Obscure Word Of The Day Abactor
@arthurchappell (45002)
Preston, England
June 13, 2018 8:48am CST
Today's obscure dictionary word is Abactor, which refers to a cattle thief, or rustler. Abaction usually involves stampeding the cattle to round them up and steal them somewhere else, out of sight of the farmers and land-owners responsible for them.
Such practice is still going on, but much rarer given how much harder it is to transport livestock, which can now be easily branded, marked or electronically tagged to make it easier to trace.
The cattle rustler was of course a standard villain in many a Western movie.
6 people like this
6 responses
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
13 Jun 18
I can't imagine the word abactor being used in a movie. The sheriff rounds up to posse to "get them thievin' abactors."
3 people like this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
13 Jun 18
@JohnRoberts yes it would be a good title for a Western
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325651)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Jun 18
Virtually all domestic livestock in Australia must now be tagged but I'm sure that it stops the rustlers. Some drive their massive stock-transporters into paddocks, whack up portable yards, send their sheepdogs out around a mob and have them loaded and off the property with the hour. Our paddocks aren't boggy like some of those in England.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
14 Jun 18
@JudyEv yes marshland makes it harder to get heavy vehicles and transporters near the cattle
1 person likes this
@CinnamonGrl (7083)
• Santa Fe, New Mexico
13 Jun 18
I usually need to see or hear a word at least a few times before I remember what the heck it means. I try to file them away for the next time I'm doing a crossword. I don't remember ever seeing this one before.
1 person likes this
@mlgen1037 (29886)
• Manila, Philippines
13 Jun 18
Hi Arthur. Never heard of that word until now. Abaction is a form of stealing and a good one though like confusing the cattle. You will know the difference.
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