"Ferradura"

Question

So far I've discovered that this word ferradura means horseshoe in Portuguese, and that herradura means horseshoe in Spanish.

The context in which I heard 'ferradura' is that of a man reporting back to his boss, like this:

• ...la ferradura de su hermana, mi teniente, es de una clase nueva - una clase de seguridad ....(¿alemán?) .... - no podía abrirla - me he buscado a un conocido que ..... -

  • ¿y te enseñó como abrirla? -

Sorry I don't have any more, but it seems to me the word could mean 'strongbox' or 'safe'?

Is anybody familiar with it?

Gracias de antemano por la ayuda.

In English a man who fits horse shoes is a "Farrier" from the word ferro= iron , therefore ferradura sounds right for horse shoe. - ray76, Dec 15, 2010

Yes Ray - I also thought of 'dura' meaning hard/lasting, so it could mean any hard iron object. - galsally, Dec 15, 2010

Answer 1

cerradura = lock

I think you hit the nail. - mediterrunio, Dec 15, 2010

The guys both definitely say 'ferradura', however medi's remarks concerning their origin makes sense. - galsally, Dec 15, 2010

I couldn't miss the 'ce', I'm sure, no matter which way they pronounced it. - galsally, Dec 15, 2010

I'll listen again when I get time, just in case! - galsally, Dec 15, 2010

One of them definitely says 'cerradura' the other (who I heard first) is blurry and sounds like ferradura, but he's the one who speaks a little differently anyway.! I stand corrected, great Lorenzo. :D - galsally, Dec 16, 2010

Answer 2

Isla de Bosc that is Isla de sa Ferradura.

The name Ferradura comes from the word horseshoe because of the way the island is shaped. Isla de sa Ferradura

As for the text I have not the faintest idea..

Nice one Sakis, I saw plenty of results for ferradura but didn't have time to follow them all. :) - galsally, Dec 15, 2010

Answer 3

I´m not familiar with that term. I would say it´s a peculiar use of that word that, as you said, it`s common in Portoghese meaning horseshoe. But the context indicates it´s a safe. Keep in mind that maybe it could be related to the social condition or origin of the characters. (they also say ´me he buscado´).

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In fact, it used to be pronounced ´f´ instead of ´h´ in old Spanish too. For instance, fierro for hierro (one of the best Argentinian literary works is called Martìn Fierro) or fijo for hijo. And I think some of it still remains in use in Galicia.

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Also,

ferro, from Latin ferrum -> ferrocarril, ferroviario (ferro+via => road of iron)

I think you've got it medi, certainly one of them doesn't sound like a madrileño, and the other is a drunkard so....! - galsally, Dec 15, 2010

Answer 4

Hippocrepis valentina, la Ferradura como se le llama popularmente en la Comunidad Valenciana (España), es una planta silvestre, vivaz, de base leñosa que crece formando estructuras cespitosas muy intrincadas con alturas que se sitúan alrededor del medio metro.*

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¡Qué bonita! - galsally, Dec 15, 2010