Skip to document
Back
Go to original Localized version was produced by AI. It may contain inaccuracies.
Preparing document pages…

ACTA LINGUISTICA LITHUANICA

L (2004), 11 – 24

Folk Plant Names Associated with the Healing Properties of Plants

AURELIJA GENELYTĖ

Lietuvių kalbos institutas, Vilnius

The article deals with Lithuanian phytonyms (plant names) based on the healing properties attributed to the plants concerned. The material is taken both from writings and from the living dialects. The plant names discussed in this article contain (a) names of organs and fluids of the human body, (b) names of diseases which the plants in question are assumed to cure and (c) words referring to symptoms of such diseases. Plant names of this type are still widely used in the modern Lithuanian dialects, but their areal scope is usually narrow.

1. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

Since ancient times, people have used various medicinal plants to treat illnesses and ailments. The traditions of folk medicine and herbalism in Lithuania are very old. According to botanists, more than 2,000 medicinal plants grow in our country (Puidokas 2002: 4), so it is quite understandable that in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries many Lithuanian rural residents knew a little about treating illnesses with herbs—it was part of their everyday lives. Almost every herb was considered a medicine: All herbs are medicines; you just have to know which is for what DJ (LKŽk). Only bentgrass is not a medicine, but all the other herbs heal PnMŽ (LKŽXVII 947). According to R. Trimakas, folk healing methods prevailed in the Lithuanian countryside at the end of the nineteenth century. Official medical services were rarely used; when people fell ill, they preferred to seek the services of herbalists (and sometimes healers), who enjoyed considerable authority in the rural community. In the author’s view, there was even a kind of division between the sexes: folk surgery and veterinary medicine were considered men’s occupations, while herbalism was regarded as women’s work (Trimakas 2001: 19). Scholarly literature discusses the abundant material on folk medicine and veterinary medicine from various perspectives, since it can be the subject of study for several disciplines—anthropology, biology, ethnology, folklore studies, medicine, pharmacy, and even linguistics. Even today, elderly rural women know many medicinal plants and call them by their own dialectal names, which are found neither in botanical manuals nor in scientific descriptions of plants. Folk phytonyms (cf. Greek φυτóν ‘plant’), readily understood by local people and passed down from generation to generation, have survived to the present day because the knowledge amassed by herbalists was not kept secret (unlike that of healers and charmers); it was taken up by anyone who was more interested in it or had an inclination to gather herbs (Trimakas 2001: 19). Thousands of vivid folk plant names are used in living speech (for example, more than 800 distinct folk phytonyms with different roots have been recorded in the North Panevėžys dialects alone). Often the same plant is called by a different name not only in different dialects but even in separate villages, because

12 |

A U R E L I J A G E N E L Y T Ė

speakers notice different distinguishing features of a plant; that is, in the process of cognition, the profile aspect (point of view) differs and becomes important in a given situation when an object or phenomenon is identified. Profiling is particularly important in the process of naming: it is a specific way of perceiving an object, based on one or another of its properties, characteristics, functions, and so on—in other words, a particular categorization of the object, assigning it to one category or another (Gudavičius 2000: 50). Relatively few names indicating a plant’s healing properties are used in living speech. Most of the phytonyms used in dialects are names based on a plant’s external features (names describing the shape or color of its flowers, leaves, or fruit, their resemblance to some real-world attribute, and so on). Since people tend to perceive the whole world through images, names based on visual features also dominate the system of plant naming. Moreover, the older rural generation of the early twentieth century, which knew many medicinal plants, understood which herb treated which illness and named numerous plants according to their healing properties, is dying out. Nevertheless, ethnological material gathered on folk medicine and folk plant names recorded in Lithuanian dialects include several dozen phytonyms (mostly names of medicinal plants) that describe the specific healing properties of a plant. The material collected by the author from dialects, as well as data from LKŽ and LKŽₖ, show that folk phytonyms associated with a plant’s healing properties can be divided into several semantic groups.

2. P H Y T O N Y M S F O R M E D F R O M N A M E S O F B O D Y P A R T S

Two groups of such names can be distinguished.

2. 1. Phytonyms whose base word indicates which body part is treated:

2.1.1. eye: akėlė (Šlu – ²LKŽ₁ 52)¹, akisopai (LBŽ 139 [PN]), akišvietė (LBŽ 139), akišvita (LBŽ 139 [P]), akšvita (P – ²LKŽ₁ 87), akutė (LBŽ 139) ‘akišvietė’ (Euphrasia)—in folk medicine, the decoction of this herb has long been used to treat eye diseases (LBŽ 139; VA 1973: 31);

2.1.2. ear:ausgyda (P, LBŽ 45 – ²LKŽ₁ 500), ausiagydė (LBŽ 45, RŠ – ²LKŽ₁ 500), ausigydė (LBŽ 45, BŽ 40 – ²LKŽ₁ 500) ‘akenis’ (Ballota)—a medicinal plant whose decoction is used to treat ear diseases (LBŽ 45; LVAS 1941: 16);

2.1.3. spleen:blužniažolė (J, K, LBŽ 88 – ²LKŽ₁ 957), blužniažolė (LL 228 – ²LKŽ₁ 957), blužnies žolė (D.Pošk – LKŽₓₓ 959) ‘blužnutė’ (Chrysosplenium)—the decoction is used for spleen disorders (LBŽ 88); blužnpapartis (P, LBŽ 35 – ²LKŽ₁ 957) ‘kalnarūtė’ (Asplenium)—the herb was formerly used to treat spleen disorders (LBŽ 35); the plant’s name is also motivated in classical languages, cf. Greek σπλήν ‘spleen’;

2.1.4. tooth:dantgalba (LBŽ 237 [P]) ‘skėstukas’ (Odontites)—an infusion is used as a remedy for toothache (LBŽ 237); dantvyra (LBŽ 178 [P]) ‘debesylas’ (Inula)—a decoction of the roots strengthens the gums (VA 1973: 79);

The article marks with stress those phytonyms that are marked for stress in LKŽ, LKŽₖ, or other sources.1

LIAUDIŠKI AUGALŲ PAVADINIMAI

13

2.1.5. kidney: inkstaglobė (P, LBŽ 247 – LKŽᵥ 171) ‘wall pellitory’ (Parietaria) – a medicinal plant used to treat kidney diseases (LBŽ 247; LVAS 1941: 62);

2.1.6. throat: kaklažolė (LBŽ 57 [Brž, Pn], RTN – LKŽᵥ 92), kaklinėlis (LBŽ 57 [Pn] – LKŽᵥ 93), kaklinyčia (LBŽ 57 [Brž] – LKŽᵥ 93), kaklinykas (Lš – LKŽᵥ 94) ‘self-heal’ (Prunella vulgaris) – in folk medicine the throat is gargled with an infusion of the herb (LBŽ 58; VA 1973: 128; Jankevičienė 1987: 154): When your throat is sore, you should drink kaklinykų tea Lš (LKŽᵥ 94);

2.1.7. bone: gyvakaulė (Mt – LKŽₘₘₘ 361), gyvakaulis (LBŽ 338), kaulažolė (J, LBŽ 338, Kp, Pc – LKŽᵥ 431; Pnm – LKŽₖ), kaulažolė (Varn, Šd – LKŽᵥ 431; Gdr – LKŽₖ), kaulažolynis (J, LBŽ 338 [Rk], NdŽ, Švnč, Ds – LKŽᵥ 431), kaūžolis (LBŽ 338 [P], Ak, NJ, Ds – LKŽᵥ 431; Pnm – LKŽₖ), kaūliašaknis (Pnm – LKŽₖ), kaūliažolė (Pnm – LKŽₖ), kaūliažolynis (Gmž, Ktk, Trgn – LKŽᵥ 432), kaūliažolis (Ds – LKŽᵥ 432; Pnm – LKŽₖ), kaūliažolis (Gdr – LKŽₖ) ‘common comfrey’ (Symphytum officinale) – the plant’s crushed roots are used to treat bone fractures (LBŽ 338; VA 1973: 359; VAK 1976: 688): When a bone was broken, the old women treated it with kaulažolis Ds (LKŽᵥ 431). They put kaulažolynis on when a person gets bone or bone-joint diseases Ds (LKŽᵥ 431). Kaūliašaknis blooms white. They dig it up; it has a root, and these here are only its flowers. You have to dig it up, grate it, and bind it on. So, when it hurts, when someone has broken bones, they bind it on, and it heals faster Pnm (LKŽₖ). Similar motivation for plant names is also found in other languages: Latin Symphytum is derived from Greek συμφυῶ ‘to make grow together’; cf. German Beinwell, English boneset, Polish żywokost;

