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Etymology of “arse-smart” as a name for the water pepper
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Today I learned that water pepper (Persicaria hydropiper, L. 1800) is otherwise called "arse-smart" in English:
PERSICARIA, Arse-smart
The Characters are;
It is a Plant with an apetalous Flower having several Stamina or Chives which arise from the multisid Calyx: the Pointal afterward becomes an oval-pointed smooth Seed, inclosed in the Capsule, which was before the Flower-cup: to which may be added, It hath jointed Stalks, and the Flowers are produced in Spikes.
—The Gardeners Dictionary (1754)
I failed to find its etymology in OED or other sources.
What could be the etymology of this name?
etymology
edited Jan 31 at 20:58
Laurel
34.8k668121
asked Jan 31 at 20:40
QuassnoiQuassnoi
5321517
|
show 4 more comments
Today I learned that water pepper (Persicaria hydropiper, L. 1800) is otherwise called "arse-smart" in English:
PERSICARIA, Arse-smart
The Characters are;
It is a Plant with an apetalous Flower having several Stamina or Chives which arise from the multisid Calyx: the Pointal afterward becomes an oval-pointed smooth Seed, inclosed in the Capsule, which was before the Flower-cup: to which may be added, It hath jointed Stalks, and the Flowers are produced in Spikes.
—The Gardeners Dictionary (1754)
I failed to find its etymology in OED or other sources.
What could be the etymology of this name?
etymology
edited Jan 31 at 20:58
Laurel
34.8k668121
asked Jan 31 at 20:40
QuassnoiQuassnoi
5321517
2
I’ve never even heard of water pepper, much less arsesmart!
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Jan 31 at 21:26
@JanusBahsJacquet It's a different sense of smart in this case, though.
– Kris
Feb 1 at 8:48
1
Have you Googled the term?
– Kris
Feb 1 at 8:49
@Kris I have, yes, that's how I found it on Google Books
– Quassnoi
Feb 1 at 9:16
1
Much before that, right at the top of the search results are the pointers to the answer.
– Kris
Feb 1 at 9:19
|
show 4 more comments
Today I learned that water pepper (Persicaria hydropiper, L. 1800) is otherwise called "arse-smart" in English:
PERSICARIA, Arse-smart
The Characters are;
It is a Plant with an apetalous Flower having several Stamina or Chives which arise from the multisid Calyx: the Pointal afterward becomes an oval-pointed smooth Seed, inclosed in the Capsule, which was before the Flower-cup: to which may be added, It hath jointed Stalks, and the Flowers are produced in Spikes.
—The Gardeners Dictionary (1754)
I failed to find its etymology in OED or other sources.
What could be the etymology of this name?
etymology
edited Jan 31 at 20:58
Laurel
34.8k668121
asked Jan 31 at 20:40
QuassnoiQuassnoi
5321517
Today I learned that water pepper (Persicaria hydropiper, L. 1800) is otherwise called "arse-smart" in English:
PERSICARIA, Arse-smart
The Characters are;
It is a Plant with an apetalous Flower having several Stamina or Chives which arise from the multisid Calyx: the Pointal afterward becomes an oval-pointed smooth Seed, inclosed in the Capsule, which was before the Flower-cup: to which may be added, It hath jointed Stalks, and the Flowers are produced in Spikes.
—The Gardeners Dictionary (1754)
I failed to find its etymology in OED or other sources.
What could be the etymology of this name?
etymology
etymology
edited Jan 31 at 20:58
Laurel
34.8k668121
asked Jan 31 at 20:40
QuassnoiQuassnoi
5321517
edited Jan 31 at 20:58
Laurel
34.8k668121
asked Jan 31 at 20:40
QuassnoiQuassnoi
5321517
edited Jan 31 at 20:58
Laurel
34.8k668121
edited Jan 31 at 20:58
Laurel
34.8k668121
edited Jan 31 at 20:58
Laurel
34.8k668121
34.8k668121
asked Jan 31 at 20:40
QuassnoiQuassnoi
5321517
asked Jan 31 at 20:40
QuassnoiQuassnoi
5321517
asked Jan 31 at 20:40
QuassnoiQuassnoi
5321517
5321517
2
I’ve never even heard of water pepper, much less arsesmart!
