knebbing
n.— «The book tells of how a large crane which became known as the Whittle Cross was used to load and unload the barges and how villagers would scavenge for scraps of coal which fell into the canal during offloading—a practice known as knebbing.» —“Guide brings history alive” by Gordon McCully The Citizen (Chorley, Lancashire, United Kingdom) Sept. 14, 2006. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Twice a day the River Thames recedes, revealing a muddy shoreline. Hobbyists known as mudlarks stroll the surface searching for objects that have found their way into the river over the centuries, everything from ancient Roman jewelry to modern...
There was a time when William Shakespeare was just another little seven-year-old in school. Classes in his day were demanding — and all in Latin. A new book argues that this rigorous curriculum actually nurtured the creativity that later flourished...