This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
Amìgdalas intravèlicas
en cuanto que

Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

ganado mollar

English translation:

lice or ticks

Added to glossary by Lydia De Jorge
Jun 27, 2019 20:54
4 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Spanish term

ganado mollar

Spanish to English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature poesía barroca española JÁCARA DE LA ZANGARILLEJA
Estimados colegas,
Intento traducir algunos poemas de la gloriosa era barroca española y la tarea ha sido ardua. Espero puedan ayudarme y desde ahora les agradezco.

Contexto:
Dos horas está en peinarse
la zangarilleja,
si antes cuatro en espulgar,
¡zarandillo y andar!
Que aunque siempre fue perfecta
la zangarilleja,
tuvo ganado mollar,
¡zarandillo y andar!
Proposed translations (English)
3 +3 lice or ticks
3 +3 gentle cattle / docile cattle
3 was plenty lousy
References
Ganado mollar

Discussion

Lydia De Jorge (asker) Jun 29, 2019:
@Toni, Thank you for your encouraging words! Indeed it has been a challenge, but I have to admit it's also been fun. I have also come to the realization than humanity has always had the same fascination with the forbidden subject of sex, which, of course, makes it the more attractive!
JohnMcDove Jun 28, 2019:
Now that I have seen your other question, I tend to believe the double meaning of "ganado mollar" as in the "lice" she had, as well as "having gentle cattle" as in running a brothel or some such. Even if "she was always perfect"...
JohnMcDove Jun 28, 2019:
Hi, certainly interesting, and the meaning found by Charles is in actual fact the primary meaning. But, no doubt Quevedo is using the terms no just for the rhyme, but in my take, with full awareness of the additional connotations. Quote: Hasta hace poco vivía mama Justa, negra repugnantísima, encubridora de robos y rufiana, muy diestra en preparar filtros amorosos, alfiletear muñecos y (¡Dios nos libre!) atar la agujeta. Mala hasta vieja la zangarilleja. Ricardo Palma (Unquote) https://es.thefreedictionary.com/zangarilleja N.B.: rufián: 2. m. Hombre dedicado al tráfico de la prostitución. So, I would not be surprised that he is using all the meanings and nuances of these words, rhyme or not rhyme... ;-) And, like Toni, I have to say, "Chapeau!"
Toni Castano Jun 28, 2019:
"Mollar" As for the tricky term "mollar", I´m still not sure. I have, say, a suspicion of what the author might be attempting to convey, but, again, it´s only a wild guess and I fear it´ll not be easy to find conclusive references to back up my interpretation. If I come across new findings, I´ll let you all know, sure. Good day to you!
Toni Castano Jun 28, 2019:
@Lydia First of all, let me reaffirm my admiration for the challenge you´re facing in this project. Yes, I can only repeat your expression about the "gloriosa era barroca española", our Golden Age in literature with geniuses and masters that now belong to the heritage of world literature. Attempting tranlations of those masters´works deserves only recognition and admiration. Chapeau, señora De Jorge, my respect for your contribution.
Lydia De Jorge (asker) Jun 28, 2019:
Hi Toni, I found quite a few entries online but they are all in Spanish and not much help. It would seem that many terms Quevedo used were merely convenient for the rhyme and not relevant to the context. Thanks again for your time and input!
Toni Castano Jun 28, 2019:
The poem is available online ANGEL GONZÁLEZ PALENCIA.—La Zangarilleja. (Tonadilla y jácara del siglo XVII.)
https://es.scribd.com/document/338746896/bhm-revbam-1925-n6

I´m still intrigued about the meaning of "mollar" in this context and have already a feeling of what it could refer to, but only a wild guess for the time being.

Proposed translations

+3
4 hrs
Selected

lice or ticks

I think this is what it really refers to; it's a play on words.

One of the meanings of "ganado" in this period is this one, as defined in the first Academy dictionary (1734):

"Ganado. Metaphoricamente llaman à los animalejos que se crian en la cabéza ò cuerpo: y para explicar su abundancia se dice que tiene mucho ganado."

Why "mollar"? I'm not sure, but perhaps it's referring to soft-bodied ticks rather than lice. Or perhaps it evokes the image of "mollares", almonds soft enough to shell with your fingers, just as you pick lice off with your fingers. Perhaps it's because lice are not very quick moving. In any case, I think this is very probably what "ganado" refers to, playing on the double meaning of "ganado mollar" that John has explained: docile cattle. "She always had lice" would fit in with "antes [estaba] cuatro [horas] en espulgar".