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Jan 31 at 21:26
@JanusBahsJacquet It's a different sense of smart in this case, though.
– Kris
Feb 1 at 8:48
1
Have you Googled the term?
– Kris
Feb 1 at 8:49
@Kris I have, yes, that's how I found it on Google Books
– Quassnoi
Feb 1 at 9:16
1
Much before that, right at the top of the search results are the pointers to the answer.
– Kris
Feb 1 at 9:19
|
show 4 more comments
2
I’ve never even heard of water pepper, much less arsesmart!
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Jan 31 at 21:26
@JanusBahsJacquet It's a different sense of smart in this case, though.
– Kris
Feb 1 at 8:48
1
Have you Googled the term?
– Kris
Feb 1 at 8:49
@Kris I have, yes, that's how I found it on Google Books
– Quassnoi
Feb 1 at 9:16
1
Much before that, right at the top of the search results are the pointers to the answer.
– Kris
Feb 1 at 9:19
2
2
I’ve never even heard of water pepper, much less arsesmart!
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Jan 31 at 21:26
I’ve never even heard of water pepper, much less arsesmart!
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Jan 31 at 21:26
@JanusBahsJacquet It's a different sense of smart in this case, though.
– Kris
Feb 1 at 8:48
@JanusBahsJacquet It's a different sense of smart in this case, though.
– Kris
Feb 1 at 8:48
1
1
Have you Googled the term?
– Kris
Feb 1 at 8:49
Have you Googled the term?
– Kris
Feb 1 at 8:49
@Kris I have, yes, that's how I found it on Google Books
– Quassnoi
Feb 1 at 9:16
@Kris I have, yes, that's how I found it on Google Books
– Quassnoi
Feb 1 at 9:16
1
1
Much before that, right at the top of the search results are the pointers to the answer.
– Kris
Feb 1 at 9:19
Much before that, right at the top of the search results are the pointers to the answer.
– Kris
Feb 1 at 9:19
|
show 4 more comments
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
Arsesmart (variously spelled) is first attested in the OED around 1300, as ersmert, an alternative name for water pepper.
The origin is assumed to be simple composition, arse referring to a person's buttocks and smart in the verb sense of feeling pain, as asserted by John Minsheu in his 1617 Ductor in Linguas (Guide into Tongues):
Ἡγεμὼν είς τὰς γλῶσσας: Ductor in Linguas 544
Arsmart..because if it touch the taile or other bare skinne, it
maketh it smart, as often it doth, being laid into the bed greene to
kill fleas.
answered Jan 31 at 21:20
chosterchoster
38.1k1486139
add a comment |
Wiktionary provides the following etymology:
Arse-smart
From arse + smart, because the plant stings when it touches bare skin, and was often laid in beds to kill fleas.
(http://plants-of-styria.uni-graz.at/images/persicaria)
answered Jan 31 at 21:04
user240918user240918
26.8k1075160
somehow I missed the wiktionary, thanks! do you know the original source for that?
– Quassnoi
Jan 31 at 21:08
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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active
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
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active
oldest
votes
Arsesmart (variously spelled) is first attested in the OED around 1300, as ersmert, an alternative name for water pepper.
The origin is assumed to be simple composition, arse referring to a person's buttocks and smart in the verb sense of feeling pain, as asserted by John Minsheu in his 1617 Ductor in Linguas (Guide into Tongues):
Ἡγεμὼν είς τὰς γλῶσσας: Ductor in Linguas 544
Arsmart..because if it touch the taile or other bare skinne, it
maketh it smart, as often it doth, being laid into the bed greene to
kill fleas.
answered Jan 31 at 21:20
chosterchoster
38.1k1486139
add a comment |
Arsesmart (variously spelled) is first attested in the OED around 1300, as ersmert, an alternative name for water pepper.
The origin is assumed to be simple composition, arse referring to a person's buttocks and smart in the verb sense of feeling pain, as asserted by John Minsheu in his 1617 Ductor in Linguas (Guide into Tongues):
Ἡγεμὼν είς τὰς γλῶσσας: Ductor in Linguas 544
Arsmart..because if it touch the taile or other bare skinne, it
maketh it smart, as often it doth, being laid into the bed greene to
kill fleas.
answered Jan 31 at 21:20
chosterchoster
38.1k1486139
add a comment |
Arsesmart (variously spelled) is first attested in the OED around 1300, as ersmert, an alternative name for water pepper.
