The Etymologies of Isidore of Seville - Pot-pourri

342 XVII.vi.19–vii.3 Isidore of Seville
springs up from a root; a branch, from the woody part of
atree;atwig(virga), from a branch. Properly, however,
what grows up at the root of a tree and is lopped off as
useless by farmers is called a sucker. It is called virgultum
because it is ‘removed from a twig’ (ex virga tollere). A
twig (virga)issonamed[moreover from ‘vigor’ (vis)] or
from ‘strength’ (virtus) because it contains a great deal
of vigor, or from ‘greenness’ (viriditas), or because it is a
symbol of peace (i.e. as a lictor’s rod), because it controls
force (vis). For this reason magicians use wands (virga)
to make serpents calm towards each other, and therefore
they hold them up tied to a wand (cf. the caduceus;
see VIII.xi.47 and the footnote there). Indeed, philosophers,
kings, teachers, messengers, and envoys use
wands.
19. Switches(flagellum), as I said above (v.8 above),
are the highest parts of trees, because they sustain the
repeated blasts (flatus)ofwind.20.Acyme (cyma)isso
called as if the word were ‘hair’ (coma). A leaf (folium)
is called in Greek, and this name was carried
over to our language by borrowing. 21.Flowers (flos, pl.
flores)are so called because they quickly drop (defluere)
from trees, as if the word were fluores, for they are quickly
released. These are doubly pleasing: in color and in scent.
They are wilted by the south wind, produced by the
west wind. 22. Wecallafertile, swelling growth a bud
(germen), from ‘bearing’ (gerere); whence also the term
‘germination’ (germinatio). 23. Produce(fructus) takes
its name from frumen, that is, the higher part of the
throat, through which we ingest. Whence also ‘crops’
(frux). Properly speaking, produce is what comes from
fields and trees, especially what we make use of, but we
speak of ‘produce’ with regard to animals incorrectly and
metaphorically.
24. Fruit (pomum) is named from ‘abundant’
(opimus), that is from the abundance of its fruitful
growth. Fruits are called ripe (maturus)because they are
ready for eating (mandere); likewise, unripe (immaturus),
because before they become ripe they are too hard
for eating. 25. Firewood (lignum) issocalled because
when kindled it is converted into light (lumen). Whence
likewise the lamp (lichnium)issocalled, because it gives
light (see vii.65 below). 26. Asplinter (astula) isnamed
from ‘raising’ (tollere)[as if it were ‘split away’ (abstula)].
Tinder (fomes)iscomposed of splinters that are cast off
from trees by lopping, or charred shavings, or hollowedout
firewood. It takes its name from ‘dried fungus’
(fungus), because they catch fire in the same way. Of
these, Vergil says (Aen. 1.176):
And hestruck flame in the tinder (fomes).
27. Afire-brand (torris) isaburntpieceofwood,commonly
called titio, taken from the hearth half-burnt and
with the fire out. 28.Sweepings(quisquiliae)arestubble
mixed with branches and dry leaves; they are the rubbish
of the land. Rot (caries) isthedecayedmatter of wood,
called this because it occurs in wood that lacks (carere)
solidity.
vii. Specific names of trees (De propriis nominibus
arborum) 1. The palm (palma) issocalled because
it adorns the hand of a conqueror, or because it has
branches spread out in the manner of a human palm
(palma). This tree is the symbol of victory, with high
and handsome growth, clothed in long-lasting fronds,
and retaining its leaves without any succession of foliage.
The Greeks call it the phoenix (i.e. )because it lasts
for a long time, after the name of that bird of Arabia that
is thought to live for many years. Although it grows in
many places, its fruit does not ripen in them all, but
it often does in Egypt and Syria. Its fruits are called
‘dates’ (dactylus;cf.,“finger”) from their similarity
to fingers. The names of the dates vary: some are
called palmulae, similar to the ben-nut (myrobalanus);
some Theban, which are also called Nicolaian; some
nucales,which the Greeks call (cf. ,
“date-palm”).
2. Laurel (laurus) issocalled from the word ‘praise’
(laus, gen.laudis), because with it the heads of conquerors
were crowned with praises. Among the ancients,
moreover, it was named laudea; afterwards, with the letter
d removed and r substituted it was called laurus –just
like auricula (“ear”), which originally was pronounced
audicula, and medidies,whichisnow pronounced meridies
(“midday”). The Greeks call this tree ,because
it never loses its verdure; for this reason conquerors are
aptly crowned with it. It is commonly believed that only
this tree is never struck by lightning.
3.The apple-tree (malum) 6 is so called by the Greeks
because its fruit is the roundest of all fruits (cf. ,
6 Latin classes several fleshy tree-fruits under the term malum,
including quince, pomegranate, peach, citron, etc. See section 22
below.