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#105393 06/11/03 05:38 PM
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maahey Offline OP
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Is it true, that 'weed' is rooted in 'woad'?

Both Weeds and Woad disperse easily and grow prolifically in most environments. This apart, the one is totally unwanted whilst, the other is/?was a valued cash crop.

And if true, what were weeds called before depleting markets made woad a nuisance?


#105394 06/11/03 06:08 PM
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AHD4 doesn't take them back any farther than OE, but

Weed (the undesired plant) is from weod:
http://www.bartleby.com/61/82/W0078200.html

Woad (the dye producing plant) is from wad
http://www.bartleby.com/61/79/W0197900.html

And, as a special bonus, weed (the clothing worn while mourning, as in "widow's weeds") is from węd
http://www.bartleby.com/61/83/W0078300.html


#105395 06/11/03 09:34 PM
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Not according to Online Etymology Dictionary
http://www.etymonline.com/w3etym.htm


#105396 06/11/03 11:36 PM
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Online Etymological agrees that they are unrelated and does carry them back. The mourning clothes version of weed to the PIE *wedh-, extended form of *au-, to weave. The other two are from different Proto-Germanic words.

http://www.etymonline.com/w1etym.htm


#105397 06/12/03 06:08 AM
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Thanks Faldage and wwh, for the clarification. So, it appears my source had it wrong. Still, we must agree that the two words sound remarkably alike, eh?

On a somewhat related note, how did chromium (the steely, shiny, totally 'colourless' metal that men somehow seem to bond with, especially if it is combined with glass and horror of horrors!, wood!!!..ugh ), get its name? Everthing else, that I can think of, with chromos as the root, is colourful. This one seems like an oxymoronic *word, going by appearances at least...


#105398 06/12/03 06:44 AM
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The AHD etymology says for chrome:

French, from Greek khroma, color (from the brilliant colors of chromium compounds).

http://www.bartleby.com/61/74/C0337400.html

Bingley


Bingley
#105399 06/12/03 12:00 PM
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http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/David_Rossall/song_wtu.htm

This might amuse you, concerning woad. sing it to the tune of "Men of Harlech."


#105400 06/14/03 10:14 PM
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I was afraid that it was what it was before I clicked onthe link ... I think I learned it forty years ago at Boy Scouts.


#105401 06/16/03 04:56 PM
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"Men of Harlech."

Would we be singing about Welsh "Harlequin's"?


#105402 06/17/03 05:58 AM
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No. Blue-painted English.


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