the.com/rowan
the tree so feared by witches that Scots planted it on every doorstep
means A small hardy tree of the rose family with feathery leaves and bright clusters of red-orange berries, also called the mountain ash.
from From Old Norse — likely related to reynir, the Norse name for the tree — which spread through Scandinavian and northern English speech. The Norse root is thought to connect to words meaning 'to redden,' a nod to those vivid berries. The tree's long reputation as a charm against witches and ill-luck is genuine northern folklore, woven through Scottish and Scandinavian custom, though that protective lore is a story carried on the word rather than buried in its roots.
- old names
- called witchwood and quickbeam for centuries
- berry hack
- frost or freezing makes the fruit edible
- name meaning
- Gaelic root means red, for the berries
- survivor
- grows higher up mountains than most trees
- bird ally
- thrushes scatter its seeds across whole hillsides
rowan university — public university in glassboro, new jersey, founded 1923 with ~19,000 students
rowan atkinson — british actor and comedian best known for playing mr. bean since 1990
rowan williams — archbishop of canterbury from 2002-2012, former head of the church of england