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Aanduiding naamgebruik
Richtlijnen Ingebruikname en Afbouw (RIA)
Aug 13, 2021 08:00
2 yrs ago
24 viewers *
Dutch term

rasch ter handt

FVA Dutch to English Other General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Mercator´s description of my homeland Severia:
De inwoonders zijn alhier, van wegen de continuele oorlogen met de Tartaren, seer strijdbaer, en rasch ter handt
Proposed translations (English)
3 +2 move fast to engage
4 quick to mobilise
3 be able to take strong and decisive action

Discussion

Barend van Zadelhoff Aug 13, 2021:
Context matters of course, but as far as the dictionary is concerned:

ras ter handt; ras in zijn werk, enz. := être alerte, ou délibéré; être promt à la main, promt á son ouvrage

So according to this dictionary 'rasch ter handt' primarily means:

être alerte, ou délibéré

It is obviously about a personal quality.

https://tinyurl.com/n8xw829e

Proposed translations

+2
2 hrs
Selected

move fast to engage

The inhabitants here, due to constant wars with the Tartars, are extremely warlike and move fast to engage

Middle Dutch Dictionary (1250-1550)
https://gtb.ivdnt.org/search/
rasch - Vlug, vlug in zijne bewegingen; ook snel, vlug gaande; van den tijd schielijk voorbijgaande.
rasch = quick, fast, move rapidly

Le grand dictionaire françois flamen (1636)
https://bit.ly/3yJa4Cx
ter handt trecken = commencer, encommecer ou entrepredre quelque chose

Dictionarium, ofte Woorden-boeck (1672)
https://bit.ly/3AFwSUE
iets ter handt trecken - begin, undertake something

Modern Dutch:
iets ter hand nemen - embark on something, engage in something, take up something

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Note added at 4 hrs (2021-08-13 12:41:17 GMT)
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Thanks Yevgeni.

Nederduitsch taalkundig woordenboek:
Rasch: gezwind, snel, vlug
Spreekwoord: rasch ter hand - die vlug in zijn werk is

Alternatives could be quick or fleet of foot
Note from asker:
Nederduitsch taalkundig woordenboek: rasch ter hand- vlug in zijn werk, gezwind
Peer comment(s):
agree Tina Vonhof (X)
3 hrs
Thanks Tina
neutral philgoddard : I don't feel this sounds very English -'engage' doesn't convey a clear meaning and needs an object.
4 hrs
That's a fair point, Phil. 'Quick to mobilise' is a great alternative.
agree writeaway : You were first. This is definitely the right idea
4 hrs
Thanks writeaway
neutral Barend van Zadelhoff : perhaps: 'en rasch ter handt; - 'and always on the ready'
10 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "First validated answer (validated by peer agreement)"
6 hrs

be able to take strong and decisive action

rasch ter hand = snel ter hand

I think, in this context, I would go for:

zijn seer strijdbaer, en rasch ter handt

and very able-bodied and ready to take strong and decisive action

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 hrs (2021-08-13 14:26:04 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

and --> are

... are very able-bodied and ready to take strong and decisive action

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 hrs (2021-08-13 14:49:30 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

So my interpretation is:

because of their long-term challenges pertinent to war, they have become and now are:
- very able-bodied
- (always) ready to take strong and decisive action
Peer comment(s):
neutral philgoddard : I don't think you can translate 'snel' as 'strong'. And I know it's not part of the question, but 'strijdbaer' doesn't mean able bodied.
46 mins
one of the meanings of 'strijdbaar' according to van Dale; G-example: having a strong healthy body1. every able-bodied young man served in the army
Something went wrong...
7 hrs

quick to mobilise

And here's my suggestion.
Something went wrong...
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