LL-L "Etymology" 2005.10.27 (04) [E]

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   L O W L A N D S - L * 29 October 2005 * Volume 04
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From: Global Moose Translations <globalmoose at t-online.de>
Subject: LL-L "Lexicon" 2005.10.27 (02) [E]

By the way, I came across a word in a translation the other day that I had
never heard before: "ajuin". Seems to be a Belgian word for "ui" (onion).
None of the other four Dutch speakers in my family had heard of it either.
Could be related to Latin "allium", perhaps?

Gabriele Kahn

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

Hi, Gabriele!

I separated this out from your "mixed message."  ;-)

> "ajuin"

> Could be related to Latin "allium", perhaps?

I vote for French _oignon_ (= Norman French _ungeon_, _unniun_, etc. > 
English "onion"), which is derived from Vulgar Latin _ūniō(n)_ 'large single 
pearl'*, also rustic _ūnus_ for a single bulb -- onions having been a 
definite staple in Ancient Rome.

* Oxford English Dictionary:
<quote>
According to the classical Latin agricultural writer Columella, the peasants 
used _ūniō_ for a certain variety of onion because it put forth no shoots, 
i.e. it represented a single entity. The application of the word to a pearl 
may represent an independent derivation from _ūnus_ one, alluding to the 
fact that it was worn alone, or it may be a transfer from the sense ‘onion’, 
with reference to the similarity in shape.
</quote>

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron 

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