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Acorn
An
acorn
is
the
fruit
of
the
oak
tree.
By
analogy
with
the
shape,
in
nautical
language,
the
word
also
refers
to
a
piece
of
wood
keeping
the
vane
on
the
mast-head.
The
etymology
of
the
word
(earlier
akerne,
and
acharn)
is
discussed
in
the
Oxford
English
Dictionary.
It
is
derived
from
a
word
(Goth
akran)
which
meant
"fruit,"
originally
"of
the
unenclosed
land,"
and
so
of
the
most
important
forest
produce,
the
oak.
Chaucer
speaks
of
"achornes
of
okes."
By
degrees,
popular
etymology
connected
the
word
both
with
"corn"
and
"oak-horn,"
and
the
spelling
changed
accordingly. Cultural aspectsAcorns take up to three years to mature and appear only on adult trees, and thus are often a symbol of patience and the fruition of long, hard labor. For example, an English proverb states that Great oaks from little acorns grow, urging the listener to wait for maturation of a project or idea. A German folktale has a farmer outwit Satan, to whom he has promised his soul, by asking for a reprieve until his first crop is harvested; he plants acorns and has several years to enjoy first.
Photographs, illustrations and clipart at Classroom ClipArt.com
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