Żołędnik

Żołędnik (Polish noun, masculine)

A żołędnik is a person who gathers acorns, typically for feeding livestock, particularly pigs. Historically, żołędniki were often peasants or people with limited resources who supplemented their income or food supply by collecting acorns from forests. The practice of foraging acorns for animal feed was more common in areas with extensive oak forests. The term itself is derived from "żołądź," the Polish word for acorn. The role of the żołędnik has diminished with changes in agricultural practices and the availability of alternative animal feeds. The term can also sometimes be used figuratively to describe someone who scavenges or collects things of little value.