Loanword from Latin. There is a very nice species of oak, the pin oak, that carries this name as its species: palustris. I FINALLY found a terrific Latin botanical translator online--for trees, at least--and just decoded Quercus palustris (Oak 'of the swamp').

Question:

'Palustris' is such a lovely-sounding word. Can anyone here break down how it comes about meaning 'swamp'? Thanks for responding. Also, are there any other common 'swamp' words that we would recognize as having sprung from 'palustris'?

I FINALLY found a terrific Latin botanical translator online

well? are you going to share?

http://www.treeguide.com/index.asp


A commericial site. However, just enter the genus and species of something to research or the common name; the search engine will take you to a page where you can garner lots of information, including a breakdown of genus and species for trees.

that's a great site, WW. wish there were pictures, but what a lot of info. I also can't get the search thing to work, but I think that's my browser acting up...

There are pictures, et'. For instance, when I looked up Quercus palustris, two photographs came up: one of its bark and the other of many views of acorns. But I wish there were more pictures of leaves, acorns, stem tips, etc. There is a hodgepodge of photographs, but not an extensive collection for each species. However, just knowing I can look up the Latin botanical names for trees and find quick definitions is a step in the right direction.

ah! thanks. I guess I needed to drill down one more layer.

drill down one more layer

Are you saying you're a yellow-bellied sapsucker, eta? [duck]

Latin paluster 'swampy, marshy' < palus (paludis) 'swamp, fen, marsh'. Cf. OHG fel(a)wa, NHG Felber 'willow tree', lit. 'swamp-tree'; from PIE root *pel- 'to pour, flow, fill' whence English full, Latin plenus, Skt purna (as in Annapurna 'full of food (edibles)', also Latin plebs 'people, the masses'.

Is 'Anna' an edible?

Thanks, jheem, very much for your provision here. It is amply full.

Yes, Skt anna < √ ad 'eat' + -na suffix. But Anna, the female name, comes from Hebrew Hannah which, besides being a palindrome, means 'grace'; cf. Phonecian beneral Hannibal 'grace of the lord (i.e., ba'al).