The origin is assumed to be simple composition, arse referring to a person's buttocks and smart in the verb sense of feeling pain, as asserted by John Minsheu in his 1617 Ductor in Linguas (Guide into Tongues):
Ἡγεμὼν είς τὰς γλῶσσας: Ductor in Linguas 544
Arsmart..because if it touch the taile or other bare skinne, it
maketh it smart, as often it doth, being laid into the bed greene to
kill fleas.
answered Jan 31 at 21:20
chosterchoster
38.1k1486139
Arsesmart (variously spelled) is first attested in the OED around 1300, as ersmert, an alternative name for water pepper.
The origin is assumed to be simple composition, arse referring to a person's buttocks and smart in the verb sense of feeling pain, as asserted by John Minsheu in his 1617 Ductor in Linguas (Guide into Tongues):
Ἡγεμὼν είς τὰς γλῶσσας: Ductor in Linguas 544
Arsmart..because if it touch the taile or other bare skinne, it
maketh it smart, as often it doth, being laid into the bed greene to
kill fleas.
answered Jan 31 at 21:20
chosterchoster
38.1k1486139
answered Jan 31 at 21:20
chosterchoster
38.1k1486139
answered Jan 31 at 21:20
chosterchoster
38.1k1486139
answered Jan 31 at 21:20
chosterchoster
38.1k1486139
38.1k1486139
add a comment |
add a comment |
Wiktionary provides the following etymology:
Arse-smart
From arse + smart, because the plant stings when it touches bare skin, and was often laid in beds to kill fleas.
(http://plants-of-styria.uni-graz.at/images/persicaria)
answered Jan 31 at 21:04
user240918user240918
26.8k1075160
somehow I missed the wiktionary, thanks! do you know the original source for that?
– Quassnoi
Jan 31 at 21:08
add a comment |
Wiktionary provides the following etymology:
Arse-smart
From arse + smart, because the plant stings when it touches bare skin, and was often laid in beds to kill fleas.
(http://plants-of-styria.uni-graz.at/images/persicaria)
answered Jan 31 at 21:04
user240918user240918
26.8k1075160
somehow I missed the wiktionary, thanks! do you know the original source for that?
– Quassnoi
Jan 31 at 21:08
add a comment |
Wiktionary provides the following etymology:
Arse-smart
From arse + smart, because the plant stings when it touches bare skin, and was often laid in beds to kill fleas.
(http://plants-of-styria.uni-graz.at/images/persicaria)
answered Jan 31 at 21:04
user240918user240918
26.8k1075160
Wiktionary provides the following etymology:
Arse-smart
From arse + smart, because the plant stings when it touches bare skin, and was often laid in beds to kill fleas.
(http://plants-of-styria.uni-graz.at/images/persicaria)
answered Jan 31 at 21:04
user240918user240918
26.8k1075160
edited Jan 31 at 21:39
answered Jan 31 at 21:04
user240918user240918
26.8k1075160
answered Jan 31 at 21:04
user240918user240918
26.8k1075160
answered Jan 31 at 21:04
user240918user240918
26.8k1075160
26.8k1075160
somehow I missed the wiktionary, thanks! do you know the original source for that?
– Quassnoi
Jan 31 at 21:08
add a comment |
somehow I missed the wiktionary, thanks! do you know the original source for that?
– Quassnoi
Jan 31 at 21:08
somehow I missed the wiktionary, thanks! do you know the original source for that?
– Quassnoi
Jan 31 at 21:08
somehow I missed the wiktionary, thanks! do you know the original source for that?
– Quassnoi
Jan 31 at 21:08
add a comment |
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2
I’ve never even heard of water pepper, much less arsesmart!
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Jan 31 at 21:26
@JanusBahsJacquet It's a different sense of smart in this case, though.
– Kris
Feb 1 at 8:48
1
Have you Googled the term?
– Kris
Feb 1 at 8:49
@Kris I have, yes, that's how I found it on Google Books
– Quassnoi
Feb 1 at 9:16
1
Much before that, right at the top of the search results are the pointers to the answer.
– Kris
Feb 1 at 9:19