03-09-2017, 06:05 AM
It could also refer to birth, a newborn, the firstborn, child care...
If it refers to birth, the answer likely lies in a medicinal use. However, as you remarked before, it doesn't refer to the act of childbirth.
Now if it's about a newborn, things get more complicated. Imagine that the plant is henna like JKP said. Henna was not only used in South Asia, but also in the eastern and southern Mediterranean. It was in high demand and it was traded. I haven't studied its historical use, but it's strongly connected to fertility and celebrations.
But I haven't got a preference yet. I like your ash suggestion as well. Ash is a strong but flexible kind of wood and extremely resistant. This made it to ne used in specialised circumstances. A famous example is that bows were often made of ash.
Might the root refer to some wooden element usually made of ash?
If it refers to birth, the answer likely lies in a medicinal use. However, as you remarked before, it doesn't refer to the act of childbirth.
Now if it's about a newborn, things get more complicated. Imagine that the plant is henna like JKP said. Henna was not only used in South Asia, but also in the eastern and southern Mediterranean. It was in high demand and it was traded. I haven't studied its historical use, but it's strongly connected to fertility and celebrations.
But I haven't got a preference yet. I like your ash suggestion as well. Ash is a strong but flexible kind of wood and extremely resistant. This made it to ne used in specialised circumstances. A famous example is that bows were often made of ash.
Might the root refer to some wooden element usually made of ash?