Hammock

A hammock is a resting and sleeping accommodation from net or cloth fabric, which is stretched between two points, used a sagging mattress is created. Hammocks were already before the discovery by Europeans in Latin America in use and were later used in the shipping industry as a space-saving sleep. On land, the increased suspension provides protection against dangerous animals, dirt and moisture. Meanwhile hammocks are spread throughout the world and serve as a relaxing couch option not only outdoors.

History and etymology

The development of the word hammock is a typical example of a folk etymology or Pseudoetymologie. The origin is the name of the Tainos in Haiti for their sleeping nets hamáka called.

Even Columbus learned from the re- discovery of America know the hammock. On October 17, 1492 he noted in his log: " beds and ceiling, on which those people were sleeping, a kind of woolen networks ", November 3, 1492 then explicitly from " hamacas " the speech.

In German, the word first appears in 1529 as HAMACO or Hamach. The Germans too foreign -sounding word was converted to hammock, a word that in pronunciation the root word Hamach similar and yet also provides an apt description for the cause (hanging sleeping mat ). The English name hammock or French hamac illustrate the word origin.

Hammock types

Hammocks can be subdivided according to the type of mattress in cloth hammocks and NetHammocks. Cloth hammocks are found mainly in North and South America. The traditional net hammock has its origin in Mexico.

In addition, cloth or mesh hammocks are offered with or without spreader bars. These hold open the mattress, but can favor with off-center weight distribution that the entire lying surface rotated about the suspension and the user falls out. Hammocks with spreader bars are mainly represented in North America.

Traditional Mexican NetHammocks do not have spreader bars and consist of a plurality of thin, tangle-free interlocking looped cotton threads. This produces a fine mesh fabric, whose individual filaments have a poor durability, which, however, considerably more weight as a whole can stand due to the load distribution to a large number of threads as a hammock. The knot-free design permits adaptation of the tissue to the body shape, which creates in conjunction with the fine mesh fabric has a high level of comfort.

In addition, NetHammocks from thicker cord are produced, in which the tissue is associated with nodes. When tying the Schotstek used. The reclining comfort is dependent on mesh size and node strength.

A rare Hängemattenart are made ​​of moriche palm hammocks of the Warao Indians of the Orinoco Delta in Venezuela, which is said to have a long shelf life, provided that they do not get wet. To produce this type of need experienced hands about 2 months.

Today hammocks are available for outdoor use, protecting the user with a mosquito net against insects and with a tarp against rain and thus serve as a spare tent, some with built-in sleeping bag.

While a hammock is stretched horizontally, a hammock chair hangs vertically from a hook.

A hammock on a supporting rod for two carrier was formerly used as a substitute for a litter. In order for a passenger transportation over rough terrain and sleep during transport were possible.

Especially the needs of infants, the baby hammock is adjusted.

Hammocks in shipping

Since the discovery of America by European sailors hammocks are traditionally used as sleeping accommodation on ships. The swaying of the ship is balanced by the movement of the hammock; the sailor does not slip by in high seas out of the hammock, as would be the case with a bed. The hammock can be stored in a space -saving when not in use. The ship's small viewing area is then again for other purposes.

In a German navy known union font from 1901 hammocks as the hanging beds of the warship sailors from canvas are represented by lines at the ends, which are combined by rings. By means of these rings are hung hammocks to hook the deck beams for the night. The size of the hammocks is usually 2 m × 1 m. The deepest point is about 1 m above the ship's deck. In the hammock is a horsehair mattress in a reference and a blanket. During the day the hammocks are removed from the deck and rolled together with the mattresses and blankets in ventilated boxes hammock or Fink net boxes stowed. These boxes are located on the top deck in the open air and are usually amidships secured to the shrouds of sailing ships ..