2.1.8. liver: kepingelbė (P, LBŽ 22 – LKŽᵥ 581), kepenių žolelė (LBŽ 22) ‘liverleaf’ (Hepatica nobilis). This is a borrowing from Greek; cf. Greek ἧπαρ, ἥπατος ‘liver’ – the plant’s three-lobed leaves resemble a liver in shape². The same name motivation is found in many other languages: German Leberblümchen, English liverwort, Russian печеночница;

2.1.9. blood: kraujo žolė (D.Pošk, P, Sd – LKŽₓₓ 960), kraujanosė (LBŽ 5 [Brž]), kraujanošis (LBŽ 5 [Pn], DŽ, Dkk, Šmn – LKŽᵥᵢ 461), kraujiēs (LBŽ 5 [Švnč] – LKŽᵥᵢ 463), kraujińinkas (kraujinykas) (BŽ 107, Mr, LBŽ 5 – LKŽᵥᵢ 463), kraujūtis (J, LBŽ 5, Al, Auk, Slv – LKŽᵥᵢ 466), kraužolė (NdŽ – LKŽᵥᵢ 485) ‘yarrow’ (Achillea) – preparations made from the flowers, leaves, and herb are used to stop various kinds of bleeding and to increase blood clotting (LBŽ 6; VA 1973: 163; VAK 1976: 16; VAA 1983: 58; Jankevičienė 1987: 140): Stuff your nose with kraujanosiai, and the bleeding will stop Dkk (LKŽᵥᵢ 461). Give me some kraujanosio—the bleeding is really bad Ut (LKŽᵥᵢ 461). To stop the bleeding, they put kraujučiai on the wound Auk (LKŽᵥᵢ 466). Put some kraujučio on it, and the bleeding will stop Slv (LKŽᵥᵢ 466); kraujo duobelė (LBŽ 310 – LKŽᵥᵢ 462), kraujašaknė (TRGN – LKŽᵥᵢ 462), krau jelis (TRGN – LKŽᵥᵢ 463), krauji nis (TRGN – LKŽᵥᵢ 463), kraujotenis (LBŽ 310 [I]), kraujótraukis (IM 1862, 31, LBŽ 310 [I] – LKŽᵥᵢ 465), kraujūtis (BŽ 218, LBŽ 310, NdŽ – LKŽᵥᵢ 466), kraustaba (P, LBŽ 310 – LKŽᵥᵢ 472), krau žolė (J, Kair – LKŽᵥᵢ 485) ‘great burnet’ (Sanguisorba) – the herb’s decoction is used by folk medicine for wounds

2According to Lévi-Strauss, plant species that possess some memorable feature, a particular shape, color, or smell, give the observer grounds to suppose and assert that these features indicate certain plant properties that are likewise memorable, but hidden. Thus people, albeit temporarily, attend to the sensory connection between two things—for example, that yellow plant sap cures diseases of the spleen, that yellow or red flowers are suitable for treating internal organs of those colors, that leaves resembling the liver cure liver diseases, and so on (Lévi-Strauss 1997: 28).

14 |

AURELIJA GENELYTĖ

treatment, and an infusion is drunk for bloody diarrhea (LBŽ 311; Jankevičienė 1987: 172; MVAE 2002: 353): Kraużolės is given to animals for bloody urination KAIR (LKŽᵥᵢ 485). Cf. plant names in other languages: Latin Sanguisorba is derived from sanguis ‘blood’ and sorbere ‘to suck’—the rhizome has a high tannin content and stops bleeding. Cf. also Russian кровохлёбка, Polish krwiściąg, English blood-root; kraujatraukė (VRN – LKŽᵥᵢ 462), kraujazolė (VRN – LKŽᵥᵢ 462) ‘marsh cinquefoil’ (Comarum palustre) – in folk medicine, the herb’s decoction is used to treat high blood pressure and various kinds of bleeding (VA 1973: 361): When they apply kraujatraukė, it stops the bleeding right away VRN (LKŽᵥᵢ 462);

2.1.10. glands: liauktrama (P, LBŽ 317 – LKŽᵥᵢᵢ 393), liaukų žolė (LBŽ 317, AK – LKŽᵥᵢᵢ 392), liaukžolė (J, LBŽ 317 – LKŽᵥᵢᵢ 393) ‘figwort’ (Scrophularia) – in folk medicine, an infusion of the herb is used to treat swollen glands (LBŽ 317; LVAS 1941: 81); liaukų žolė (GRG – LKŽᵥᵢᵢ 392), liaukažolė (LBŽ 156, GRG – LKŽᵥᵢᵢ 392), liaukažolynis ‘ground ivy’ (Glechoma hederacea): They boil that liaukažolė (liaukų žolė) and give it to pigs when they have gland diseases GRG (LKŽᵥᵢᵢ 392);

2.1.11. ma čica (Polish macica ‘womb’): māčicos žolė (LBŽ 278, GRG – LKŽᵥᵢᵢ 722) ‘silver cinquefoil’ (Potentilla argentea) – a decoction of the herb is used in cases of painful menstruation (VA 1973: 302; MVAE 2002: 346);

2.1.12. nose: sraujanōsė, sraujanōsė (LBŽ 6, NdŽ, LKA₁ 264 [DBK, AN] – LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 568), sraujanōsis, sraujanōsis (Š, LBŽ 6 [PN, RK, UT, ZR], NDŽ, K.BŪG [DS], LKA₁ 264 [RK], LEL, KP, ADM, SKP, ON, VB, AND, DKK, UT – LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 568), sravanōsė, sravanōsė (L 461, LBŽ 6 [BRŽ], NDŽ, LKA₁ 168 [SLČ, SKRB, KRČ], JNŠK – LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 570), sravanōsis, sravanōsis (L 813, LBŽ 6 [PN, RK], Š, NDŽ, LKA₁ 168 [VB], AR, SV, VŠK, RM – LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 570), srevanōsė (LKA₁ 168 [SK] – LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 577), srevanōsis, srevanōsis (LBŽ 6 [BRŽ, KLP], NDŽ, PS, GRŽ – LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 577), srevenōsė (LKA₁ 168 [PS] – LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 577), srevenōsis (LKA₁ 168 [KVT], JNŠK – LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 577), sriaunanōsis (LBŽ 6 [KDN, PN], NDŽ – LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 579), sriavanōsis (NDŽ – LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 580), sruvanōsis (LBŽ 6 [RK], SV – LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 601), straujanōsis (KRSN, ANTZ – LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 940), stravanōsė (LKA₁ 168 [SLČ, SKRB] – LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 941), stravanōsis (LKA₁ 168 [VB] – LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 941), strevanōsis (LKA₁ 168 [SLČ, KRČ], PS – LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 953) ‘common yarrow’ (Achillea millefolium) – in folk medicine, the crushed herb is widely used to stop nosebleeds (LBŽ 6; VA 1973: 163; VAA 1983: 55; Jankevičienė 1987: 140; MVAE 2002: 202): As soon as you plug your nose with sraujanōsiai, the bleeding stops at once UT (LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 568). You should gather sravanōsiai; they are very good for stopping bleeding AR (LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 570). Straujanōsis is a remedy for stopping bleeding ANTZ (LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 940);

2.1.13. abdomen: pilvýtė (P, LBŽ 220, NDŽ – LKŽᵢₓ 1029), pilvýtis (MT, BŽ 29, NDŽ – LKŽᵢₓ 1029) ‘bogbean’ (Menyanthes trifoliata) – tea made from the leaves stimulates appetite and improves digestion (LBŽ 220; VA 1973: 237; MVAE 2002: 294);

2.1.14. lungs: plaučninkas (LBŽ 287, NDŽ – LKŽₓ 89) ‘lungwort’ (Pulmonaria) – tea made from the herb is used to treat bronchitis and other lung diseases (LBŽ 287; VA 1973: 234); plaučiažolė 1) ‘wild calla’ (Calla palustris) (LBŽ 62 [BRŽ]), 2) ‘narrow-leaved gentian’ (Gentiana pneumonanthe) (LBŽ 153) – tea made from the flowers and leaves of these plants is used to treat lung diseases (LBŽ 62, 153);

