New KIlt

[Troglodyte]

Has nothing to do with blood, however. Pioneers in infantry regiments are like combat engineers; cutting trees to build bridges -this the axe- and building things up (in the modern context). Like cymbal players in military bands wear protective aprons so that they do not mar their uniforms with their instruments, the apron was to protect the uniform from the rough work of carrying trees about.

Sometimes it has everything to do with blood..!

Depending on the regiment and its original fighting function and style (I mean before mechanisation and modern weaponry) there were individuals whose job it was to dispatch humanely wounded and maimed horses, and remove their hoof which carried its identity. They would be entered into the casualty list accordingly.

The axe, unlike the lumber-duty felling-axe in the painting, was (still is, and is seen on ceremonial occasions) a form of short pole-axe, with a conical spike on one side and the cutting blade on the other. The spike was raised and brought down hard onto the poll of the poor horse, to give instant death. The cutting edge of the axe would then remove the neessary hoof and a 'poll' of the survivors would follow.

These days, you see these axes paraded on ceremonial occasions, when the 'butchers' stand apart from the main fighting element, marching or parading a few steps behind the main body to give gory significance to their role, and the men whose duty it is are often chosen for their large size and strength. The axes are polished to a bright shine and may feature other decorations.

These axemen will wear white aprons or other coverings, as if the show of blood is intentional - the more blood, the more glory.

We often hear the expression that someone has been 'poleaxed' but very few of us have a real understanding of what that actually means - thankfully..!

[jsrnephdoc]

My wife was included in a juried art show. I thought it was a good occasion to break in the kilt.

I think pretty much TCHD. Open to suggestions.

I first encountered your post in a reprise on p. 4 of the thread. I couldn't parse the acronym, so I asked Mr. Google. One of his surrogates replied thusly:

Acronym	Definition
TCHD	Tri-County Health Department (Colorado)
TCHD	Tazewell County Health Department (est. 1970; Tremont, IL)
TCHD	Travis County Healthcare District (Travis County, TX)
TCHD	Total Colonic Hirschsprung Disease
TCHD	Twin Cities Harley-Davidson (Lakeville, MN)
TCHD	Threshold Crossing Height Downwind

But I really like the balance of colors in the kilt. Same appear in Robertson Ancient Hunting (my first and second personal kilts) but yours is to my eye, pleasingly less "busy." I doubt I'll EVER warm up to the "stoplight" red of Robertson Dress Modern…

[User]

I first encountered your post in a reprise on p. 4 of the thread. I couldn't parse the acronym, so I asked Mr. Google...

Here is a list of common acronyms used on X Marks:
https://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/...q#faq_faq_abbr

[Janner52]

Sometimes it has everything to do with blood..!

Depending on the regiment and its original fighting function and style (I mean before mechanisation and modern weaponry) there were individuals whose job it was to dispatch humanely wounded and maimed horses, and remove their hoof which carried its identity. They would be entered into the casualty list accordingly.

The axe, unlike the lumber-duty felling-axe in the painting, was (still is, and is seen on ceremonial occasions) a form of short pole-axe, with a conical spike on one side and the cutting blade on the other. The spike was raised and brought down hard onto the poll of the poor horse, to give instant death. The cutting edge of the axe would then remove the neessary hoof and a 'poll' of the survivors would follow.

These days, you see these axes paraded on ceremonial occasions, when the 'butchers' stand apart from the main fighting element, marching or parading a few steps behind the main body to give gory significance to their role, and the men whose duty it is are often chosen for their large size and strength. The axes are polished to a bright shine and may feature other decorations.

These axemen will wear white aprons or other coverings, as if the show of blood is intentional - the more blood, the more glory.

We often hear the expression that someone has been 'poleaxed' but very few of us have a real understanding of what that actually means - thankfully..!

The cavalry soldier who carry axes are farriers. Their primary job is shoeing horses but a part of their function, in the days when horses were used in battle, was to despatch badly injured horses. They also removed a hoof which was stamped the animals number as evidence of its death. Today household cavalry farriers wear black plumes on parade.

Infantry pioneers have historically been used in a sapper role preparing defences or clearing the way for advancing soldiers. They still exist in modern infantry battalions. On parade the pioneer sergeant carries an axe and wears the apron. Up until recent times he was one of the few soldiers permitted to have a beard.

[OC Richard]

I asked Mr. Google...

Tri-County Health Department
Tazewell County Health Department
Travis County Healthcare District
Total Colonic Hirschsprung Disease
Twin Cities Harley-Davidson
Threshold Crossing Height Downwind

That's hilarious! Yes I figure there might be quite a few T________ County Health Departments, and even several Tri-County Health Departments (there are dozens, perhaps hundreds, of "tri-county areas" across the USA).

For fun I Googled a few acronyms from my former job

TDA
DLP
DCA

and came up with all kinds of unrelated stuff. (It helps if one knows that in each case "D" stands for Disney.)

In any case "Highland Dress" has long been a stock phrase, though in the early 20th century the term "Scottish National Dress" was perhaps more common.

HD is, or was, more commonly used in Scotland for Highland Division, in the war the 51st Highland Division. (At 2:40 you can see the well-known HD divisional arm-patch)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6MUXVu_Gi4

[Jock Scot]

I first encountered your post in a reprise on p. 4 of the thread. I couldn't parse the acronym, so I asked Mr. Google. One of his surrogates replied thusly:

Acronym	Definition
TCHD	Tri-County Health Department (Colorado)
TCHD	Tazewell County Health Department (est. 1970; Tremont, IL)
TCHD	Travis County Healthcare District (Travis County, TX)
TCHD	Total Colonic Hirschsprung Disease
TCHD	Twin Cities Harley-Davidson (Lakeville, MN)
TCHD	Threshold Crossing Height Downwind

But I really like the balance of colors in the kilt. Same appear in Robertson Ancient Hunting (my first and second personal kilts) but yours is to my eye, pleasingly less "busy." I doubt I'll EVER warm up to the "stoplight" red of Robertson Dress Modern…

Without wanting to "split hairs" here. Perhaps if we went back to the original Xmarks lettering of: THCD, all this confusion could be avoided? Just a thought.

[Macman]

Without wanting to "split hairs" here. Perhaps if we went back to the original Xmarks lettering of: THCD, all this confusion could be avoided? Just a thought.

This is a good suggestion! And here we have, in #4 position:

Rank Abbr.	Meaning
THCD	Transient Hollow Cathode Discharge
THCD	Tiger Hills Conservation District (est. 2001; Canada)
THCD	Technical Head Count Day
THCD	Traditional Highland Classic Dress (fashion)

[Father Bill]

I vote for "Transient Hollow Cathode Discharge".

[jsrnephdoc]

I vote for "Transient Hollow Cathode Discharge".

Which, if rumor is to believed, could actually conflict with the Celtic meaning, especially if the kilt wearer was contemplating "going regimental."

Hurts even to THINK about it.

[geomick]

Which, if rumor is to believed, could actually conflict with the Celtic meaning, especially if the kilt wearer was contemplating "going regimental."

Hurts even to THINK about it.

that would depend a lot on the individual's hollow cathode

a hollow cathode lamp -