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2019-06-28 02:03:35 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I do have a paper copy of the first Real Academia dictionary (1726-39) at home (a facsimile edition, not an original!), but nowadays you can access it online, along with many other historical dictionaries, at the RAE's NTLLE portal:
http://buscon.rae.es/ntlle/SrvltGUILoginNtlle
Note from asker:
Evidently you have better dictionaries than I do! ;) Yes, this would make much more sense in this context. Gracias!
Peer comment(s):
agree JohnMcDove : Wow! This is it! "Garrapatas" are definitely "mollar"... ¡Puaj! ;-)
19 mins
Many thanks, John ;-) Es que la ingeniosidad verbal de esta época es apabullante. No soy un gran experto en parásitos, aunque mis hijos tuvieron piojos alguna vez cuando eran pequeños (se transmiten en el cole). Me acuerdo de la lendrera y las lociones...
agree Toni Castano : You couldn´t make sense of it at first because it´s necessary to read the search expression within the context given, what I didn´t. After reading the whole poem, I agree with your interpretation. Excelllent research! Why "mollar"? No idea.
4 hrs
Many thanks, Toni! I have one further suggestion on that, from my wife, who's from La Mancha and immediately realised "ganado" meant lice etc. She thought "mollar" meant "en la mollera": I love the idea but I'm not sure it's linguistically feasible.
agree neilmac : I got itchy scalp just reading this...
5 hrs
I know what you mean! I never had lice AFAIK, but they've made a comeback (like bed bugs in New York hotels, I read somewhere).
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you, again!"
6 hrs

was plenty lousy

Two hours took combing
The ragged one,
If four before delousing.
Swift and walking!
Even ever faultless was
The ragged one,
And plenty lousy.
Swift and walking!
Something went wrong...
+3
39 mins

gentle cattle / docile cattle

docile cattle

Mollar se entiende normalmente como blando, pero aquí, aplicado al ganado, me parece que se refiere en un sentido figurado a "docil", como "blandito"...

3. adj. coloq. Dicho de una persona: Que se deja engañar o persuadir con facilidad.

https://dle.rae.es/?id=PZtrWVK

También podría ser "ganado que produce carne blandita"..., pero creo que con "gentle cattle" podrías cubrir ambas connotaciones.

Saludos cordiales.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2019-06-28 01:11:04 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

De nada, Lydia.

Lo único que se me ocurre es que esté usado metafóricamente, y pueda hacer alguna referencia a una casa de lenocidio, y "el ganado mollar" de esta mujer podría referirse a sus pupilas.

http://ghcl.ub.edu/diccaxv/dictionary/SearchAllLemas/myLangu...

Estoy aventurando bastante, sin más contexto, pero por ahí podría tener algún sentido.

Espero que eso te dé alguna pista. O si no, con 4 patas puede quedarse el gato... ;-)

Saludos, una vez más.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 hrs (2019-06-28 03:42:30 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Bueno, pues el gato no tenía 4 patas, sino muchas garrapatas.

Obviamente, la aportación de Charles es LA respuesta.
Note from asker:
Gracias, John. Mi problema es que en este contexto no me parece lógico. Se describe a una mujer mundana y como tarda dos horas en peinarse pero antes se tarda cuatro en espulgar. De ahí no sé como empatar el ganado dócil. Quizá ando buscándole 5 patas al gato que tiene 4. Gracias por tu aportación!
Peer comment(s):
agree Toni Castano : Confirmo y saludo (con referencia incluida) :-)
1 hr
Muchas gracias, Toni. :-) Excelente referencia. :-) ¡Saludos!
agree Adolfo Fulco
2 hrs
Muchas gracias, Adolfo. :-)
agree Charles Davis : This is the conclusion I came to, but like Lydia I can't make sense of it in context. // I think I've found a possible second meaning.
3 hrs
Thank you very much, Charles. :-) (Let me read your findings!)
Something went wrong...

Reference comments

2 hrs
Reference:

Ganado mollar

https://www.morucha.com/vacuno/curiosidades/
Asociación Nacional de Criadores de Ganado Vacuno de Raza Morucha
Terminología campera
Mollar: referido a un animal manejable, pastueño, tranquilo.
Peer comments on this reference comment:
agree JohnMcDove : Pues sí, señor. :-) Muchas gracias por la referencia. /.../ Mira por dónde, la definición que aporta Charles, tiene todo el sentido en el contexto! ¡Cosas veredes! ;-)
38 mins
Un placer, señor.
Something went wrong...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search