LIAUDIŠKI AUGALŲ PAVADINIMAI

15

2.1.15. bladder: pūslėlė (LBŽ 322, LF₃₀₈ – LKŽᵥ 1044; DGP, GDR, Klt, KZT, AKM, YL – LKŽₖ), pūslėlytė (Klt – LKŽₖ), pūslės žolėlė (AKM – LKŽₓₓ 60), pūslikė (SMLN, ŠKT – LKŽₖ), pūslýtė (GDR, Ut – LKŽₖ), pūsliukas (JSV – LKŽₖ) ‘night-flowering catchfly’ (Silene) – a decoction of the herb is drunk for inflammation of the urinary bladder: Pūslytės nuo pūslės gert GDR (LKŽₖ). Pūslėlytės tokios, anos nuo pūslės gert Klt (LKŽₖ). Pūslikės šlapimą sulaiko ŠKT (LKŽₖ); pūslėlė (DGP – LKŽₖ), pūsliukas (ALZ – LKŽₖ) ‘medicinal soapwort’ (Saponaria officinalis) – in folk medicine, bladder ailments are treated with a decoction of soapwort roots (VA 1973: 248; MVAE 2002: 297): Arkliai suserga, šlapinas per daug, tada pūsliukų virdavo ALZ (LKŽₖ);

2.1.16. neck: sprandadarė (LBŽ 64), sprandadora (LBŽ 64 [P]), sprandininkė (LBŽ 65 [P]) ‘nettle-leaved bellflower’ (Campanula trachelium) – a borrowing from Greek, cf. Greek τράχηλος ‘neck’; the plant’s decoction is used as a remedy for neck ailments (LBŽ 65);

2.1.17. loins: strėnų žolės (Mtₙ 141, LBŽ 269, LFₙ 544 – LKŽₓₓ 960), strėnažolė (KŽ, Mt – LKŽₓₓₓ 951) ‘fragrant Solomon’s seal’ (Polygonatum odoratum) – in folk medicine, Solomon’s seal is used to treat rheumatism; its infusion is rubbed on painful joints and the lower back, while its berries help prevent pregnancy (LBŽ 269; VA 1973: 59; MVAE 2002: 63);

2.1.18. heart: širdžolė (Mt, BŽ 41 – LKŽₓᵢᵥ 846) ‘gentian’ (Gentiana) – a decoction of gentian roots strengthens the heart (MVAE 2002: 136); širdžolė (L, L 445, Rtr, Trgn – LKŽₓᵢᵥ 846), širdgloba (LBŽ 195 [P], NdŽ – LKŽₓᵢᵥ 848), širdininkas (F, LBŽ 195, NdŽ – LKŽₓᵢᵥ 849) ‘motherwort’ (Leonurus) – in folk medicine, a decoction of motherwort leaves is used to treat cardiovascular neurosis and cardiosclerosis; a decoction of the roots slows the heart rate and increases the force of cardiac contractions (LBŽ 195; VA 1973: 319; Šimkūnaitė 1994: 34; MVAE 2002: 356); širdies žolės (I, P, KlvK 82, LBŽ 78 – LKŽₓₓ 960), širdžiažolė, širdžiažolė (Brš, Alk, Nč – LKŽₓᵢᵥ 900), širdžiažolynis, širdžiažolynis (Kzt, Klt – LKŽₓᵢᵥ 900), širdžolė (F, LTR [KLTN] – LKŽₓᵢᵥ 900) ‘centaury’ (Centaurium) – people use a decoction of the herb to treat heart disease (LBŽ 78; VA 1973: 341; MVAE 2002: 373); širdžolė (MŽ, N, [K], F, BzBkₙᵢᵢ 18, NdŽ, KŽ, LTR [KLTN] – LKŽₓᵢᵥ 900) ‘feverfew’ (Tanacetum parthenium) – formerly, tea made from the plant was used to treat heart disease; širdėlė, širdytė (GDR – LKŽₖ) ‘marsh grass-of-Parnassus’ (Parnasia palustris) – a decoction of the leaves and roots is used to treat cardiac neurosis and regulates cardiovascular function (VA 1973: 183; MVAE 2002: 232); širdūkai (Trgn – LKŽₓᵢᵥ 899), širdžiukai (LTR [Trgn] – LKŽₓᵢᵥ 900), širdžolė (NdŽ, KŽ, Trak – LKŽₓᵢᵥ 900) ‘common rock-rose’ (Helianthemum nummularium) – in folk medicine, rock-rose preparations were used to treat heart disease; širdies žolės (P – LKŽₓₓ 960) ‘bitter gentianella’ (Gentianella amarella) – a decoction of the roots calms the nerves and strengthens the heart (VA 1973:109);

2.1.19. bile: tulžiažolė ‘flixweed’ (Sisymbrium sophia) (LBŽ 324 [Brž], NdŽ, LFₙ 491 – LKŽₓᵥᵢᵢ 13) – in folk veterinary medicine, a decoction of the herb is used to treat biliary diseases in livestock (LBŽ 324); tulžiažolė ‘silver cinquefoil’ (Potentilla argentea) (LBŽ 278 [Brž], NdŽ – LKŽₓᵥᵢᵢ 13); tulžiažolynis (Aps, Kzt – LKŽₓᵥᵢᵢ 13), tulžies žolės ‘low-growing salsify’ (Scorzonera humilis) (LBŽ 324) – the motivation behind these last three names is seemingly twofold: the plants are medicinal and used to treat biliary diseases, and all their flowers are yellow, that is, the color of bile;

16 |

AURELIJA GENELYTĖ

2.1.20. žyvatas³: žyvatrama ‘cudweed’ (Gnaphalium) (P, LBŽ 158, NdŽ – LKŽₓₓ 825) – a decoction of the cudweed herb and roots increases intestinal peristalsis (VA 1973: 235).

2. 2. Not all phytonyms whose base word is the name of a human body organ indicate a plant’s medicinal properties. Sometimes such names merely denote that some part of the plant is outwardly similar to that organ. The following phytonyms indicate the shape of a plant’s inflorescence: širdėlė (BZF 182, LBŽ 120, KŽ, Plšk – LKŽₓᵢᵥ 846), širdelės (Š, LBŽ 120, LFₘ 470, NdŽ, Vaižg, Nč, Brž, Ds – LKŽₓᵢᵥ 846), širdikės (LTR [Lš], DSN – LKŽₓᵢᵥ 899) ‘bleeding hearts’ (Dicentra); širdelės (Š, LBŽ 56, LFₘ 470, NdŽ, LMD [Brž], Vaižg, Brž, Ds – LKŽₓᵢᵥ 846) ‘quaking grass’ (Briza media).

The shape of leaves or fruits is indicated by these plant names: dvidantis (LBŽ 49) ‘beggarticks’ (Bidens) – the plant’s fruits are wedge-shaped, with 2–4 awns at the top resembling little teeth (LFᵥᵢ 65); pūslaziedis (LBŽ 109) ‘bladder campion’ (Cucubalus) is so named because of its round fruits (LFₘ 326); širdlapėliai (LBŽ 210 [Brž], NdŽ, LFᵢᵢ 543 – LKŽₓᵢᵥ 899) ‘May lily’ (Majanthemum bifolium) – the leaves are heart-shaped and ovate (LFᵢᵢ 543); širdlapis (Mt, KŽ – LKŽₓᵢᵥ 899) ‘elecampane’ (Inula) – the plant’s upper leaves clasp the stem with heart-shaped bases (LFᵥᵢ 57).

