Author Topic: Why do lumberjacks yell "Timber" (Read 3484 times)

Howdy · « **on:** March 22, 2010, 09:56:30 pm »

One of those things we just take for granted, but why and how did the custom of yelling "Timber" when falling trees start?

Ernie · « **Reply #1 on:** March 22, 2010, 10:02:19 pm »

It's a lot more effective than yelling "Fish"

chevytaHOE5674 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 22, 2010, 10:04:44 pm »

I cut a lot of timber everyday and never yell anything. Make sure nobodies in my area and then let them rip.

Tom · « **Reply #3 on:** March 22, 2010, 10:14:32 pm »

Brother Dave tells a story of a little bird that couldn't say timber. When his tree was cut down, he said, "Hom-me, Hom-me".

Faron · « **Reply #4 on:** March 22, 2010, 10:22:59 pm »

They don't always do that. Sometimes we yell "Oh crap!"

footer · « **Reply #5 on:** March 22, 2010, 10:26:24 pm »

Why does a golfer yell "4" when they hit a ball?

Tom · « **Reply #6 on:** March 22, 2010, 10:52:34 pm »

I looked that "fore" comment up just yesterday. It comes from possibly several different places, one being the old British Artillery saying when they fired behind friendly troops, "Beware before". It meant "look ahead" or "heads up". I would add, "look out!!"

tlandrum · « **Reply #7 on:** March 22, 2010, 11:32:32 pm »

sometimes i yell a few choice 4 letter words when tree is falling in an unintended direction

fishpharmer · « **Reply #8 on:** March 22, 2010, 11:34:52 pm »

Quote from: Ernie on March 22, 2010, 10:02:19 pm

It's a lot more effective than yelling "Fish"

You call?

Well durnation, I knew I was doing something wrong.

arojay · « **Reply #9 on:** March 23, 2010, 12:27:11 am »

A-hem, where I come from the term 'lumberjack' has come to have a somewhat different meaning.

captain_crunch · « **Reply #10 on:** March 23, 2010, 12:37:59 am »

We yell across the hill(leaves more room for error) Belive Movie screne had more to do with this. But after logging for 20+ years you could listen to a saw(if you still could hear) and tell real close to what faller was up to so generally nothing was hollered unless it was I could sure use a BEER after that wreck
But my question is what the heck is a LUMBERJACK. We were Loggers and Lumberjack was a brand of syurp

Bobus2003 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 23, 2010, 12:40:30 am »

I don't yell anything and I don't tolerate anyone yelling anything while I am/they cutting.. I figure if theres yelling someone is hurt or something went wrong.. no point in yelling for no reason

chucker · « **Reply #12 on:** March 23, 2010, 08:49:16 am »

" TIMBER "!!! was just a call for heads up when the woods were full of man and animal power to limit the accidents......... a "LUMBERJACK " was a term name for a person that could do all job facets in the logging industery( a multy tasker)........

Howdy · « **Reply #13 on:** March 23, 2010, 11:27:52 am »

Thanks for the replies. Yelling something when dropping a tree when the woods are full of workers and work animals sounds about right. It does sound better to yell "Timber" than "Fish" or "Lookout" as it is a sound that will get some attention.

Letting other loggers know when a tree is falling and to be on the lookout for flying branches or other displaced material is something that would be good in a crowded work setting. Anyway, it's something I can tell the Mrs. and she will accept.

chucker · « **Reply #14 on:** March 23, 2010, 11:32:03 am »

!! glad to of been some help??? love the area your in!! lived just across the river from you in wash. long/kelso... nothing like the pnw woods!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DirtForester · « **Reply #15 on:** March 23, 2010, 11:43:35 am »

Quote from: Ernie on March 22, 2010, 10:02:19 pm

It's a lot more effective than yelling "Fish"

Cedarman · « **Reply #16 on:** March 23, 2010, 12:46:47 pm »

The sounds of crosscut saws sawing and axes chopping allow you to hear someone shouting. Now with skidders blaring and chainsaws screeching you couldn't hear someone shout anyway.

Magicman · « **Reply #17 on:** March 23, 2010, 02:31:02 pm »

Power and Telephone Co. Linesmen yell "HEADACHE" when they drop something. And it does NOT mean for you to look up. It means to cover your head and get out of the way.

Many jobs have adopted "Danger Yells" to alert unsuspecting co-workers.......Thankfully.

VTLogSlayer · « **Reply #18 on:** March 23, 2010, 02:35:43 pm »

Up here at Paul Smith's, we are told to have our last name on the back of your helmet in dark lettering, just incase you need to be yelled to get outta the way.

Tom · « **Reply #19 on:** March 23, 2010, 02:42:18 pm »

We holler "Dinner" here at the house, but with the all the skinny people downgrading the fat people today, that might be considered a yell of alarm by some.

The way the Government is taking over, we might have to find a closet, in which to hide, to eat supper.

Cedarman · « **Reply #20 on:** March 23, 2010, 03:41:54 pm »

"ROCK" is yelled when rock climbing or caving when something is dropped or dislodged from any height. I have seen quite a few fall.

JDeere · « **Reply #21 on:** March 23, 2010, 08:06:40 pm »

My brother went to school with a kid named Tim Burr. Don't know what ever became of him. Maybe he is a logger out West now.

Mooseherder · « **Reply #22 on:** March 23, 2010, 08:38:49 pm »

Quote from: JDeere on March 23, 2010, 08:06:40 pm

My brother went to school with a kid named Tim Burr. Don't know what ever became of him. Maybe he is a logger out West now.

Did the Burr's go to School up North?

JDeere · « **Reply #23 on:** March 24, 2010, 07:21:04 pm »

He went to high school in Central NH.

timberjack240 · « **Reply #24 on:** March 24, 2010, 08:25:08 pm »

we usually holler when were lookin for eah other thats more of a yoooooo were ya at. or when when sumthin goes wrong thats more of a @$!%%^%$^%^&#75

or if things are crankin and rele goin good we hoot and holler jsut to keep in the swing of things kinda keep the mood up

captain_crunch · « **Reply #25 on:** March 25, 2010, 01:30:07 pm »

Friend of mine use to yell <Last time around run for your life> What some guys want you to do is shut off saw before makeing back cut and yell a warning

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Author Topic: Why do lumberjacks yell "Timber" (Read 3484 times)