🚀 go-pugleaf

Phred wrote:
> In article <6ket72dblga3cus6s3f4vdqtn6b2t4oo6b@4ax.com>, Torsten Brinch <iaotb@inet.uni2.dk> wrote:
> 
>>On Wed, 31 May 2006 11:31:05 GMT, ppnerkDELETETHIS@yahoo.com (Phred)
>>wrote:
>>
>>
>>>G'day mates,
>>>
>>>A question arose today about pigeon pea (still _Cajanus cajan_ to 
>>>me; but the taxonomists say it's now in _Atylosia_).
>>>
>>>It was quite a simple question:  "Why is pigeon pea called pigeon 
>>>pea?"  [AKA "pigeonpea".]
>>>
>>>I have to say, I'm damned if I know why!  It's been pigeon pea to me 
>>>since I first met it 40 years ago, and I've never wondered why.
>>>
>>>According to <http://www.thefreedictionary.com/pigeon+pea> it's simply 
>>>"From the use of its seeds as pigeon feed."
>>>
>>>While that may well be true, it almost sounds *too* simplistic.  After 
>>>all, the main use is for human food (red gram, toor dal, etc.) 
>>>especially in India.
>>>
>>>So where and why has it become associated with bloody pigeons?
>>
>>I have no idea. Pass.
>>
>>
>>>(An analogous question arises for "chickpea".)
>>
>>'Chick-pea' comes from French 'pois chiche'. It was originally
>>imported into English as the singular form 'chich-pease', 
>>but the pommie ear naturally came to hear such a construction as 
>>a  plural form, so from it was synthesised  the singular form
>>chich-pea. In the origin the French name 'pois chiche' has nothing 
>>to do with chicken. 'Chiche' is  from Latin 'cicer', which means ...
>>pea :-)
> 
> 
> Thanks for that, Torsten.  I wonder if, in years to come, we could 
> have the progression: pea pea --> pee pee --> wee wee?  ;-)
> 
> Cheers, Phred.
> 
In central Florida, we have the Peace River, and one might think it was 
named at the end of a war.  However, the more likely story is that there 
is a native Vicia that grows on its banks, and it was therefore 
originally the Peas River.