dårekiste

08:24 Mar 8, 2013
This question was closed without grading. Reason: Other

Danish to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - History
Danish term or phrase: dårekiste
Den Danske Ordbog defines "dårekiste" as merely:
1. anstalt hvor sindssyge mennesker førhen holdtes indespærret og ikke fik tilbudt nogen særlig behandling; synonym galehus.
However, in this context the term is being used to describe an actual coffin-like box in which patients were confined.
I've found pictures of similar confinements and several museum sites and historical references that use the word in this sense.
I've also found descriptions in English of similar boxes/confinement chambers but have yet to come across an actual term.
Unfortunately, every dictionary that I can find only gives translations along the lines of "madhouse, insane asylum, bedlam", i.e. only the "official" definition.
Hoping that someone here is an expert on old-timey mental health "treatments"...
Signe Golly
Denmark
Local time: 16:07


Summary of answers provided
4(lunatic asylum) confinement crib
Marianne Sorensen
3Looney bin
Norskpro


Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
(lunatic asylum) confinement crib


Explanation:
The first link below uses this term for the actual box/coffin. You can find the photo/term somewhere on the Pinterest page.
The next link is about a specific term for this, the Utica Crib. But it seems like this term/box was mostly used in the US. See explanation in link below, item 3.
Perhaps this will give too many associations to a US context in the context of a Danish source text? And perhaps this was a special confinement crib?
To solve the problem I suggest simple to call it a 'confinement crib', perhaps to add 'lunatic asylum confinement crib' to give more context.



    Reference: http://pinterest.com/welea/asylums/
    Reference: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=asylum%20pati...
Marianne Sorensen
Denmark
Local time: 16:07
Works in field
Native speaker of: Danish
PRO pts in category: 7
Notes to answerer
Asker: Tak for forslaget, Marianne!

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11 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Looney bin


Explanation:
Isn't dårekiste more of a slang term for a mental institution?
If so I would translate with a slang term.

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Note added at 11 days (2013-03-19 11:42:12 GMT)
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Sorry, I was too quick. You want the name of a cagelike confinement.
I found something called Utica crib, although it is from this particular asylum. http://www.peoriacountyillinois.info/cems/springdale/springd...

http://www.mnddc.org/wolfensberger/imagegallery/slides351-40...

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Note added at 11 days (2013-03-19 11:43:11 GMT)
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http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=utica crib

Norskpro
Norway
Local time: 16:07
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in NorwegianNorwegian
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you for your suggestions :-)

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