English translation of "aveva abbracciato il '91" - "had taken up a 91"

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158 months ago

Barbara Cochran (a guest user) asked this question:

Language pair:	Italian > English
Subject:	Other
Level of diffculty:	Easy / medium
Word or term in question:	aveva abbracciato il '91
Context:	A me repugnava veder indossare frak o livrea da coloro che avevano fino a pochi giorni...
Keywords:	...prima indossato il panno dei soldati dell'Isonzo, del Carso e del Piave. Mi umiliava essere servito in guanti bianchi da chi fino a ieri aveva abbracciato il '91, con magari al petto un nastrino al valore...The feelings of an upper class young man when he sees those who fought valiently in World War I back at their humble jobs as servants.

Important This question has already been answered and rated. Therefore, no new answers can be given.

Complete list of answers and comments

158 months ago

wrote:

had welcomed/ushered in

My comment:

Alternative answer

158 months ago

Josephine Cassar wrote:

had welcomed/ushered in

My comment:

Alternative answer

158 months ago

Giorgio Vellani wrote:

...he has clasped the '91...

158 months ago

Amanda Haste PhD, DipTrans(IoLET), MCIL, CL wrote:

had embraced/cradled/held a rifle

My comment:

A well as 6.5mm Carcano Italian soldiers often used a model 91 rifle. So he appears to be saying that it was only yesterday that the white-gloved hands [of the servants] were cradling a rifle

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_were_the_most_common_rifles_in_ww1

Comments by other colleagues on this answer:

158 months ago

wrote:

Well done, Amanda!

158 months ago

wrote:

Yes, perfect answer:-) I completely misread the context in my own answer.

158 months ago

Robert Tucker wrote:

had taken up a 91

My references:

http://faustoraso.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/abbracciare-il-fucile.html
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcano_Mod._91