Page:Glossary of words in use in Cornwall.djvu/311

42 k GLOSSARY OF DEVONSHIRE PLANT NAMES. The tree is known in some parts of England as Mock Oiange," or Orange-flower Tree." (Britten, p. 360.) Oranob Willow, lAppia (Aloygia) ciiriodora^ Kth. A very fragrant plant, known in most places as Lbmon-plant (which see). Orohby. For Orchis, probably because the proper form was thought to be a plural, and so arehey must be the singular. " Go and gather me that orchey flower," is a kind of phrase in common use. (Compare the note on Flock.) Organ, Organs, Orgins, (I) Origanum rndgare^ L. (See Britten, p. 362.) (2) Mentha Pidegium, L. " If I was a king, I 'd make et treason to drink ort but organ (pennyroyal) tey.** — Deoonskire CkmrUMpy pp. 7, 68. Who, for instance, would ever guess what was meant by 'organs teal' — eoi excellent potation for a cold, and here in much request" — Borders of Tamar and Tavy^ i 288. " Orgins broth " is the common name for pennyroyal tea. It is so also in Somersetshire. (Britten, p. 362 ; Trails. Devon, Assoc, viL 516.) Bosworth's Anglo-Saxon Dictionary makes Organe a kind of wild betony. Spenser (Faerie Queene, canto ii 40) speaks of a bath of " origane and thyme." Latin, origanum ; Greek, opiyavov. (See Clar^don Press issue of Faery Queene, pp. 24, 174, 239 ; Ecffle's Plant Names, pp. 6, 7, 89 ; Prior, p 173; Halliwell, 8.V. Organ.) Oysters. (1) Fiivcones, the scales of which, with the seeds, nearly enough resemble oyster-shells to suggest the name. Possibly on account of their growing on trees, and hanging down their heads, the name was given to ^ (2) Syringa vulgaris, L. The name by which bunches of lilac- blossom are known in North Deyon. If hamacles could be sup- posed to grow on trees (see Pro£ Max MUUer's Science of Lixngitage, 8th ed. vol ii p. 583^ seq,, and the many references; Credulities Past and Present, by William Jones, Esq., F.aA., p. 17, seq,; Gubematis* Mythologie dee Plantes, L p. 65, seq. — this author coming to different conclusions respecting the etymology of the word to those arrived at by Miiller) — ^if barnacles, I say, could grow on trees, why not oysters) It used to be believed, if Halli- well may be trusted, that when the early blossoms of willow fell into the water they became goslings, whence the name of Gosling or G«slin applied to willow catkins ; and we can quite conceive how the colour and appearance of the pretty blossoms would suggest such an idea. (Of, Cooklbs.) We have now to take leave of Mr. Britten's Dictionary, which has only reached the end of this letter. We shall anxiously look for the third part of that work, which will bring it to completion. Palm. (I) " Young flowering shoots of willow." — Trans. Devon. Assoc, xi. p. 138. This is a common name in many parts of