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bēan, swearte

noun, f., o- decl., hapax legomenon

Last Update: 12.04.2011 14:22

Reference Last Update: 27.12.2022 09:18

Meaning Last Update: 16.04.2008 07:28

  • A:
    -, unsolved, ungeklärt
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Comment Last Update: 12.04.2011 14:21

  • Comment on (A): -, unsolved, ungeklärt

    The BLETA of the L text (which is in the nominative) is a blend of BETA (Beta vulgaris L., beet, Rote Bete) and BLITUM (Amaranthus L., amaranth, Fuchsschwanz; cf. André, s.v. BLETA) and denotes a vegetable related to both plants[1]. The translator interpreted BLETA NIGRA as a plural; the basic question, though, is why did he translate BLETA with beanen? Neither the plants referred to by BLETA nor any L names denoting 'bean' are likely to cause a confusion. However, we must note that the occurrence in PD is the only OE record for 'back beans'.

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Occurrence Last Update: 27.04.2009 09:29
  • PD, 5/26[2] napl swearte beanen
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Research Literature

BW II: Bierbaumer, Peter. Der botanische Wortschatz des Altenglischen. Grazer Beiträge zur Englischen Philologie 2. Bern, Frankfurt am Main, München: Lang, 1976.
PD: Löweneck, Max (ed.). Peri Didaxeon. Erlanger Beiträge zur Englischen Philologie 12. Erlangen: Junge, 1896.
André, Jacques. Les noms de plantes dans la Rome antique. Paris: Société d'édition 'les belles lettres', 1985.
Cockayne, Oswald Thomas (ed.). "Peri Didaxeon." In: Leechdoms, Wortcunning and Starcraft of Early England. Being a Collection of Documents, for the Most Part never before Printed, Illustrating the History of Sience in this Country before the Norman Conquest. Vol. 3. Rev. Ed. by Charles Singer. London: Holland Press, 1961. 82-143.
Fischer-Benzon, Rudolph von. Altdeutsche Gartenflora. Nachdruck der Ausgabe Kiel und Leipzig, 1894. Liechtenstein: Sändig Reprint, 1998.
Sanborn, Linda (ed.). An Edition of British Library MS. Harley 6258B: Peri Didaxeon. Diss. Ottawa: University of Ottawa, 1983.
[1]:

Cf. Fischer-Benzon 1894,129: "Die verschiedenen Pflanzen, deren Blätter als Gemüse (Spinat) gegessen werden, die Spinatpflan­zen, wurden nun schon sehr früh miteinander verwechselt. So finden wir für BETA die deutschen Namen Kraut, Kohl, römischer Kohl und Melde; ferner werden BETA (PETA) und BLITUM oder BLITUS als gleichbedeutend behandelt." (The different plants the leaves of which are consumed as vegetable (spinach), i.e. the spinach plants, have been confused very early. So L BETA is translated with "kale, cabbage, mangold, and orache", moreover BETA (PETA) and BLITUM or BLITUS are treated as synonyms.)

[2]:

L text (Löweneck 1896,4/9) BLETA NIGRA; cf. (Löweneck 1896,54, note on 5/26: "swearte beanen, lat. BLETA NIGRA, ein Küchengewächs [a kitchen herb]; vgl. Georges, "Lat. Wörterb, unter BLITUM."" BT(SC) do not record this entry. Cf. further MED, s.v. bēn(e) n. (1).