Skåttål

Have you heard the expression: He ran like a skåttål?

The meaning of the expression is that you are quick in movement and quick to perform tasks. But what exactly is a skåttål? A skåttål is a hand-held harpoon with which, among other things, halibut was fished.

With a rope at the end and on a wooden pole, you had to send the harpoon off with tremendous hand force at the right moment for it to get through the fish skin. The barbs pop out when it has hit and then it is stuck. When the fish were exhausted, the fishermen could drag the catch into the boat or tow it with them on land.

In the picture you can see Bø Museum’s own skåttål. We also have halibut nets at the museum, which is also no longer used. But there is also another shuttle, possibly a shuttle if you will, that you weave with.

Such a shuttle will also flow reasonably quickly into the hands of someone who is good at weaving. Where do you think the phrase comes from?