LINGUIST cross-post: Origin of Pot 'Cannabis'

[Jonathan Lighter]

I was about to reply, then realized I didn't know what I was talking about, tried to cancel the message, sent empty contents in error.

Sorry.

JL

Laurence Horn <laurence.horn at YALE.EDU> wrote:
---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
Sender: American Dialect Society
Poster: Laurence Horn
Subject: Re: LINGUIST cross-post: Origin of Pot 'Cannabis'
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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 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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