A Conversation for Anglo-Saxon (Old English)

unusual english words

Post 1

rodotski

Hello!

Not sure if anyone can help, but a friend was on a woodland walk recently and the guide described the type of boggy woodland terrain they were walking through as an 'aldercar'.

I have searched everywhere and so far can find no explanation or further reference to this word - does anyone know anything more about its roots and context?

I suspect it may be Old English or Anglo Saxon but now defunct.

Please let me know at [email protected] if you have any further info re this subject, as I'm not sure how to follow this thread.

Thanks, Rod


unusual english words

Post 2

John the gardener says, "Free Tibet!"

Hi Rod,

A "carr" is a marshy area, a fen. Alders are trees that thrive in wet ground. So the term might have been "alder carr".

Cheers,

JTG


unusual english words

Post 3

Woden_Allfather

Could also possibly mean 'old marsh'. 'Alder' means 'elder' and 'Ald' means 'old'.


unusual english words

Post 4

ImaginaryDuck

Alder - a catkin-bearing tree of the birch family with toothed leaves, found especially on damp ground and riverbanks. (Germanic origin)

Carr - fen woodland or scrub that is typically dominated by alder or willow. (Middle English origin)

smiley - smiley


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