Dog-belt

nounStandard termMining

A heavy leather harness worn around the waist to drag sleds of coal through low underground passages.

A historic piece of mining gear consisting of a wide leather strap fastened around a worker's waist, attached to a chain that passed between the legs. It allowed workers, often children or youths, to drag heavy wooden sledges of coal on all fours through seams too low for ponies or standing.

Heard on the job

The leather on this dog-belt is worn thin from dragging tubs through the two-foot seam.