sewell n also sewel OED shewell, var sewell, etc 'something hung up to keep a deer from going in a particular direction' obs exc dial (c 1250-1688); DC sewel (Nfld: 1770-); cp EDD sewell, shewell Ox Bk for sense 1.
1 A fence placed to herd caribou in a desired direction; DEER FENCE.
[1768] 1828 CARTWRIGHT ii, 310 [The fences are] only discontinued here and there for short distances, where the ill growth of the wood does not favour such works. The Indians are here at no loss; for their knowedge of the use of sewels supplies the deficiency, and completes their toils. [1770] 1792 CARTWRIGHT i, 7-8 Where any open place intervened, they made use of a sort of sewell, made of narrow strips of birch rind, tied together in the form of the wing of a paper kite; each of these was suspended from the end of a stick, stuck into the ground in an oblique position, that it might play with every breeze of wind. These sewells were placed at no great distance from each other, and the effect produced by their motion, was considerably heightened by the noise of the strips, when they struck against each other. By these means, the deer were deterred by the sewells from attempting to enter the woods at the open places, and the fences were too high to be overleaped, and too strong to be forced. 1896 J A Folklore ix, 24 ~ in old English a scarecrow, especially in order to turn deer. It generally consisted of feathers hung up, which by their fluttering scared those timid animals. The Red Indians of Newfoundland suspended from poles streamers of birch-bark for the same purpose. 1915 HOWLEY 31 ~ This word is probably compounded from see and well; another example is Semore (Mt See-more) near Birchy Lake, Upper Humber River.
2 Comb sewell stick: slender pole, six feet long, forming with other similar poles a fence to herd caribou.
[1771] 1792 CARTWRIGHT i, 108 I likewise placed sewel-sticks across the river, ready for fixing up. [1786] ibid iii, 137 Tilsed was at cooper's work, and three hands were felling firewood: at night, they brought home another sled-load of sewel-sticks.
sewell twine: line used in the construction of barrier to herd caribou.
[1771] 1792 CARTWRIGHT i, 111 Milmouth returned at night, and brought me two dogs from home; also some sewel-twine and other things.
