Herber

Ikon · Post by **Ikon** » Mon January 12th, 2009, 9:18 pm

The London house of both the Earl of Warwick and, later, the Duke of Clarence among other illustrious inhabitants is called the Herber. Does anyone here know what that name means or how it came to be bestowed on that building?

annis · Post by **annis** » Tue January 13th, 2009, 1:21 am

Herber is the medieval word for a planted garden (from the Latin herba, meaning grass, or a herbaceous plant). The herber could be used for medicinal plants or flowers. Later the word came to be used for an arbour.

I don't know how the word got attached to the house, but I'm guessing that it must have been renowned for its garden or arbour.

Laura · Post by **Laura** » Tue January 13th, 2009, 10:09 am

Ikon, wellcome aboard!!

boswellbaxter · Post by **boswellbaxter** » Tue January 13th, 2009, 2:09 pm

From Notes and Queries (Jan-June 1885):

I propose to connect Erber and Harbrough as one word diversely spelled, and to derive both from the Latin herba, English herbary, the point of union being in the existence of a hay wharf, and the designation adfcenam applied to the adjacent church. It seems quite admissible to connect fodder with herbs and vegetables, here imported and stored for local use or sale, and it may well have been so throughout the country. So excellent an authority as Prof. Skeat explains, " L. herba, grass, fodder, herb." This is just what I contend for as the origin of the suffix in Cold Harbour, thus making Erber a local synonym for foenam.

P. 291.

annis · Post by **annis** » Tue January 13th, 2009, 4:58 pm

How interesting- I thought that you might have the answer, boswellbaxter.

Ikon · Post by **Ikon** » Wed January 21st, 2009, 3:18 pm

Thank you so much for the answer. I was assured that there would be persons on this site who could supply me with the derivation of the name. I am awed.

Ikon · Post by **Ikon** » Wed January 21st, 2009, 3:19 pm

Thank you. I must set aside a block of time to learn my way around. This looks to be a treasure chest of interesting thoughts.

Ikon · Post by **Ikon** » Wed January 21st, 2009, 3:20 pm

i appreciate the detailed answer. I expect no less from you.