ETYMOLOGY 



IN old writings the word occurs variously as haudr, 

 had(d)yr, haddir, hedder, hadder, hather, and 



hether. The word ''Heather" is of uncertain origin, 

 and is supposed to have appeared first in the eight- 

 eenth century. Skeat, the etymologist, remarks as 

 follows concerning the word Haudr: "Uncultivated 

 land. The plant heath is so named from growing on 

 barren heaths. Heather, an inhabitant of the heath; 

 a heath-er." This latter derivation, while a conven- 

 ient one, seems to be borne out by others referred to 

 further on. It is common in some parts of Scotland 

 to apply the termination "er," signifying as belong- 

 ing to. For example: Fifer, a native of Fife. An- 

 other writer has endeavored to trace the name to the 

 word "heat," which virtue he ascribes as one of the 

 properties possessed by the Heather. 



The form which will appeal most forcibly to, and 

 find the greatest favor with, Scotsmen, at least, is 

 that provided by Dr. Prior, as follows: "Heath, 

 Heather, Hather, A. S. hseo; G. heide; O. N. heioi; 

 Go. haipi, a word which primarily meant the coun- 

 try in which the heath grows ; Skr. Kshetra, a field ; 

 Beng. Kheta and Skr. Kshiti, land, from Kshi, to 

 dwell. It is from the same root, Kshi, that is de- 

 rived Skr. Kshama, ground ; Prakr. Khama, to which 



