Not for Job Seekers! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Dealer in foods or victuals

A badger dealt with buying goods, mainly foodstuffs, buying in one place and selling them in another. It is possible that the name was derived from the bag the person used to carry the wares. This is probably not connected with the occupation, but there is a village in Shropshire called Badger.

Answer: Measured distances

Bematist is derived from the Greek word "bema" which means to pace or step. A bematist was therefore a person trained in measuring distances by counting their steps. The measurements were very accurate and there is speculation that some sort of mechanical device was used for the purpose.

Answer: Publications distributor

Colporter comes from the French "colporteur" which means to peddle. A colporter was either a seller of books, magazines and newspapers or someone who was employed by an organisation to distribute such publications.

Answer: Bobbin remover

Doff is a contraction of the Middle English "do off" and means to remove something. A doffer was a person that was tasked to remove full bobbins or spindles that held material that was spun and replace them with empty ones on the looms.

Answer: Dealer in chemical products

A dry-salter was a dealer in chemicals such as paint, varnish and glue. He also supplied salt for preserving meat and dealt with selling these meat together with pickles.

Answer: Railroad track layer

A gandy dancer or section hand was a person employed to lay railroad tracks in North America. The gandy refers to a long handled tool that was used to force the rail track into space.

Answer: Scavenger in sewers

During the Victorian period toshers were people who scavenged in the sewers reaching for valuables that fell through the drains. The word 'tosh' refers to the valuables. An excellent description of a tosher's job can be found in the book by Terry Prachett called "Dodger". Dodger is the Dickensian character Artful Dodger.

Answer: Manuscript illuminator

Apart from illuminating manuscripts a limner was an artist that painted decorations on ornaments. To illuminate a manuscript the artist would decorate it with gold or silver, various colour, detailed designs and small pictures.

Answer: Scavenger in river beds

Mudlark was similar to a tosher but instead of scavenging in sewers the person in question would go through the river mud searching for valuables. This was done when the tide was out.

Answer: Reset bowling pins

In days long gone a pinsetter would reset the bowling pins to their correct position following a player's turn. He would also remove any fallen pins that would hinder the player's second throw and returned the bowling balls.