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I assume it describes what the person does when he removes the load and the harnesses from the back of the mule. It is as if he were skinning the mule.
The origin of the phrase "government mule" is not known. However, the idea could mean one of two things. The term could refer to something that belongs to the government so that the treatment of the mule is irrelevant or of no concern. The term could also refer to the laziness or slowness of the mule (as with things of the government) which requires extra prodding or poor treatment.
A mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. They are known for their sure-footedness, as well as their ability to carry a heavy load and work with humans. A cross breed between a male horse and female donkey is called a hinny. A hinny looks a bit more like a horse than a mule does. Female mules and female hinnys can rarely have offspring. The males can't ever reproduce, but they can mate.
The terms are confusing. Male mules are infertile.A "mule" is usually the crossing of a female horse (mare) with a male donkey (jack).A "John" Mule is the nickname given to a male mule, though the correct registry term is "horse mule" or "Gelding". Female mules are called mare mules.A "Jack" is the name given to a male donkey/ass. A "Jack" is fertile.A "Jenny" or "Jennet" is the name given to a female donkey/ass. A "Jenny" is fertile.A "hinny" is the name given when a female donkey (Jenny) is bred to a male horse (stallion). A hinny is classified as a mule and pertains to both male and female sexes of the species (male hinnies and female hinnies).There are some terms that were used at the turn of the century that have fallen from use.Mule-jacks were used to produce mules (ie, they are jack donkeys bred to mares). A jennet-jack was used on jennets to produce more donkeys.
I've actually never heard this term used, but there is a breed of donkey (though some contend this, actually) called the American Mammoth Jackstock donkey. I would assume that a Mammoth Mule would be a mule whose sire was a Mammoth Jackstock donkey. FYI, a mule is the offspring of a donkey sire (jack) and a horse dam (mare). The offspring of a horse sire (stallion) and a donkey dam (jennet or jenny) is called a hinny and is much rarer than are mules. Finally, a bit of trivia about American Mammoth Jackstock. The breed is said to have been created by George Washington, using large European donkey breeds, including the rare Poitou donkey from France. He wanted a large donkey to breed with draft mares to create a draft mule strong enough to plow the tough soils of Virginia.
I assume it describes what the person does when he removes the load and the harnesses from the back of the mule. It is as if he were skinning the mule.
A Jerkline Skinner is the main driver of a mule team who handles the reins. More precisely, he is the driver astride the neigh wheeler who handles a single line, the jerk line, that goes to the bit of the neigh leader. Pulling the line causes the leader to turn left. Jerking the line causes him to turn right.The term skinner refers to a mule skinner, a person who drives mule teams.
The term mush means something that is squishy like a sponge or or moss.
Skinner. He was the one behind the rat and levers "Skinner's box" experiment.
In slang, "mush" can be used as a term of endearment or encouragement, similar to "buddy" or "friend." It is often used in a playful or affectionate way to address someone.
A cat skinner is a man who operates a bulldozer in the logging industry. The term "cat" comes from the brand name "caterpillar" the major heavy equipment manufacturer.
The term "cat skinner" for a bulldozer operator originated from the early days of construction when bulldozers were sometimes referred to as "caterpillar tractors" or just "cats." The operator responsible for controlling the bulldozer was called a "skinner," likely because they had to skillfully maneuver the machine through rough terrain. Over time, the term "cat skinner" became synonymous with bulldozer operators.
For the rarity of a mule giving birth to a foal. Like saying when pigs fly.
The French word "mule" typically refers to a type of shoe that has a closed toe and an open back. It can also refer to a hybrid animal that comes from crossing a horse and a donkey.
Forward crossovers......
Anterolisthesis is the medical term meaning sliding forward.
The origin of the phrase "government mule" is not known. However, the idea could mean one of two things. The term could refer to something that belongs to the government so that the treatment of the mule is irrelevant or of no concern. The term could also refer to the laziness or slowness of the mule (as with things of the government) which requires extra prodding or poor treatment.