walnut

walnut
\ \ [OE] A walnut is etymologically a ‘foreign nut’. Its name alludes to the fact that the nut was regarded by the Germanic peoples as an exotic import from southern Europe, land of Romans and Celts (their own native nut was the hazel). Prehistoric Germanic *walkhaz originally meant ‘Celtic’ (it was borrowed from Latin Volcae, the name of a Celtic people), but it soon broadened out to include anyone or anything foreign (including the Romans) within its scope. Its original Celtic connotations survive, however, in Welsh and Walloon (the name of a people of Gaulish origin), both of which go back to *walkhaz. English shares the formation walnut with its Germanic neighbours – German walnuss, Dutch walnoot, Swedish valnöt, and Danish valnød.
\ \ Cf.⇒ WALLOON, WELSH

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Walnut — Wal nut, n. [OE. walnot, AS. wealh hnutu a Welsh or foreign nut, a walnut; wealh foreign, strange, n., a Welshman, Celt (akin to OHG. Walh, properly, a Celt, from the name of a Celtic tribe, in L. Volcae) + hnutu a nut; akin to D. walnoot, G.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Walnut — ist der Name folgender US amerikanischer Ortschaften: Walnut (Illinois) Walnut (Iowa) Walnut (Kalifornien) Walnut (Kansas) Walnut (Mississippi) Siehe auch Walnut Grove Walnut Hill Walnut Township Walnut Creek Walnut Street Bridge Walnut Street… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Walnut — puede referirse a varias localidades de Estados Unidos: Walnut (California) Walnut (Illinois) Walnut (Iowa) Walnut (Kansas) Walnut (Misisipi) Véase también Walnut Grove …   Wikipedia Español

  • walnut — [wôl′nut΄, wôl′nət] n. [ME walnot < OE walhhnutu < wealh, foreign (see WELSH) + hnutu, NUT] 1. any of a genus (Juglans) of trees of the walnut family, valued as shade trees, for their nuts, and for their wood, used in making furniture,… …   English World dictionary

  • walnut — (n.) O.E. walhnutu nut of the walnut tree, lit. foreign nut, from wealh foreign (see WELSH (Cf. Welsh)) + hnutu (see NUT (Cf. nut)). Cf. O.N. valhnot, M.L.G. walnut, M.Du. walnote, Du. walnoot …   Etymology dictionary

  • Walnut, CA — U.S. city in California Population (2000): 30004 Housing Units (2000): 8395 Land area (2000): 8.982015 sq. miles (23.263311 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 8.982015 sq. miles (23.263311 sq. km)… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Walnut, IA — U.S. city in Iowa Population (2000): 778 Housing Units (2000): 350 Land area (2000): 2.144188 sq. miles (5.553422 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 2.144188 sq. miles (5.553422 sq. km) FIPS code:… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Walnut, IL — U.S. village in Illinois Population (2000): 1461 Housing Units (2000): 607 Land area (2000): 0.832855 sq. miles (2.157084 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.832855 sq. miles (2.157084 sq. km) FIPS …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Walnut, KS — U.S. city in Kansas Population (2000): 221 Housing Units (2000): 116 Land area (2000): 0.990805 sq. miles (2.566174 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.990805 sq. miles (2.566174 sq. km) FIPS code …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Walnut, MS — U.S. town in Mississippi Population (2000): 754 Housing Units (2000): 341 Land area (2000): 5.420013 sq. miles (14.037768 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.024984 sq. miles (0.064708 sq. km) Total area (2000): 5.444997 sq. miles (14.102476 sq. km)… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

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