SC - Re: speaking of peanuts...

[CorwynWdwd at aol.com]

In a message dated 4/7/2001 2:38:29 PM Eastern Daylight Time, ddfr at best.com 
writes: 

> What's the source for that? The OED doesn't have any entries for 
>  "peanut" or "groundnut" that are nearly that early; do you know what 
>  they were called?

I will admit here and now without reservation that the entire missive I sent 
was the result of personal memory and a quick websearch. If and when I find 
my herbals I'll try and quote something more substantial. 

Every "History of the Peanut" on the web states that they were used as slave 
food by the Portuguese in the 16th century. That in itself is hardly proof, 
but I also remember a reference in one of my herbals, and I THINK it was 
Gerard's. I clearly remember a woodcut illo in the right style. People can 
remember all kinds of things though.

The point of the Email was that peanuts weren't really known widely in 
period, and aren't African in origin.

Corwyn
 

We need justice. We need toleration, honesty and moral courage. These are 
modern virtues without which we cannot hope to control the forces science has 
let loose among us. --I.A.R. Wylie