These names, too, denote not medicinal properties but only the plant’s external characteristics: dantžolė (Dentaria) (cf. Latin dens, dentis ‘tooth’, German Zahnwurz, English toothwort, Russian зубянка, Latvian zuobainītes) – the plant’s rhizome is covered with tooth-shaped scales (LBŽ 117); dvily-pdantė (Ditrichum) – the tips of the peristome hairs are double (BVŽ 1998: 115); dvy-nadantė (Dicranum) – the peristome teeth are bifid (BVŽ 1998: 111); krei-vadantė (Anomodon) (cf. Greek ἄνομος ‘irregular’, ὀδούς, ὀδόντος ‘tooth’) – the peristome teeth are irregular in shape (BVŽ 1998: 35); gyslalapė (Ps – LKŽₘᵢᵢ 354), gyslalapis (LBŽ 264 [Brž, Pn], Pn, Jnšk, Brž, Pl, Er – LKŽₘᵢᵢ 354; Krč, Rgv, Sur, Ps, Pl, Slm – LKŽₖ), gyslalapis (Ln, Vlk – LKŽₖ), gyslalapis (Pbr, Pmp, Pšš, Mžš – LKŽₖ), gyslapis (Kᵢᵢ 341, M, Ldvn – LKŽₘᵢᵢ 354; Skp, Ppl, Sur, Sdb – LKŽₖ), gyslažolė (LBŽ 264 [Pn]; Sd – LKŽₖ), gyslapis (Krč – LKŽₖ), gyslonis (Ob – LKŽₖ), gysliuotis (Kč, Kpč – LKŽₖ), gysločius (Pnm, Tvr, Bd – LKŽₘᵢᵢ 355; Pns, Dv, Sb – LKŽₖ), gyslūnas (Kvr, Dbk, Lkm, Slk, Vj, Dglš, Ssk, Ds, Trgn, Ml, Švnč – LKŽₘᵢᵢ 356; Ktk, Slk, Dgl, Pg, Sld, Ig, Dglš, Vdž, Kzt, Trgn, Psn, Aln, Mlt – LKŽₖ), gyslonė (Lkm – LKŽₖ), gyslūnis (Ds – LKŽₘᵢᵢ 356), gyslūnalapis (Mšg – LKŽₘᵢᵢ 356), gysliuonis (Ant – LKŽₘᵢᵢ 356; Dgp – LKŽₖ), gysluotis (Mrk, Jnš, Pkr, Grv, Nmn, Mš – LKŽₘᵢᵢ 356; Bsg, Kpč – LKŽₖ) ‘plantain’ (Plantago) – the plant’s broad ovate leaves are marked by dense, arcuate veins, and the petiole is veined as well (LFᵥ 505); pirštūkas (F, LBŽ 121 – LKŽₓ 33), pirštūnas (P, LBŽ 121 – LKŽₓ 33), pirštūnė (Mt – LKŽₓ 33) ‘fingergrass’ (Digitaria) (cf. Latin digitus ‘finger’, German Fingergras, Fingerhirse, English fingergrass) – the compound inflorescence consists of several spikes arranged like fingers at the top of the stem (LFᵢᵢ 128); plaukalapė (Blepharostoma) – the perianth mouth is covered with hairs (BVŽ 1998: 53); plaukunis ‘borage’ (Borrago) (LBŽ 52 [I]) – the plant’s stems and leaves are coarsely hairy (LFᵥ 248); plaukželda ‘maidenhair spleenwort’ (Asplenium trichomanes) (LBŽ 35 [P]) – the plant’s stem is covered with small, ciliate scales (LFᵢ 44);

3 LKŽₓₓ 824 notes that in living speech and older writings žyvatas may mean ‘belly, intestines’; it also denotes two diseases associated with the intestines – ‘diarrhea and dysentery’.

Liaudiški augalų pavadinimai

17

split-toothed (Fissidens) (cf. Latin fissus ‘split’, dens ‘tooth’) – the peristome teeth are split into two branches (BVŽ 1998: 132).

3. PLANT NAMES WHOSE ROOT CONTAINS THE NAME OF A DISEASE

The plant names in this motivational group indicate that the plant named by a word with such a root is generally suitable for treating a particular disease.

malaria: drugenis (LBŽ 318 [I]), drūgiažolė, drugiažolė (Mt, Ak, I, ALV, Kp – ²LKŽII 751), drūgiažolynis (KŽT – LKŽK), drugio žolė (Q 183, P, D.Pošk – LKŽXX 959), drugžolė (MŽ, K, J – ²LKŽII 752) ‘stonecrop’ (Sedum) (LBŽ 318 [I]); drugžolė 1) ‘umbellate wintergreen’ (Chimaphila umbelata) (LBŽ 85), 2) ‘common centaury’ (Centaurium erythraea) (LBŽ 78); drugio dobilas (LBŽ 220) ‘bogbean’ (Menyanthes trifoliata); drugupis (LBŽ 280 [I]) ‘almond’ (Amygdalus) – according to folk belief, these plants are suitable for treating malaria (LBŽ 318; VA 1973: 339); cf. the illustrative sentence in ²LKŽII 752: Drūgžolė balō auga, gydo nuo drugio J;

tooth decay, to eat away: ėdažolė, ėduonžolė (LBŽ 151 [Brž]) ‘cleavers’ (Galium aparine) – people use the herb against tooth decay (LBŽ 151);

fright: gąšto žolė (Š, I – ²LKŽII 151)⁴ ‘herb for fright’;

lump: gumbo žolė (D.Pošk, LBŽ 341 – LKŽXX 959) ‘tansy’ (Tanacetum vulgare); gumbažolė 1) ‘lesser calamint’ (Satureja calamintha) (LBŽ 313); 2) ‘dwarf gentian’ (Gentiana amarella) (LBŽ 152 [PN]); 3) ‘maiden pink’ (Dianthus deltoides) (LBŽ 119 [PN]); 4) ‘one-flowered wintergreen’ (Pyrola uniflora) (LBŽ 263); 5) ‘lemon balm’ (Melissa officinalis) (RDM – LKŽK); 6) ‘marsh cranesbill’ (Geranium palustre) (LBŽ 154); 7) ‘common centaury’ (Centaurium erythraea) (LBŽ 78); gumbo mėtra (LBŽ 129 [KLP]) ‘Vietnamese balm’ (Elsholtzia ciliata) – all the plants listed here are regarded as medicinal in folk medicine and are used to treat various diseases. It is often difficult to determine which specific disease they are used to treat, since in spoken language lump can refer to several diseases. Cf. the following meanings of gumbo given in LKŽIII 723: 1) ‘growth, swelling, lump (on a person’s or animal’s body); sore, abscess’, 2) ‘intestinal catarrh or some other abdominal pain; severe abdominal ache’, 3) ‘uterine disease’, 4) ‘hernia’, 5) ‘plague’. For example, Vietnamese balm closely resembles peppermint, whose preparations are used in folk medicine to treat stomach and intestinal diseases and cervical erosion (VA 1973: 230; MVAE 2002: 282); infusions of common centaury are used to treat stomach and intestinal diseases, colitis, and dysentery (VA 1973: 341; MVAE 2002: 374); lemon balm preparations are used to treat gastric catarrh (VA 1973: 192): For a lump, they would rub crushed gumbažolė herbs on very old bacon RDM (LKŽK); gentian tea is used for digestive and appetite disorders and against flatulence (VA 1973: 109; MVAE 2002: 136), and so on;

cattle disease: kraūligės žolės (AKM – LKŽXX 960) ‘water avens’ (Geum rivale): Kraūligės žolės nu karvių kraūligės AKM (LKŽXX 960)⁵;

4 Fright – ‘terror, fear’ (LKŽIII 151).

5 Kraūligė, kraūligė are names for several diseases in spoken language and in writing: 1) ‘a cattle disease characterized by bloody urination (haemoglobinuria)’, 2) ‘a blood disease’, 3) ‘bloody flux’ (LKŽVI 468).

