Robbie commented to Craig Brougher's letter about the hurdy-gurdy:

 [ Hmmm.  Which chicken or egg came first?  Did the sailors apply their
 [ term to the hand-cranked instrument, or was it verse-visa?

Robbie,  ALL sailors have hand cranked instruments!!  <GRIN!>

 [ Ummm, yas;  see also Jan Kijlstra's related research!  ;)  -- Robbie