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Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: David LaFerney on June 22, 2009, 11:26:57 PM

Title: Why are they called supers?
Post by: David LaFerney on June 22, 2009, 11:26:57 PM
Anyone know?
Title: Re: Why are they called supers?
Post by: Kathyp on June 22, 2009, 11:35:06 PM
my best guess :-)

su·per·im·pose 
Pronunciation: \ˌsü-pər-im-ˈpōz\
Function: transitive verb
Date: 1794
: to place or lay over or above something <superimposed images> <superimposed a formula on the stories>
— su·per·im·pos·able  \-ˈpō-zə-bəl\ adjective
— su·per·im·po·si·tion  \-ˌim-pə-ˈzi-shən\ noun
Title: Re: Why are they called supers?
Post by: Natalie on June 22, 2009, 11:48:28 PM
There was a thread on this a couple of months ago but now I can't locate it.
There was two possibilities brought up, I recall the word supernova being used and the latin word for super.
Sorry that doesn't exactly help but it may job someone's memory.
Title: Re: Why are they called supers?
Post by: Ernest T. Bass on June 23, 2009, 12:18:01 AM
Here's a guess:

su⋅per⋅flu⋅ous
–adjective
1.    being more than is sufficient or required; excessive.
Title: Re: Why are they called supers?
Post by: Pond Creek Farm on June 23, 2009, 12:20:56 AM
What Kathy says does make sense.  To move superiorly means to move up, whereas to move inferior means to move down.  Anterior to the front, posterior to the rear, laterally to the outside and medially to the middle. I guess that supers are boxes put on top.  If this line of nomenclature rings true, I suppose those that put "supers" below the brood box are putitng on inferiors. (my attempt at bee humor and not a comment on the wisdom of honey boxes added to the bottom of a hive:))  
Title: Re: Why are they called supers?
Post by: David LaFerney on June 23, 2009, 12:28:21 AM
Ok, now I looked it up in Webster's and it says this

"Super - short for superhive - a removable top story on a beehive."

It also says that super means above or on top of.  I don't usually even think of using the dictionary any more.  Sorry about that.
Title: Re: Why are they called supers?
Post by: Kathyp on June 23, 2009, 12:46:27 AM
QuoteI suppose those that put "supers" below the brood box are putitng on inferiors

i like to inferior my hive!!
Title: Re: Why are they called supers?
Post by: Scadsobees on June 23, 2009, 09:03:13 AM
I thought it was because when one goes out to his or her hives and see those boxes crammed full of honey, they will proclaim "that's SUPER!!!"  :-D
Title: Re: Why are they called supers?
Post by: Michael Bush on June 23, 2009, 07:43:29 PM
Super is Latin for above.  Plain and simple.  Originally all Langstroth and Dadant hives had one brood box and supers.  Supers are anything above the brood box.
Title: Re: Why are they called supers?
Post by: luvin honey on June 25, 2009, 12:19:41 AM
Quote from: Scadsobees on June 23, 2009, 09:03:13 AM
I thought it was because when one goes out to his or her hives and see those boxes crammed full of honey, they will proclaim "that's SUPER!!!"  :-D

Hah! That's exactly what I was going to post, and then I saw yours  :-D
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