18 |

AURELIJA GENELYTĖ

māras: maražolė (Petrorhagia) (LBŽ 357) – the herb was formerly used as a remedy against the plague (LBŽ 357);

niūomaras: nuomaražolė (LBŽ 318 [Brž], LTR [An] – LKŽVIII 941) ‘bittersweet stonecrop’ (Sedum acre) – folk use stonecrop to treat nuomaras (LBŽ 318): Nuomaražolėm is used to treat nuomaras LTR [An] (LKŽVIII 941);

priemėtis: priemėčio, priemėtžolė – several medicinal plants are called by these names: ‘marsh skullcap’ (Scutellaria galericulata) (LBŽ 318 [Pn]); 2) ‘large bittercress’ (Cardamine amara) (LBŽ 68); 3) ‘wood vetch’ (Lathyrus silvester) (LBŽ 191); 4) ‘garden cress’ (Lepidium sativum) (LBŽ 196); 5) ‘milkwort’ (Polygala) (LBŽ 268 [Brž, Pn]); 6) ‘tormentil’ (Potentilla erecta) (LBŽ 278 [Brž]): If the priemėtis has made your insides run, only priemėčžolė will stop it T R G N (LKŽX 659); 7) ‘chickweed’ (Stellaria) (Mt, LBŽ 334, LFIII 274 – LKŽX 660). Some of these plants (e.g., tormentil) are still used as remedies for priemėtis⁶, while the medicinal properties of others have been somewhat forgotten;

priepuolis: priepuolžolė (LBŽ 143, NdŽ, LTR [Kltn], Vl – LKŽX 670), priepžolė (LTR [Lp] – LKŽX 670) ‘meadowsweet’ (Filipendula ulmaria) – an infusion of the herb is used to treat various attacks and ailments: kidney, heart, and head pains, diarrhea, and fright (LBŽ 143; VA 1973: 393; MVAE 2002: 427): Priepuolžolė tea for fright LTR [Kltn] (LKŽX 670). Priepuolės are used for fright LTR [Lp] (LKŽX 670);

prietvaras: prietvaro žolė ([K], LBŽ 57 – LKŽX 725), prietvaraus žolė (CI 402, KI 264, P, AK – LKŽX 725) ‘self-heal’ (Prunella vulgaris) – folk use a decoction of the herb for intestinal disorders (LBŽ 58; VA: 1973, 128); prietvaržolė (J – LKŽX 725) ‘a blue-flowering herb that grows in the mountains and is used for prietvaras⁷’;

[pa]siutimas, siūstas, siūtas: pasiutžolė (Mt – LKŽIX 477), siūstažolė (LBŽ 209, NdŽ – LKŽXIII 620), siūtažolė (NdŽ, Jž, siutāžolė RŽ, LBŽ 209 [Pn], MTt 5, 221, KkK 3, 47, Vlž, Dkšt, Kp – LKŽII 630), siusto žolė (Kos 134 – LKŽXX 960) ‘purple loosestrife’ (Lythrum salicaria) – in folk medicine, a decoction of the herb is used if bitten by a rabid animal (LBŽ 209; VA 1973: 261); siutažolė: 1) ‘corn mint’ (Mentha arvensis) (LBŽ 219); 2) ‘hedge bedstraw’ (Galium mollugo) (LBŽ 151 [Brž]) – formerly, a tea made from bedstraw was used to treat epilepsy (LBŽ 151); 3) ‘grass-leaved stitchwort’ (Stellaria graminea) (LBŽ 334 [Brž]) – its tea is used to treat rabies (LBŽ 334); 4) ‘henbane’ (Hyoscyamus niger) (LBŽ 174) – the plant is poisonous; eating it causes madness (LBŽ 493); siūtgalba (P, LBŽ 18, NdŽ, LFIII 538 – LKŽXII 630), siūtgloba (NdŽ, siutglóba Mt, Rtr, Ser, BŽ 37, LBŽ 18, LFIII 538 – LKŽXII 630) ‘madwort’ (Alyssum) – a borrowing from Greek, cf. Greek ἄλυσσον from λύσσα ‘rabies’; the plant was used as a remedy for rabies (LBŽ 18);

skōrbutas: skorbutrama ‘lesser celandine’ (Ficaria verna) (J. Dagys mentions this name in his article discussing J. Pabrėža’s coinages. See Dagys: 1972: 19). The herb was apparently used in the past for scurvy. Cf. names with the same motivation in other languages: German Scharbockskraut, Russian чистяк;

6 In the Eastern Aukštaitian dialects priemėčiu is used to mean ‘a nervous disorder, convulsions’ (LKŽX 660).

7 In the Eastern Aukštaitian dialects (Rm, Kvr, Km, Ds, Užp, Slm) prietvaras means ‘constipation’ (LKŽX 725).

LIAUDIŠKI AUGALŲ PAVADINIMAI

19

sūkatos: sukatinė (Pst – LKŽxiv 58) ‘betony’ (Betonica officinalis) – a decoction of the leaves and herb is used to treat catarrh of the respiratory tract and cough (VA 1973: 199; MVAE 2002: 251); sūkatžolė (Leonurus), sukatos žolė (LBŽ 159) ‘wood cudweed’ (Gnaphalium sylvaticum) – tea made from both herbs is used to treat tuberculosis (LBŽ 195)8;

sūsas, sūskis, susnà: susażolė (LBŽ 291, NdŽ – LKŽxiv 221), suskážolė (Rt – LKŽxiv 227), sūskė (Užv – LKŽxiv 227), sūsnažolė (LBŽ 291 [Pn], NdŽ – LKŽxiv 230) ‘hellebore’ (Ranunculus); sūskio žolė (AkM – LKŽxx 960) ‘meadow buttercup’ (Ranunculus acris) – a decoction of the plant is used in folk medicine to treat susna and suskis (i.e., a fungal skin disease, susas, favus (LKŽxiv 230));

šāsas: piktasāšis (Mt, LBŽ 342 [Brž, Pn], Kp, SmL, Jnšk, Sb, Er, SmLn, Vb – LKŽix 960); PnM – LKŽx), šasávalkis (LBŽ 342 [Brž, Pn], DŽ, NdŽ, Slč, Krs, Kp, Mžš, Brž – LKŽxiv 537), šasūkas (LBŽ 342 [Pn], J.Jabl, NdŽ, Jnšk, Ps, Dj, PmP – LKŽxiv 540), šasūnas (LBŽ 342, NdŽ – LKŽxiv 540) ‘dandelion’ (Taraxacum) – in folk medicine, a root decoction is used for eczema and boils (VA 1973: 150; VAA 1983: 139; MVAE 2002: 179);

skrūpas: skrūpažolė (LBŽ 270 [Brž], NdŽ, LFiii 208 – LKŽxiv 990) – ‘black-bindweed’ (Fallopia convolvulus) – people treat skrūpa with a decoction of the herb9;

traidà: traiduolė (LBŽ 346, NdŽ, LFiii 578 – LKŽxvi 526) ‘field pennycress’ (Thlaspi arvense) – a decoction of the herb is drunk to treat diarrhoea;

trydà, triznà: trydažolė (Mt, LBŽ 175, NdŽ – LKŽxvi 809), triznažolė (LBŽ 175, NdŽ – LKŽxvi 935) ‘St John’s wort’ (Hypericum) – a decoction of the herb is used to treat dysentery, colitis and diarrhoea (LBŽ 175; VA 1973: 127; MVAE 2002: 159)10;

trūkis: trūkāžolė (BŽ 106, NdŽ, DŽ, KŽ, trūkāžolė Mt, TvR – LKŽxvi 962), trūkāžolynis (DGLS, Kzt, Švnč, Vdš, Ign – LKŽxvi 962), trūkiāžolė, trūkiāžolė (LBŽ 262, NdŽ – LKŽxvi 968) ‘wintergreen’ (Pyrola); the motivation behind these names is revealed by illustrative sentences cited in LKŽ: Drink trūkāžolynis for a hernia Vdš (LKŽxvi 963). When the navel or lower abdomen hurts, you need to eat trūkāžolynius Ign (LKŽxvi 963); trūkāžolė (BŽ 106, NdŽ, DŽ, KŽ, Kos 126 [Šv], Encvii 856, Sb, trūkāžolė LBŽ 88, TvR – LKŽxvi 962), trūkiāžolė (NdŽ, trūkiāžolė LMD [Brž], Ds – LKŽxvi 968), trūžkolė (J, DRSKŽ, Pc, Grd, Pv, Ktv, Šl, trūkžolė RŽ, NdŽ, LTR [Br], V.Krev, Skr, KzR, Kpč, Ūd, Pn – LKŽxvi 1008), trūkžolis (Šlvn, Dg – LKŽxvi 1009), ‘chicory’ (Cichorium). For the motivation of these names, compare the following sentences: Tea made from katrušyčiai (trūkiāžolės) is for hernia LMD [Brž] (LKŽxvi 968). In the past, hernias were treated with trūkžolės, but now people drink fish oil Ds (LKŽxvi 968). Trūkžolės were for hernias Grd (LKŽxvi 1008). We used to dig up trūkžolės and dry them; when someone gets a hernia [or] lifts something [too heavy] Pv (LKŽxvi 1008). You should eat trūkžolė with scrambled eggs for a hernia and to improve appetite Šl (LKŽxvi 1008). In spoken language, compounds whose first component is the root trūk- denote-

8 Sūkatomis is the name used in spoken language for several different illnesses. The singular form most often denotes: 1) ‘the staggers in sheep (Coenurus cerebralis)’, 2) ‘a disease in horses resembling rabies’, 3) ‘diarrhoea’ (LKŽxiv 58). In Eastern Aukštaitian dialects, the plural form generally means tuberculosis (LKŽxiv 59).

