The shaduf
Shadoof
A shadoof or shaduf is an irrigation tool. A less common English translation is swape and it is also called a well pole, well sweep. or simply a sweep in the US. It uses a bucket attached to a lever with a fulcrum fixed in the ground. The shadoof was an early tool used by Mesopotamian and Nile River peoples to draw water.
Full Answer
What is a shaduf made of?
The shaduf (or shadoof) consisted of a long wooden pole balanced on a beam. The pole had a bucket attached by a rope to one end and a heavy weight acting as a counterweight on the other end. Some hieroglyphics in Egyptian tombs show people using the shaduf.
What is a shadoof?
Shaduf in Kom Ombo, Egypt. Spring crane ( Krynychnyy zhuravel) in Baidivka, Ukraine. A shadoof or shaduf (from the Arabic word شادوف, šādūf) is an irrigation tool. It is highly efficient, and has been known since 3000 BCE. It is also called a counterpoise lift, well pole, well sweep, or simply a sweep in the US.
What is a shadoof Crane?
Spring crane ( Krynychnyy zhuravel) in Baidivka, Ukraine. A shadoof or shaduf (from the Arabic word شادوف, šādūf) is an irrigation tool. It is highly efficient, and has been known since 3000 BCE. It is also called a counterpoise lift, well pole, well sweep, or simply a sweep in the US.
What is the meaning of shaduf?
... (Show more) shaduf, also spelled Shadoof, hand-operated device for lifting water, invented in ancient times and still used in India, Egypt, and some other countries to irrigate land. Typically it consists of a long, tapering, nearly horizontal pole mounted like a seesaw.
What was the Shadoof made of?
The shaduf (or shadoof) consisted of a long wooden pole balanced on a beam. The pole had a bucket attached by a rope to one end and a heavy weight acting as a counterweight on the other end.
What are the parts of a Shadoof?
Typically it consists of a long, tapering, nearly horizontal pole mounted like a seesaw. A skin or bucket is hung on a rope from the long end, and a counterweight is hung on the short end. The operator pulls down on a rope attached to the long end to fill the bucket and allows the counterweight to raise the bucket.
What is a Shadoof in ancient Egypt?
: a counterbalanced sweep used since ancient times especially in Egypt for raising water (as for irrigation)
When was the shaduf made?
The shaduf, already in use in Mesopotamia, appeared in Upper Egypt sometime after 2000 BC, during the 18th Dynasty (ca. 1570 BC). This device allowed the irrigation of crops near river banks and canals during the dry periods of the year ([20] p. 58).
How did a Shadoof work?
A shaduf is a large pole balanced on a crossbeam, a rope and bucket on one end and a heavy counter weight at the other. By pulling the rope it lowered the bucket into the canal. The farmer then raised the bucket of water by pulling down on the weight. He then swung the pole around and emptied the bucket onto the field.
How does a shaduf make life easier?
The shaduf basically distributed the burden over the body by splitting the upward lifting and the downward pulling work. It also allowed more powerful muscles a larger role which reduced fatigue. The net effect was to make the work slightly less backbreaking.
What is a shadoof in English?
shadoof in British English or shaduf (ʃəˈduːf ) noun. a mechanism for raising water, consisting of a pivoted pole with a bucket at one end and a counterweight at the other, esp as used in Egypt and the Near East. Word origin.
What is an example of shadoof?
or sha·duf [ shah-doof ] SHOW IPA. / ʃɑˈduf / PHONETIC RESPELLING. 📙 Middle School Level. noun. a device used in Egypt and other Eastern countries for raising water, especially for irrigation, consisting of a long suspended rod with a bucket at one end and a weight at the other.
What type of lever is a shaduf?
Shadufs are a type of simple machine called a lever. Levers help us lift heavy objects, or loads, and are made up of a rigid object that pivots on a fulcrum. The load of the shaduf is the cup filled with water and the fulcrum is the point where the two chopsticks overlap.
Why was the shaduf so important?
The invention of the shaduf was very important in the story of Ancient Egypt. It helped people to easily access the water from the River Nile. They built a system of canals to bring the water to the crops a process that's called irrigation.
How did the Nile give people food?
Ancient Egyptians ate extremely well compared to people in other ancient civilisations of the world. The Nile River provided water for livestock and kept the land fertile for crops. In a good season, the fields of Egypt could feed every person in the country abundantly and still have enough to store for leaner times.
What are the different kinds of water lifts?
Water lifting devices may be classified into four groups based on the kind of power commonly used for their operation.These are:Archemedian Screw:Chain Pump:Hand Operated Reciprocating Pump:Treadle Pump:Rope and Bucket Lift:Persian Wheel:Reciprocating Pump:More items...
What is an example of shadoof?
or sha·duf [ shah-doof ] SHOW IPA. / ʃɑˈduf / PHONETIC RESPELLING. 📙 Middle School Level. noun. a device used in Egypt and other Eastern countries for raising water, especially for irrigation, consisting of a long suspended rod with a bucket at one end and a weight at the other.
What is a shadoof in English?
shadoof in British English or shaduf (ʃəˈduːf ) noun. a mechanism for raising water, consisting of a pivoted pole with a bucket at one end and a counterweight at the other, esp as used in Egypt and the Near East. Word origin.
Why was the shaduf so important?
The invention of the shaduf was very important in the story of Ancient Egypt. It helped people to easily access the water from the River Nile. They built a system of canals to bring the water to the crops a process that's called irrigation.