--nothing else online. I watched this pretty (and brief) video about what the narrator described as kelp gardens off the shores of St. Kilda, hoping to see something furzebellow-ish, but I'm no closer to finding it.

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

Wonderful film, though - thankyou!