mavis

Jun. 27th, 2012 07:14 am
prettygoodword: text: words are sexy (Default)
[personal profile] prettygoodword
mavis (MAY-vis) - n., (arch. or dial.) the European song thrush (Turdus philomelos).


For a bonus poeticism, also called throstle. The woman's name is from the bird, while the bird's is old -- dating from at least the 14th century as mavys, from Anglo-French mauviz, possibly (and the dictionaries are tentative here) from Old French mauve, seagull, mew. I can see why the tentative.

"The thrush replyes; the mavis descant playes" — Spenser, the line before yesterday's

---L.

Date: 2012-06-28 05:08 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] janni.livejournal.com
the little girl's not listening
she's talking to the bird
Mavis you can trust me
now's your big chance
fly away

Date: 2012-06-28 01:57 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] prettygoodword.livejournal.com
Hee. Hadn't thought of that.

---L.

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