dinnage n also dennage, dynnage OED dunnage sb naut [in 17th cent dynnage, dinnage] (Nfld: 1623-). Twigs, brushwood, bark, etc, placed as a mat on which a cargo of dried fish, seal pelts, etc, is laid in a vessel's hold or spread on a fish-flake; dunnage.
   1623 WHITBOURNE 75 Mats and dynnage under the Salt, and Salt Shovels. [1674-7] 1976 HEAD 50 Dinnage Or Dinadge: small birchen rods cut down to lay between the fish and the sides of the ship to keep them from bruising. [1777] 1792 CARTWRIGHT ii, 252 The Otter came down, and brought forty tierces of salmon, some spars, and dermage; I put some provisions into her for the stage. T 141/68-65² The birch rine would be used for collars, the same way for dinnage in the schooner. They'd put birch rines up to the sides o' the schooner. C 67-6 ~ Slight, twig-like branches of birch and alder trees. This was used by merchants in St John's to spread their fish on to dry. Most merchants had flakes on the roofs of their stores on which they placed dinnage. P 148-78 Dennage on which seal pelts or fat were placed [aboard sealing vessels]. P 254-78 ~ Dry boughs placed on the bottom and up the sides of the hold of a schooner, on which the cured fish was packed for the trip from the home port to St John's.

Go Back