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On 04 Jan 2006, at 01:03, Adam Walker wrote:
Also needed at this juncture is the etymology of the Italian/Spanish word avellana, French aveline, meaning hazelnut.
I think Latin "abellana"! Not sure of the etymology, but popularly said to be from the Campagnan town-name "Abella" (modern Avella) where hazelnuts were grown (apparently!). That name looks suspiciously like it could share a root with "apple" -- and, hmm, actually my Oxford Dict. of Eng. Etym. suggests that's a possibility! Virgil apparently describes Abella as being famous for apples -- perhaps they got into hazelnuts later or there was some kind of semantic juggling or something ....
There is a famous Oscan inscription (insofar as Oscan insciptions are famous :) associated with Abella/Avella, the Cippus Abellanus, which records the settlement of a boundary dispute with nearby Nola.
Cheers, Carl -- Carl Edlund Anderson http://www.carlaz.com/