Can anybody tell me what a caul is?

Question

I read something in the paper that said someone born with a caul will never drown. What is it? It is not in dictionary.

Answer 1

A caul (Latin: Caput galeatum, literally, "head helmet") is a thin, filmy membrane, the remnants of the amniotic sac, that covers or partly covers the newborn mammal immediately after birth. It is also the membrane enclosing the paunch of mammals, particularly as in pork and mutton butchery. In butchery, the caul is used as offal. A third meaning refers to a type of women's headdress.

Answer 2

I caul is defined as a part of the amnion sometimes covering the head of a child at birth. Medical sources contradict the popular opinion that a distinction needs to be made in relation to the birth caul and the adhesion of the birth (amniotic) sac to the face or head of a child at birth. In this view, the birth caul is a complete membrane covering the face of the child and the amniotic sac, or amnion, is another completely different kind of membrane that surrounds the child in the womb. The caul cannot be wiped off the child's face but must be carefully peeled off, while the adhesion of the amniotic membrane is simply a residue that sometimes sticks to the face, and is part of the afterbirth material.

In medieval times the appearance of a caul on a newborn baby was seen as a sign of good luck. It was considered an omen that the child was destined for greatness. Gathering the caul onto paper was considered an important tradition of childbirth: the midwife would rub a sheet of paper across the baby's head and face, pressing the material of the caul onto the paper. The caul would then be presented to the mother, to be kept as an heirloom.

Over the course of European history, a popular legend developed suggesting that possession of a baby's caul would give its bearer good luck and protect that person from death by drowning. Cauls were therefore highly prized by sailors. Medieval women often sold these cauls to sailors for large sums of money; a caul was regarded as a valuable talisman.

Answer 3

When someone is born with "The Caul" is it means that part of the membrane of the womb which usually bursts during labour is covering the babies head or face during their delivery. Traditionally a baby born with the caul was considered very lucky and had all sorts of myths such as they cannot drown, cannot be tricked ect about them. This is probably because there was an increased risk of the baby smothering during delivery (particularly in generations where birth was very risky). It was/is usual in ireland when a child had the caul to keep it and the child whould be given it when they were old enough as a good luck charm. I knew a woman who carried hers in her handbag!

Answer 4

A caul is a thin, filmy membrane, the remnants of the amniotic sac, that covers or partly covers the newborn mammal immediately after birth. It is also the membrane enclosing the paunch of mammals, particularly as in pork and mutton butchery. But being born with this doesn't mean you can never drown. All people can drown if inhaling sufficient amounts of fluid that don't provide the necessary oxygen exchange.

Answer 5

found this:

"Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary defines a caul as "membranes or portions of the amnion covering the head of the fetus at birth.
According to some, the following famous people, both real and fictional, were born with a caul: Charles Dickens’ David in "David Copperfield," Alexander the Great, Shakespeare's Hamlet, the mother of the Dionne quintuplets, and Danny in Stephen King's "The Shining." (An illustration of Danny with the caul appeared on one of King's original paperback versions.)"

Answer 6

Old wives' tale. The caul is the sac you are encased in in the womb. They also say those born with the caul over their face have the second sight, or a sixth sense or something like that.

Answer 7

A caul is a thin filmy membrane, the remnants of the amniotic sack that can cover the head of a baby after birth.It is easily removed.
It was considered lucky,

Answer 8

A caul is a membrane enclosing a foetus sometimes found on a babies head at birth, it is thought to be a good omen.

Answer 9

Try this link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caul

Answer 10

It's a thin membrane over the head of some new born babies, it is the remnants of the amniotic sac.