hemlock etymology

Etymology

The word "hemlock" is derived from the Old English word "hemlic," which means "hidden" or "secret." It is related to the Old Norse word "hemill" and the Gothic word "hamuls," all of which have the same meaning.

Meaning

Hemlock refers to two different plants:

1. Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum): A highly poisonous biennial herb of the carrot family (Apiaceae) that is native to Europe and Western Asia. It is characterized by its spotted stems, large, fern-like leaves, and small white flowers.

2. Mountain Hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana): A long-lived conifer tree of the pine family (Pinaceae) that is common in the forests of western North America. It is characterized by its drooping branches, narrow, needle-like leaves, and small, cone-shaped seed cones.

Origin

The name "hemlock" likely originated from the fact that these plants often grow in shaded, hidden areas. The poisonous nature of poison hemlock has been known since ancient times, and it was used as a method of execution in ancient Greece. The philosopher Socrates was executed by drinking a cup of hemlock tea.

hemlock relate terms

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• hemlock

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• poison

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• poison

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• fern

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• fern

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• winter

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• covenant

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