GUEEXSEY DIALECT AXD PLANT NAMES. 3/ 



answered ofF-haiid. Probably some came from Brittany, 

 others fi'om remoter parts of France, and some possibly had 

 their origin in distant conntries. If Ave could determine the 

 etymology of these names it would help us, but at present we 

 cannot. There are some common Guernsey names which 

 seem to baffle all attempts at tracing their derivation : they 

 appear meaningless, because we have not discovered the key 

 which Avill unlock the mystery of their origin : and yet they 

 are not less interesting on that account. 



As far as it has been possible I have carefully preserved 

 in the following pages local information about the medicinal 

 virtues, fancied or real, attributed to plants by the old 

 Guernsey people : as well as a few curious dittons and popular 

 rhymes connected with them. But what I have done is, after 

 all, only fragmentary. The old generation of country folks 

 who knew all about these things has died out, and very, very 

 few persons are now to be found who care at all for the 

 plant-lore of our islands. Let me then earnestly appeal to those 

 who still have the opportimity, to collect and preserve these 

 fast-fading memories of the past, and thus testify to those 

 who shall come after us that Ave, in this generation, do not 

 altogether despise the venerable language of our Norman 

 forefathers. 



Ail. Wild Garlic [AUium tnquetruni). Also known by the name of Blanche 

 Coneille. 



Alisandre or Alisante. Alexanders {Smyrnium olusatrum). 



Ambrouaise. Wood Sage {Teucrium scorodonia) , also called Lambraise. Both 

 are variants of thf French name of the plant Ambroise. 



Amer-dOU. Woody Nightshade {Solcmum dulcamara). Lit. Bitter-sweet. 



Called in French JJouce-amere. 

 Amourette. Ribwort Plantain {Plantag> lanceolata). 



Arrete-beu. '^\xd^'%-i.ootTxQiQ'^ [Lotus comiculatus). This is the med'Oival 

 name Arresta hovis. applied to the Rest Harrow, the roots being so tough 

 that they could stop an ox drawing a plough — or a harrow See under 

 Rete beuf. 



Avenon. Wild Oat iAvenafatua). The cultivated oat is called Avaine, and 

 the word Avenon signifies a useless or unprofitable kind of oat. 



Bas. Couch Grass [Triticum repens). Pronounced exactly as if written in 

 English Ixuf. 



Bee de GPUe. Musky Storksbill {Erodmm moschatum). Lit. Crane's bill, 

 [''sed at at Martin's Also called EplUs es bergiers and Masque sauvage. 



Bele. Marshwort [Apium nodifloruni) . I'he French name of this plant is 

 Berle. 



Berbiette. Daisy ( BelHs pcrenn is) . The diminutive of the patois berbi (sheep) , 

 pronounced berbi -yette. I think it probable that this name (the only one 

 used here; originated in the pretty fancy of children that daisies in the 

 grass resemble liitle sheep in a field. 



Beruelle. Common Heath (Erica cinerea). 