9 Škrupų, krupų is called ‘inflammation of the upper part of the throat; diphtheria’ in older dictionaries and in spoken language (LKŽxiv 990, LKŽvi 714).

10 Dysentery is an infectious inflammation of the large intestine (DŽ, 126).

20 |

AURELIJA GENELYTĖ

and more plants; trūkžolė is also called: 1) ‘plantain’ (Plantago) (LBŽ 265, VDK, KLN – LKŽxvi 1008); 2) ‘marsh hog’s fennel’ (Peucedanum palustre) (Jsv – LKŽxvi 1008); 3) ‘umbellate wintergreen’ (Chimaphila umbellata) (SMLN – LKŽxvi 1008); 4) ‘ivy’ (Hedera) (Kos 238 – LKŽxvi 1008); 5) ‘valerian’ (Valeriana) (BRU – LKŽxvi 1008); trūkižolė, trūkižolė may also be called: 1) ‘marsh grass-of-Parnassus’ (Parnassia palustris) (LBŽ 248, NĎŽ – LKŽxvi 968); 2) ‘masterwort’ (Peucedanum ostruthium) (LBŽ 253, NĎŽ – LKŽxvi 968); 3) ‘marsh cranesbill’ (Geranium palustre) (LBŽ 154 [Pn]); 4) ‘umbellate centaury’ (Centaurium umbellatum) (LBŽ 78, NĎŽ – LKŽxvi 968); 5) ‘mouse-ear hawkweed’ (Hieracium pilosella) (LBŽ 169 [BrŽ] – LKŽxvi 968). Perhaps these plants were once used in folk medicine to treat hernias, but this medicinal property is not mentioned in current descriptions of medicinal plants;

valasnẏkas11: valasnykāžolė, valasnykāžolė (LBŽ 84, LFIII 462, Db – LKŽxvii 1023) ‘greater celandine’ (Chelidonium)—the milky sap of celandine is used to treat skin diseases (lupus, warts) (LFIII 464; VA 1973: 373; MVAE 2002: 396);

vėžys: vežiūkas ‘common tormentil’ (Potentilla erecta) (GraŽ – LKŽxix 44; PnM – LKŽk), vežūninkas (-nykas P, RTŽ, KpČ) (KŽ, PLn, Šts, vežaūninkas L, Rtr, LBŽ 270 [P], NĎŽ, LFIII 206, ŽL – LKŽxix 16), vežiūkas (LBŽ 270 [ŠL], NĎŽ, LFIII 206, KLI – LKŽxix 44) ‘common bistort’ (Polygonum bistorta); vėžtrama (P, Mt, LBŽ 239 [P], NĎŽ, KŽ – LKŽxix 69) ‘cotton thistle’ (Onopordon acanthium)—a decoction of the roots of all these herbs is used to treat cancer (Šimkūnaitė 2001: 30);

votis: vočiažolė, vočiažolė 1) ‘brown knapweed’ (Centaurea jacea) (LBŽ 77 [BrŽ], NĎŽ – LKŽxix 880); 2) ‘yellow-rattle’ (Alectorolophus) (LBŽ 14 [Rk], NĎŽ, Rk – LKŽxix 880); 3) ‘marsh grass-of-Parnassus’ (Parnassia palustris) (LBŽ 248 [Sn], NĎŽ, VRN – LKŽxix 880); 4) ‘round-leaved sundew’ (Drosera rotundifolia) (LBŽ 125 [BrŽ], NĎŽ, LFIII 594 – LKŽxix 880); 5) ‘ground-ivy’ (Glechoma hederacea) (LBŽ 156, NĎŽ – LKŽxix 880)—in folk medicine, a decoction and infusion of brown knapweed and yellow-rattle are used to treat skin diseases, various wounds, and boils (LBŽ 14, 77; VA 1973: 361; MVAE 2002: 232, 391).

4. NAMES WHOSE ROOTS ARE VERBS OR VERBAL ABSTRACT NOUNS ASSOCIATED WITH DISEASE OR DISABILITY

The fewest phytonyms have been recorded in this group, and plants named by words with such roots are characterized by a twofold effect: 1) they cause (or intensify) symptoms or consequences of certain diseases; 2) they are used to eliminate those consequences or symptoms.

čiaudėti: čiaudažolė (Š – ²LKŽII 89), čiaudžolė (LBŽ 6 [P]) ‘sneezewort’ (Achillea ptarmica)—the herb’s pungent smell causes sneezing; čiaudžolė (K, J – ²LKŽII 90) ‘white hellebore’ (Veratrum album)—hellebore preparations irritate the respiratory

11Valasni̇nikas, valasnẏkas – a borrowing from Slavic languages (cf. Polish włosiennica, Russian волосница), meaning: 1) ‘felon, whitlow (a purulent inflammation of a finger (paronychia))’; 2) ‘streptococcus (a spherical bacterium that causes abscesses, scarlet fever, erysipelas, etc.)’ (LKŽXVII 1023).

LIAUDIŠKI AUGALŲ PAVADINIMAI

21

the palate and oral mucosa; therefore, people who drink them begin to sneeze, cough, or even vomit (MVAE 2002: 86);

sleep: miegãlė (MŽ 413, N – LKŽVIII 134), miegãliai (N, K – LKŽVIII 134), miegãlis (LBŽ 174), miegãžolė (LBŽ 174) ‘black henbane’ (Hyoscyamus niger) – henbane preparations have a sedative effect, while larger doses can severely irritate the nervous system (VA 1973: 91; LFV 388);

die: mirštamasis (LBŽ 89), mirštamukai (LBŽ 89) ‘poison hemlock’ (Cicuta virosa) – this is one of Lithuania’s most poisonous plants; not only cattle but also people are often fatally poisoned by it (VA 1973: 203; LFV 55);

kill: nuožudis (LBŽ 10 [II]) ‘fool’s parsley’ (Aethusa cynapium) – a highly poisonous plant, dangerous to humans and animals (LFV 71);

swell: putãžolė ‘bladder campion’ (Silene vulgaris) (LBŽ 322 [BrŽ]) – in folk medicine, campion herb is given to livestock to relieve bloating (LBŽ 323);

wrinkle, contract: raũko žolė (Q 610, CII 921, P, NdŽ – LKŽXI 290), raukãžolė (LBŽ 264, GrŽ, JNšK, Ps, VšK, raukãžolė (R, MŽ, Sut, Ak, D.Pok, N, Mt, LBŽ 264, NdŽ, [K], LTR [Žd], Dj – LKŽXI 290), raĩklapis (SMLN – LKŽXI 294), raũkžolė (MŽ, K, J, LBŽ 264, NdŽ, Jrb – LKŽXI 305) ‘plantain’ (Plantago) – plantain leaves are recommended for bruises, wounds, reddened skin, and insect bites because they close up, “draw together” wounds (VA 1973: 113; MVAE 2002: 138)¹²: It’s nothing, even if you’ve cut yourself a little: put on raukãžolė, and it’ll heal JNšK (LKŽXI 290). After crushing it, put raukãžolė on the bruised spot VšK (LKŽXI 290);

