Page:Glossary of words in use in Cornwall.djvu/294

A GLOSSARY OF DEVONSHIRE PLANT NAMES. 25 I then learned that the old name used to be '^ Kiss-me-Loye-at-the- Oaiden-Gata" This was contracted to Oazden-gate. (See Mbbt-ms- LoYB.) It is customary to assign these arbitrary names to the Viola tricolor, L., or Pansy. (See Britten's note on " Garden Gate/' p. 199; cf. Flora Domestiea, pp. 165, seq.; Flora Hidoriea, i 77, seq. ; Prior, pp. 129, 176.) Mr. Britten adds that the little Herb Hobert (Geranium Robertianum, L.) likewise bears this name in South Bucks, which will explain the tauci that 1 have heard it called " Kiss-me " by Devonshire children. Names ramble from plant to plant in a strange fashion, but in a way which is easily intelligible to anyone who will give the subject a moment's thought and attention. Thus, the flower under cqnsideration {Saxifraga is known variously as Pink (cf. " John-of-my-Pink" for the Pansy), Bird's Eye (a common name for Herb Robert, &c.), Kiss-me-quick, or Look-up-and-kiss-me, &c. Garliok, Wild, Allium ursinum, L. ; but the more common name is Bamsey, or Ramsin. (Cf. Britten, p. 200; Earle, pp. 46, 57, &c.; and cf, also Prior, p. 89.) Geranium, Wild, Oeranium Rohertianum, L. Strange to say in Cheshire the Bed and White Campions {Lychnis diuma, Sibth. and L. vespertina^ Sibth.) are called "Wild Geranium," another instance of the confusion between these two flowers (Herb Robert and Campion). Thus both are called " Bachelor's Buttons," '^Robin- flowers," &c. Obukt-flowbr (1) Lychnis diuma, Sibth. (dioica, L.) "What do you call this flower?" I asked of a labourer on Miss Carew's estate at Haccombe one day. " Us calls 'en (jeuky-flotoer" he replied. " Why do you give it that name 1" I further asked, as I was in doubt what he might mean by the word. " Because it comes in blow when the geuky is here." I do not find this provincialism so spelt in any Devonshire glossary, although it is a purely Devonshire sound, common among old people, but feist dying out (See Gawk, &a, in Trails. Devon, Assoc, vii. 480;) (2) Orchis masctda, L. " That flower in the glass is a geuky- flower" said an old woman of fourscore and eight summers living at Ipplepen, and well versed in plants and herba (Cf. Cuckoo, Cuckoo-flower.) GiGOABY, Narcissus Pseudo-narcissus, L. "Don't bring they Oiggarys into the house; vor if 'ee du, es shaant ha' a single chick." (See Trans, Devon, Assoc, xi 109, taken from a letter by Edward Capem, the poet, in Western Times, March 29th, 1879.) As Daffodils bear the common names of ^' Lent-lilies," " Easter- lilies," "Whitsundays," and similar designations, I suspect that Mr. Capem's word has something to do with the "Gracy Day" (which see) of which mention is made in Haliiwell and others. Gil-cup, or Gilty-cup, Ranunculus acris, L. A common name for Buttercups generally, on account of their cup-like shape and gilty appearance. {Qf. Go'-cup, and see Britten, p. 203.)