Finnish Month names

[Hank W.]

"Elo" is a surname, but its substantive "elo" in archaic Finnish means "corn" (as in grain), elonkorjuu, elojuhla etc. has nothing to do with the verb "life" as in elokuva (living pictures = movies), elonmerkki (lifesign) etc.

[jamesaritchie]

Many languages use the term "corn" for grain. In fact "Grain" is etymologically cognate with "corn, and shows metathesis (like 'pretty" versus "purty", as in "you sure are purty". In German, "Korn" is the word for grain and its existence as a word in Germanic preceded by centuries the European contact with the New World and any product from there such as "maize".

[Rob A.]

Many languages use the term "corn" for grain. In fact "Grain" is etymologically cognate with "corn, and shows metathesis (like 'pretty" versus "purty", as in "you sure are purty". In German, "Korn" is the word for grain and its existence as a word in Germanic preceded by centuries the European contact with the New World and any product from there such as "maize".

...why thank you for the insights...not so sure about the "pretty/purty" analogy, though

corn
"grain," O.E. corn, from P.Gmc. *kurnam "small seed," from PIE base *ger- "wear away" (O.Slav. zruno "grain," Skt. jr- "to wear down," L. granum). The sense of the O.E. word was "grain with the seed still in" rather than a particular plant. Locally understood to denote the leading crop of a district. Restricted to corn on the cob in America (originally Indian corn, but the adjective was dropped), usually wheat in England, oats in Scotland and Ireland, while korn means "rye" in parts of Germany. Introduced to China by 1550, it thrived where rice did not grow well and was a significant factor in the 18th century population boom there. Cornflakes first recorded 1907. Corned beef so called for the "corns" or grains of salt with which it is preserved. Cornrows as a hair style is first recorded 1971. Corny "old-fashioned" is Amer.Eng. 1932, originally, "something appealing to country folk."

kernel
O.E. cyrnel, from P.Gmc. *kurnilo- (cf. M.H.G. kornel, M.Du. cornel), from the root of corn "seed, grain" (see corn) + -el, dim. suffix. Fig. sense of "core or central part of anything" is from 1556.

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?sea ... hmode=none

...but now it means something altogether different to us modern people, doesn't it??...

http://www.kernel.org/