flow, run, stream, trickle, seep: sraujãžolė (BŽ 198, DŽ, NdŽ, sraũjažolė Mt, RTR, LBŽ 6, LKA₁68 [Kp, Slm] – LKŽXIII 570), srauzdė (P, LBŽ 6 – LKŽXIII 570), sraũžolė (NdŽ, sráužolė Rt, LBŽ 6, KŽ, NdŽ – LKŽXIII 570), sravai (LBŽ 6, NdŽ – LKŽXIII 570), sravanóji (LKA₁68 [Pš] – LKŽXIII 570), srãvas (LBŽ 6, NdŽ – LKŽXIII 571), srãvo žolė (Q 434, CII 384, P, Kos 126, LBŽ 6, KII 145, K.BūG, NdŽ, KŽ, LKA₁68 [Vn] – LKŽXIII 571), sraváuninkas (LKA₁68 [Šts, Brs] – LKŽXIII 571), srávažolė (LTII 14 [K.BūG], J.JABL. [GrŠ], DŽ, Nm, Jrb, ErŽ, VdŽg, Skr, Gl, srávažolė J, RTR, LBŽ 6 [Pn, Š, Rs], KŽ – LKŽXIII 571), sravėniai (LBŽ 6), sravėnis (NdŽ – LKŽXIII 571), sravì-nė (NdŽ, LKA₁68 [Šlu] – LKŽXIII 571), sravìnė žolė (R 301, MŽ 403, P, N, K, LBŽ 6, NdŽ, LKA₁68 [ErŽ] – LKŽXIII 572), sravìnis (NdŽ, Vn – LKŽXIII 572), sravìnžolė (LKA₁68 [ErŽ] – LKŽXIII 572), srãvžolė (R 301, MŽ, P, KBII 97, N, KGr 190, K, L, Rtr, LBŽ 6, KŽ, LKA₁68 [Vn, Trg, ErŽ, Smln], Šlu, Vd – LKŽXIII 572), srevà (LKA₁68 [KRTN] – LKŽXIII 577), srevai (J.JABL, LBŽ 6 – LKŽXIII 577), srėvas (LBŽ 6, NdŽ, LKA₁68, Kl, GrŠl, Grg – LKŽXIII 577), srėvo žolė (P, Kel 1881, 168, LKA₁68 [Dr], KŽ – LKŽXIII 577), sreváuninkas (LKA₁68 [Pln] – LKŽXIII 577), srėvažolė (LKA₁68 – LKŽXII 577), srevažolės (Ak – LKŽXIII 577), sreveñė (LKA₁68 [KRTN] – LKŽXIII 577), sreveñokai (LKA₁68 [BrŽ] – LKŽXIII 577), sreveñokas (Vb – LKŽXIII 577), srevìnė (LKA₁264, SLNT – LKŽXIII 577), srevìnis (LKA₁264 – LKŽXIII 577), srėvžolė (LBŽ 6 [Šlu], LKA₁68 [KRTN] – LKŽXIII 577), sriaũžolė (NdŽ, sriaũžolė LKA₁68 [Trg, Šlu] – LKŽXIII 580), sriãžolė (LKA₁68 [Sb], Kp – LKŽXIII 598), sruvãžolė (NdŽ, sruvãžolė LBŽ 6 [Pn], LKA₁68 [Krs] – LKŽXIII 601), strãuninkas (-ykas) (LKA₁68 [Šlu] – LKŽXIII

12 Cf. LKŽXI 299, which gives one of the meanings of raukti as ‘to make contract, close up’.

22

AURELIJA GENELYTĖ

941), strāvas (LKA₁ 168 [KRKL, SLNT] – LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 941), strāvo žolė (BzF 177 [PRK], KŽ – LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 941), stravāvininkas (LKA₁ 168 [ŠV] – LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 941), stravāžolė (ERŽ, JRB, stra-vāžolė LKA₁ 168 [VDŽG] – LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 941), stravāklas (NDŽ – LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 941), straviklė (LBŽ 6, NDŽ, LKA₁ 168 [PLUT], IG – LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 941), straviklis (LBŽ 6, NDŽ, LKA₁ 168, AL, RDM – LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 941), stravyla (LKA₁ 168 [MRK], ZR – LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 941), stravylas (LBŽ 6, NDŽ, LKA₁ 168 [MRC], NMN, LP, LŠ, RTN – LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 941), stravinė (LKA₁ 168 [ŠLU] – LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 941), stravinis (K.BŪG, LKA₁ 168 [PNS], SN, RDM – LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 941), strāvžolė (L 430, LKA₁ 168 [PGG] – LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 942), strēvas (LKA₁ 168 [KIN, KRKL, KRT] – LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 953), strēvažolė (LD 193 [VLKV], ŠN, ALK, ŽAL, strevāžolė LBŽ 6, NDŽ – LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 954), streviklė (LKA₁ 168 – LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 954), strevylas (LKA₁ 168 – LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 954), strēvžolė (LKA₁ 168, PRK – LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 954), strujāžolė (LBŽ 6 [BRŽ]) ‘yarrow’ (Achillea) – crushed herb leaves stop bleeding (VA 1973: 163; VAA 1983: 58; MVAE 2002: 202): Rub the wound with the juice of yarrow, and the bleeding will stop VDŽG (LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 571). If you’ve cut yourself, gather some seven-leaved plants, crush them, and then the blood won’t flow and it won’t sting VB (LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 577). Oh, I’ve hurt my finger! Run and pick some straviklės RDM (LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 941). Bring stravylas quickly—the blood is flowing RTN (LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 941). If you cut yourself, you must put strēvažolės on it at once ALK (LKŽₓᵢᵢᵢ 954); trāukti, traukālas¹³: trauko kiaulėlė (GRG, lāpas PLT, SKD, JDR, PGR, DŪNŽ, žolė P, KOS 151, LBŽ 265 [P, ŠL, TRG], J.JABL, Š [KV], ŠL, AK, LKŽ – LKŽₓᵥᵢ 603), traukālapis (PLŠK – LKŽₓᵥᵢ 602), traukāžolė (RŽ, NDŽ, ŠL, AK, LKŽ – LKŽₓᵥᵢ 603), traukālapis (LBŽ 265 [PN, ŠL, TL], NDŽ, PLN, YL, MŽK, KRP, KRŠ, KLP, ENDB, BRS, SD, AKM, TL, KRŽ, LKV, DŪNŽ, NMŽ, TRG, SMLN, SLV, VKŠ, VN, SNT, SRV, PN – LKŽₓᵥᵢ 624), traukūtis (LBŽ 265 [PN, ŠK], DŽ, NDŽ, FRNW, JSV, DKŠ, SNT, PNMŽ, KT, ŽVR, ALVT, ŠN, KROK, KZR, ŠK, ALK, GS, GRL, ILG, LKŠ, PLV – LKŽₓᵥᵢ 723) ‘plantain’ (Plantago) – people place the plant’s leaves on bruises, wounds, reddened areas, and insect bites (LBŽ 265; VA 1973: 113; VAA 1981: 39; MVAE 2002: 138); compare also the illustrative sentences given in LKŽₓᵥᵢ: Trauklapiai are very hot and draw things out KLP (LKŽₓᵥᵢ 624). If you’ve cut yourself or your leg has become inflamed, put on a trauk-lapis, and it will draw it out BRS (LKŽₓᵥᵢ 624). Trauklapiai: when there’s a boil somewhere, a leaf is put on it—and it draws out the pus TL (LKŽₓᵥᵢ 624). They put trauklapis on tumors, and then it draws them out KRŽ (LKŽₓᵥᵢ 624). Those traukūčiai are very good when it festers; they draw it out so well that all the pus comes out KZR (LKŽₓᵥᵢ 723). Put on a traukūtis so it draws out the heat GS (LKŽₓᵥᵢ 723).

5. GENERAL REMARKS

1. In living speech, most derivatives are formed with the words blood, nose, heart, bone. Verbal derivatives are particularly productive. For example, from the roots sravėti, srūti, 22 suffixal derivatives and 17 compounds have been formed from these verbs and a noun. Living speech also tends to form phytonyms whose root is a verb, such as miegoti, siūsti, traukti, trūkti, and others. Among compounds, those formed from two nouns predominate; compounds formed from a verb and a noun, or from a noun and a verb, are also common. The second element of nominal compounds is most often the words her-

13 Cf. one of the meanings of trauko given in LKŽₓᵥᵢ 603: ‘a small piece of material smeared with medicine and stuck onto a sore spot, a plaster’.

