LL-L: "Etymology" LOWLANDS-L, 26.AUG.2001 (03) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

======================================================================
 L O W L A N D S - L * 26.AUG.2001 (03) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
 Web Site: <http://www.geocities.com/sassisch/rhahn/lowlands/>
 Rules: <http://www.geocities.com/sassisch/rhahn/lowlands/rules.html>
 Posting Address: <lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org>
 Server Manual: <http://www.lsoft.com/manuals/1.8c/userindex.html>
 Archive: <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/archives/lowlands-l.html>
=======================================================================
 A=Afrikaans, Ap=Appalachian, D=Dutch, E=English, F=Frisian, L=Limburgish
 LS=Low Saxon (Low German), S=Scots, Sh=Shetlandic, Z=Zeelandic (Zeeuws)
=======================================================================

From: "Kevin Caldwell" <kcaldwell31 at home.com>
Subject: LL-L: "Etymology" LOWLANDS-L, 26.AUG.2001 (02) [E/S]

>From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
>Subject: Etymology
>
>Knowing next to nothing about weaving, I did not realize that English,
too,
>has the related word _tow_ "coarse and broken part of flax or hemp
prepared
>for spinning; loose bunch of rayon etc. strands;" ... "ME, f. MLG _touw_,
>f. OS _tou_, rel. to ON _tó_ wool f. *_taw-_" ... (The Concise Oxford
>Dictionary) -- thus, a Middle Low Saxon (Low German) loan.
>
>Regards,
>Reinhard/Ron

This would, of course, be the origin of the term "tow-headed", meaning
blond, and usually used to refer to little boys (the equivalent for girls
is
usually "flaxen-haired").

Kevin Caldwell
kdcaldwell31 at home.com

----------

From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Etymology

Kevin,

Excellent point above!  The Oxford Dictionary does indeed link 'tow-headed'
with the noun we discussed, "in the colour of tow."

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

==================================END===================================
 You have received this because your account has been subscribed upon
 request. To unsubscribe, please send the command "signoff lowlands-l"
 as message text from the same account to
 <listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org> or sign off at
 <http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html>.
=======================================================================
 * Please submit contributions to <lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org>.
 * Contributions will be displayed unedited in digest form.
 * Please display only the relevant parts of quotes in your replies.
 * Commands for automated functions (including "signoff lowlands-l") are
   to be sent to <listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org> or at
   <http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html>.
 * Please use only Plain Text format, not Rich Text (HTML) or any other
   type of format, in your submissions
=======================================================================