42 GUERNSEY DIALECT AXD PLANT NAMES. 



drinking a decoction of Tormentil. I have reason to believe, however, 

 that tliis distinction is not universal ; because some years ago an old man 

 at St. Martin's showed me some Tormentil which he had just gathered, 

 and which he said he was taking regularly as a " tea," to avert the danger 

 of a i)aralytic stroke. 



Herbe pointue. Floating Foxtail Grass [yLlopccHriis ycniciilatHo). 



Herbe Saint Jean. Mugwort [yLrtcmlsla vuUjaris). 



Herbe SOrchiere. Wall Barley {Ilordeam murinum). Lit. Sorcery (xrass. 

 The erratic movement of a spike of this grass, when put up the sleeve 

 or down the back, not being readily accounted for by the simjjle rural 

 intellect, these motions are attributed to sorcery and magic. 



Herbe terree. Germander Speedwell ( Veronica cha/ncedri/,s) . In former days 

 a "tea" made from this plant was esteemed a valuable remedy for 

 indigestion, and pains in the stomach. 



Herbe traitresse. Si^otted Persicaria {Fob/f/oHum pcrsicarla). This name 

 originates in a Guernsey legend to the effect that a woman who had 

 committed a murder, wiped her blood-stained fingers on the leaves of 

 this plant, which betrayed her, and led to her detection. Ever since then 

 the leaves have been marked in the centre by a dark spot. Also called 

 Langue d''oHaie. 



HolOgreS. Dandelion [ raraxacuni ojficlnale). Lit. Clocks. 



Housse. Holly [Ilex aqulfulium). This is the feminine form of the French 

 name Houx. So also the Box tree, in French Buis, takes the feminine 

 form Bnissc. As, however, both these names are masculine in the patois, 

 it is possible, as has been suggested to me, that it is simply the sibilation 

 of the final letter, just as the worcl^/s (son) is always pronounced ^'sse. 



lane. Wormwood {Arfeuilsii absinthium). This name, which sounds like the 

 English ymvn, is the Guernsey form of Liane, used for this plant in the 

 northern parts of Normandy. Further south the name becomes Lienne 

 and Alienne, variants of Ahune or Alvine, which was the old French name 

 for Wormwood. This is an instance of the gradual modification of a 

 name, although at the two extremes it is difficult to perceive their 

 relationship. 



Incarnate. Crimson Clover {Trifolinni incarnatum). 



Ivraie. Wall Barley {Hordeiun muriniim). A less common name than Herbe 

 sorchiere. 



Jan or Jaon. Ywyzq [Vlcx curopceus). In the Cotentin district of Normandy 

 a furze -brake is called tone jnoniere, exactly as in Guernsey. 



Jaune Barbe. House leek [Se/np-rvivian tectornm). Lit. Yellow Beard. A 

 local variant of Joubarbe, the French name of this plant, i.e., Jovi.s barba, 

 or Jupiter's Beard. 



Jonere. Soft Rush {Jitncus episus). This name and the next are forms of 

 the 'Fxewchjonc. 



Jonque. Sharp-flowered Rush [Juncns aeiitijlorus). Probably this and the 

 preceding are only variants of the same name. 



KerSOn. Water Cress {XmtartiHin officinale). The local form of the French 

 cresson. 



KerSOUnette. Wart Cress {Senebicra didijma). This word is the diminutive 

 of Kerson ; so called from its strong, cress-like odour. 



La Coue. Cleavers {Galium aparinc). Lit. The tail. This singular name 

 originates in the common amusement of country children on All Fools' 

 Day. They slily stick wisps of this clinging plant on each other's backs, 

 and then start the cry " La coue ! la coue I" A more general name is 

 Gratteron. 



LachetS. The seaweed GJiordaJilum. Lit. Laces. 