LIAUDIŠKI AUGALŲ PAVADINIMAI

23

b, herb. Somewhat less often, the second element specifies more precisely which part of the plant is used for treatment: lāpas (rauklapis, trauklapis), šaknis (kauliašaknis, kraujašaknė). Only very rarely does the second element of compounds denote a specific plant: blužnpapartis, drug-pupis, and the like. The following verbs most often occur as the second element of verbal compounds: gydyti, globoti, traukti, gelbėti, sopėti, stabdyti, vilkti.

Among names expressed by fixed word combinations, names with the nouns žolė, žolės, žolelė, žolikės as their head element predominate. Sometimes the head element also identifies a specific plant, for example, drugio dobilas, gumbo metra. In less frequent cases, the head element identifies a particular part of a plant (e.g., trauko lūpas), a place, or a being for whose treatment the plant is used. Such noun phrases with a genitive express attributive relations: the genitive describes the plant denoted by the head noun and indicates which organ or disease it is suitable for treating.

2. Some names in this motivational group are attested only in written sources. Neither LKŽ nor the material provided by LKŽ attests to their use in living speech. Some of them should be considered coinages by J. A. Pabrėža. In his article written in Polish, “Notes Concerning the Compilation of a Complete Samogitian Flora,” he stated that the simplest way to create new names is to translate a plant’s name from Latin (Elisonas 1922: 47). J. Dagys considers the following phytonyms indicating the medicinal properties of plants to be Pabrėža’s coinages: akšvita, ausgyda, čiaudžolė, dantgalba, dantvyra, inkstaglobė, kepingelbė, liauktrama, kraustaba, pilvytė, siutgalba, skorbūtrama, sprandadora, sprandininkė, srauzdė, širdgloba, vėžtrama, žyvatrama (Dagys 1972: 21). The following names are considered phytonyms coined by L. Ivinskis: drugėnis, kruvinis gydantysis, kraujotenis, kraujotraukis, nuožudis. Only D. Poška used the names blužnės žolė, gumbo žolė. The names gyvakaulė, pilvytis, trydažolė are most likely coinages by P. Matulionis.

A substantial proportion of names describing medicinal properties are not original formations that arose in Lithuanian, but calques from other languages, for example: blužnpapartis ‘wall-rue’ – Latin Asplenium, from Greek σπλήν ‘spleen’; blužnažolė, blužniažolė, blužnės žolė ‘golden saxifrage’ – Latin Chrysoplenium, derived from Greek χρυσός ‘gold’, σπλήν ‘spleen’; dantgalba ‘red bartsia’ – Latin Odontites, derived from Greek ὀδούς, ὀδόντος ‘tooth’; compare also Russian зубчатка and German Zahntrost; kepenų žolėlė, kepingelbė ‘liverleaf’ (Hepatica nobilis) – Latin Hepatica from Greek ἧπαρ, ἥπατος ‘liver’; compare plant names in other languages: German Leberblümchen, Russian печеночница, English liverwort; all synonyms of great burnet (Sanguisorba) named with the roots krauj-, kruv-, and so on, are also formed by analogy with other languages – Latin sanguis ‘blood’, sorbere ‘to suck’, compare names in other languages: Russian кровохлебка, Polish krwiściąg, English blood-root; names for figwort (Scrophularia) containing the roots liauk-, paliauk- are likewise calques from other languages: Latin scrophulae ‘swelling of the cervical glands’; synonyms of madwort (Alyssum) with the roots siust-, pasiust- are formed by analogy with Greek: Greek ἀ- is a negative prefix, λύσσα means ‘rabies’—the plant was used as a remedy against rabies; compare English madwort; plaučninkas, plaučiažolė ‘lungwort’ (Pulmonaria) are formed by analogy with other languages: Latin pulmo, -onis ‘lung’, pulmonaris ‘pulmonary’; compare this plant’s names in other languages: German Lungenkraut, Russian легочница, English lungwort; the names sprandadora, sprandininkė for nettle-leaved bellflower (Campanula trachelium) used in J. Pabrėža’s writings were formed by analogy with the species’ Latin name: Latin trachelium is from Greek τράχηλος ‘neck’.

24 |

AURELIJA GENELYTĖ

3. In Lithuanian, the names of about 20 human body organs and fluids can serve as roots of plant names. Plant names are formed with all the most vital organs (blood, heart, bone, bladder, etc.). Plant names are not generally formed from smaller body parts (nails, skin, brain, nerves) or limbs (leg, arm, finger).

ABBREVIATIONS

BVŽ – Dictionary of Botanical Names, ed. R. JANKEVIČIENĖ, Vilnius: Publishing House of the Institute of Botany, 1998.

BZF – Litauische Forschungen [...] von A. BEZZENBERGER, Goettingen, 1882.

IM – L. IVINSKIS, Calendar or Yearbook.

LF – Flora of the Lithuanian SSR 1–6, Vilnius: State Publishing House for Political and Scientific Literature, Mintis, Mokslas, 1959–1980.

LBŽ – Lithuanian Botanical Dictionary 1, compiled by the Botanical Dictionary Commission, chaired by L. VAILIONIS, ed. J. DAGYS, Kaunas: Varpas, 1938.

2LKŽI–II, LKŽIII–XX – Dictionary of the Lithuanian Language 1–20, Vilnius: Mintis, Mokslas, Publishing House of Science and Encyclopedias, Institute of Science and Encyclopedias Publishing, Publishing House of the Institute of the Lithuanian Language, 1968–2002.

LKŽK – Dictionary of the Lithuanian Language slip archive.

L, L – A. LALIS, Dictionary of the Lithuanian and English Languages. Part 2: English–Lithuanian, Chicago, 1915.

LVAS – List of Lithuanian Medicinal Plants, Kaunas: Faculty of Medicine, Kaunas University of the Lithuanian SSR, 1941.

MT – Mitteilungen der Litauischen Litterarischen Gesellschaft I–VI, Heidelberg, 1883–1912.

MTt – Our Folklore, Kaunas, 1930–1935.

MVAE – Concise Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants, ed. M. PUODŽIŪNIENĖ, Kaunas: “P. G.” Publishing Company, 2002.

VA – Vaistiniai augalai, vyr. red. J. PIPINYS, Vilnius: Mintis, 1973.

VAA – Vaistinių augalų auginimas, red. Z. BANDZAITIENĖ ir kt., Vilnius: Mokslas, 1983.

VAK – Medicinal Plants (catalogue), compiled by H. DUDĖNAS, J. GRINEVIČIUS, ST. GUDANAVIČIUS, Vilnius: Mokslas, 1976.

LITERATŪRA

BECKER, U. 1995: Simbolių žodynas, Vilnius: Vaga.

DAGYS, J. 1972: J. Pabrėžos gyvenimas ir darbai. Jurgis Pabrėža 1771–1849, Vilnius: Botanikos institutas, 8–26.

ELISONAS, J. 1922/23: Iš Pabrėžos nespausdintų botanikos raštų. Uwagi tyczące się ułożenia doskonałey Flory Žmudz k iey. Kosmos, 1922/1923, sąs. 1, 46–51; sąs. 2, 183–186; sąs. 3, 283–292.

GAIVENIS, K. 1980: Paronimai – kla stingi žodžiai. Kalbos kultūra, 39, 48–50.

GRYBAUSKAS, K. 1946: Lietuvos TSR miškų sumedėję vaistingieji augalai, Kaunas: Valstybinė enciklopedijų, žodynų ir mokslo literatūros leidykla.

GUDAVIČIUS, A. 2000: Etnolingvistika, Šiauliai: Šiaulių universitetas.

JANKEVIČIENĖ, R. 1987: Vasarą žydintys augalai, Vilnius: Mokslas.

LEVI-STRAUSS, C. 1997: Laukinis mąstymas, Vilnius: Baltos lankos.

PUIDOKAS, A. 2002: Vaistingieji augalai sodyboje, Vilnius: Gamta.

ŠIMKŪNAITĖ, E. 1994: Ką žino tik ragana, arba gyvenimas be tablečių, Kaunas: Ūkininko patarėjas.

TRIMAKAS, R. 2001: Lietuvos kaimo vaistininkystės tradicijos XIX a. pabaigoje – XX a. pirmojoje pusėje. Liaudies kultūra, 3, 18–27.

Aurelija Genelytė

Lietuvių kalbos institutas

P. Vileišio g. 5, 10308 Vilnius, Lietuva

[email protected]

Gauta 2003 10 16

Document details