LINGUIST cross-post: Origin of Pot 'Cannabis'

Laurence Horn laurence.horn at YALE.EDU
Wed Sep 28 01:05:04 UTC 2005


Hmm, it's beginning to look like someone's been finding some
inspiration for posting on this one.  Jon, was there to be some other
part of these messages?

LH



At 5:38 PM -0700 9/27/05, Jonathan Lighter wrote:
>Laurence Horn <laurence.horn at YALE.EDU> wrote:----------------------
>Information from the mail header -----------------------
>Sender: American Dialect Society
>Poster: Laurence Horn
>Subject: LINGUIST cross-post: Origin of Pot 'Cannabis'
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Looks like this should be up someone's alley; I can't check on what
>HDAS says for alphabetic reasons. The OED does give "potiguaya" as
>the source, as claimed, although "influenced" by the main entry for
>_pot_. I would think alternate sources (as it were) for "pot" as
>well as additional info on "potiguaya" would be welcome.
>
>As usual, replies should go to the poster, Mr. Wheeler, as well as
>to the list.
>
>Larry
>--- begin forwarded text
>
>
>LINGUIST List: Vol-16-2785. Tue Sep 27 2005. ISSN: 1068 - 4875.
>
>Subject: 16.2785, Qs: Origin of Pot 'Cannabis'; Movement to SpecIP
>
>
>Date: 27-Sep-2005
>From: Max Wheeler < m.w.wheeler at sussex.ac.uk >
>Subject: Origin of Pot 'Cannabis'
>
>
>The Oxford English Dictionary s.v. POT n.5 says 'prob. f. Mexican Sp.
>_potiguaya_ marijuana leaves'. Many English language websites tell the same
>story, some giving the supposed variant Spanish forms _potaguaya_ or
>_potacion de guaya_.
>
>I have so far found no evidence that _potiguaya_, _potaguaya_ or _potacion
>de guaya_ are in fact used in Spanish. I would be interested to know of any
>evidence that any of these expressions is used in any variety of Spanish.
>If any of them is used, I would also like to know the meaning.
>
>
>--- end forwarded text
>
>
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