Bonus Episode 7: Stuffed Animals – A Detailed Summary

Podcast Information:

• Title: The History of English Podcast
• Host/Author: Kevin Stroud
• Description: The Spoken History of a Global Language
• Episode: Bonus Episode 7: Stuffed Animals
• Release Date: June 25, 2015

Introduction

In Bonus Episode 7: Stuffed Animals, host Kevin Stroud delves into the etymology of various animal-related terms in the English language, particularly those rooted in Old English. This episode serves as a supplementary installment, filling the gap left by Kevin’s other commitments, notably his move, which delayed the production of the next regular episode. Kevin aims to explore the origins and evolution of common animal names, demonstrating how core vocabulary words often endure through centuries.

Old English Roots of Animal Names

Kevin begins by emphasizing that many modern English words for common animals trace back to Old English, underscoring the longevity of core vocabulary:

“Most of our modern words for common animals can be traced back to Old English.” ([00:00])

Examples of Old English Animal Terms

• Wolf: Traced back to Old English wulf. Kevin highlights its prevalence as a name element, citing the name Beowulf, which combines beo (bee) and wulf (wolf), serving as a euphemism for a bear.

• Bee: Originates from Old English beo, part of compounds like beo gang (a swarm of bees) and beomoder (queen bee).

• Moth: Derived from Old English motha.

• Gnat: Remains gnat in modern English, though pronounced with a voiced 'g' in Old English. Another Old English term for gnat is muge, meaning any flying pest, connected to the Indo-European root mu.

Kevin traces the word muge back through Latin musca (fly) to Spanish mosquito and French musquet (a type of bird), illustrating their common Indo-European ancestry and thematic link to things that fly.

Transition from Old to Middle English

Kevin discusses the evolution of certain animal names during the Middle English period:

• Dog: Originates from Old English hund (hound). The term dog appears sporadically in late Old English texts but became prevalent in the 1200s, replacing hound.

• Rabbit: Borrowed from French in Middle English, superseding the Old English harrad or hare, reinforcing the shift in vocabulary influenced by Norman French.

Compound Words in Old English

Kevin explores the Anglo Saxons' fondness for compound words, many of which have persisted into modern English:

“The Anglo Saxons loved compounds like that, and some of them survived. So a word like butterfly has survived.” ([12:45])

Notable Compounds

• Caterpillar: Originally called leofwyrm (leaf worm) or cow worm (coal worm), indicating a worm found on cabbage leaves (cole related to kale).

• Grasshopper: Gershoppe, a straightforward compound describing its habitat.

• Dolphin: Referred to as maerswien (sea pig), paralleling the Latin porpoise (pig fish), both referencing the animal's pig-like snout. Kevin notes that this construction is consistent across Germanic languages and likely influenced by Roman terminology.

Bird Names and Feathers

Bird names in Old English are largely familiar today, reflecting minimal change over centuries:

• Chicken: Chicken
• Cock: Cook
• Hen: Hen
• Owl: Ullah
• Duck: Dukka or ducha
• Goose: Gonna
• Stork: Stork
• Crane: Cron

The Word "Feather"

Feathers were integral to Anglo Saxon life, used extensively for stuffing pillows and mattresses. The Old English term featherbed reflects this usage, pronounced similarly then and now.

Kevin explains the Viking influence on the English word for feather:

“The Vikings brought another word which also meant feather, and that was the word dune. And that word became down over time, and it still survives today.” ([23:50])

He clarifies that down, meaning soft feathers, is unrelated to the directional down and derives from the Old Norse dune, connected to the Indo-European root meaning smoke or haze, relating to the lightness of feathers.

Materials Used for Stuffing

Apart from feathers, wool was commonly used for stuffing:

“Another substance used for stuffing pillows or beds was wool. Of course, wool comes from sheep.” ([28:10])

Kevin contrasts traditional stuffing materials with modern alternatives like cotton, explaining that cotton was unknown in Anglo Saxon Britain due to climatic unsuitability and thus lacked a native term. The word cotton is Arabic in origin, entering English via French during later periods.

The Evolution of "Bombastic"

Kevin traces the word bombast and its evolution into bombastic:

“The word was used to mean raw cotton or cotton used for stuffing or padding. It produced the verb bombas, meaning to stuff with cotton. So something that was stuffed or inflated was bombastic.” ([31:05])

Originally denoting something stuffed or inflated, bombastic later evolved to describe pompous or inflated language, illustrating semantic shift over time.

Semantic Shifts: The Case of "Sad"

Kevin concludes with an exploration of the word sad, tracing its origins and semantic evolution:

“Its ultimate Indo European root of satisfy and satiate is the word sa. And sa meant to satisfy.” ([34:20])

In Old English, sad meant full or satisfied, deriving from the same root as words like satisfied, satiated, and saturated. Over time, its meaning shifted to denote a gloomy or melancholy state, influenced by the concept of being "full" leading to a sense of weariness.

Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes

Kevin wraps up the episode by expressing hope that listeners found the exploration of Old English animal terms engaging and informative. He teases the next regular episode, which will cover:

• The Evolution of the Feudal System in Europe
• The Rise of Normandy
• Divergent Norman and Anglo Saxon Perspectives Leading Up to 1066

“We’ll look at the evolution of the feudal system in Europe and the rise of Normandy. And we’ll also see how the Norman view of the events leading up to 1066 was quite different from that of the Anglo Saxons.” ([38:50])

He signs off by thanking listeners and encouraging them to stay tuned for the forthcoming episode.

Notable Quotes:

1. Introduction to Old English Animal Names:

   “Most of our modern words for common animals can be traced back to Old English.” ([00:00])

2. On Anglo Saxon Compound Words:

   “The Anglo Saxons loved compounds like that, and some of them survived. So a word like butterfly has survived.” ([12:45])

3. Viking Influence on "Down":

   “The Vikings brought another word which also meant feather, and that was the word dune. And that word became down over time, and it still survives today.” ([23:50])

4. Evolution of "Bombastic":

   “Something that was stuffed or inflated was bombastic.” ([31:05])

5. Semantic Shift of "Sad":

   “Its ultimate Indo European root of satisfy and satiate is the word sa. And sa meant to satisfy.” ([34:20])

6. Teaser for Upcoming Episodes:

   “We’ll look at the evolution of the feudal system in Europe and the rise of Normandy. And we’ll also see how the Norman view of the events leading up to 1066 was quite different from that of the Anglo Saxons.” ([38:50])

Final Thoughts:

This bonus episode provides a fascinating glimpse into the linguistic heritage of everyday animal names in English, highlighting the enduring legacy of Old English and the influence of other languages and cultures. Kevin Stroud effectively bridges historical etymology with modern usage, offering listeners an enriched understanding of the words that form the backbone of the English language.