LL-L "Etymology" 2012.03.26 (03) [EN]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L - 26 March 2012 - Volume 03
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 From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
 Subject: Etymology

Dear Lowlanders,

Now that spring has arrived, many temperate climate parts of the Northern
Hemisphere are witnessing the blooming season of *Cytisus scoparius* and
its close relatives.

This shrub is apparently endemic in the European Lowlands but has spread
also to certain adjacent parts of Southern, Central and Eastern Europe.
While in Northern Europe it is a beloved harbinger of spring, it is widely
detested in areas in which it has been introduced via European colonization
and is now an invasive, rapidly spreading plant. This is particularly so in
Northwestern America, in temperate climate regions of Southern Asia, in
Southeastern Australia, in New Zealand and in parts of Southern South
America.

Here in America's Pacific Northwest, many people claim that their spring
allergies are due to the pollen of this plant. However, it has been shown
that its blooming season coincides with that of alders, birches and other
trees to which many people (me included) tend to be allergic.

I find the various names of *Cytisus scoparius* fairly interesting,
especially in Lowlands language varieties and their closer relatives.

For one thing, its Low Saxon name *Braam* ([brɒːm] ~ [broːm]), its Dutch
name *brem* ([brɛm]), its Scots name* bruim* ([brym] ~ [brim] ~ [brɪm]), as
well as its British and Irish English name "broom" ([bru(ː)m]) suggest that
this plant used to be used for sweeping, although its name is not used in
this sense in Low Saxon, Dutch and Scots. However, note German
*Besen*([ˈbeːzən]) 'broom' in one of the names for this shrub:
*Besenginster*. It is also suggested by the Latin name *Cytisus scoparius*.

In North America (where, as I mentioned earlier, it is invasive), the plant
is called "Scotch broom" or "Scot's broom," in some dialects also "English
broom," and scientifically "common broom."
*
Cytisus scoparius:
*
English: broom, Scotch broom, Scot's broom, English broom, common broom
Scots: *bruim, breem*
Old English: *besma, brom*, *ceacga, gors*
Frisian, West: *bremerheide*
Frisian, East (Saterland): *Brom*
 Old Frisian: ?
Low Saxon: *Braam, Berntgras, Beent*
Old Saxon: *brām*
Dutch: *brem*, *gewone brem*
 Limburgish: *bröm*

Luxembourgish: *Ginz*
German: *Ginster** *(< Latin *genista*), *Besenginster* ("broom *genista*")
Yiddish: ?

Danish: *gyvel, almindelig gyvel*
Norwegian: *gyvel
*Swedish:* harris*, *ginst *(< Latin *genista*)
Icelandic: *gífill*
Old Norse: ?

Kashubian: *diôbli ògón* ("devilish fire"?), *jôrk, brem*
Polish: *żarnowiec miotlasty* ("shaggy/scruffy broom")

*Broom* (for sweeping):

English: broom
Scots: *besom*
Old English: *besma, bisme*
Frisian, West: *biezem*
Frisian, East (Saterland): *Bäisem*
Old Frisian: *besma*
Low Saxon: *Bessem, Bessen*
 Old Saxon: *besmo*
Dutch: *bezem*
Limburgish: *bessem, kaerbessem*

Luxembourgish: *Biesem, Kiirbiischt*

<http://www.dico.lu/dictionnaire.php?m=Biesem>
German: *Besen*
Yiddish: *bezim* (בעזים), *bezem* (בעזעם)

Danish: *kost*
Norwegian: *kost, sopelime
*Swedish:* kvast
*Icelandic: *kústur, sópur, vöndur *
Old Norse: *līmi, sōfl*
(Note English "sweep")

Kashubian: *miotła*
Polish: *miotła, żarnowiec, ożóg**

*Any additions, thoughts, insights, suggestions, findings ...?

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron
Seattle, USA*

*
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