Mugwort - Etymology

Etymology

The Anglo-Saxon Nine Herbs Charm mentions Mucgwyrt. A folk etymology based on coincidental sounds, derives Mugwort from the word "mug"; more certainly, it has been used in flavoring drinks at least since the early Iron Age. Other sources say Mugwort is derived from the old Norse muggi, meaning "marsh", and Germanic "wuertz", meaning "root", which refers to its use since ancient times to repel insects, especially moths. The Old English word for mugwort is "mucgwyrt" where "mucg-" could be a variation of the Old English word for midge "mycg". Wort comes from the Old English "wyrt" (root/herb/plant) which is related to the Old High German "wurz" (root) and the Old Norse "urt" (plant). Mugwort is called chornobylnik in Ukrainian, and has given its name to the abandoned city of Chernobyl (Chornobyl in Ukrainian). The name chornobyl has an interesting history, meaning "place where mugwort grows" in the related Indo-European languages.

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