otsisto wrote:
I do not know why you are looking it up in OED as it isn't English. (Did the
English wear hennins?)
The word is used in modern English (and it's in the OED as such), and the OED
gives etymologies, so I was hoping for a clue -- but as I noted, OED is not my
reference of choice for costume terms, just what I happened to have at hand.
I'm not at a library today.
I was rather hoping someone had already trodden this ground before, so I could
give my inquirer an accepted answer. But it's not a question I'm going to be
able to take time to research, and I don't expect anyone else to spend a lot
of time on it.
I am not 100% sure where I saw the info but I believe
it is Old French or possibly of Neitherland origin. I vaguely remember
something about hennin and a cockscomb association.
I think the modern Dutch word for cockscomb is hanekam. I am unsure what the
medieval word would be.
That's as good an idea as any, and probably more likely than "hent" or
"henne." Julian was probably right to look at medieval Flemish, but that's way
out of my range of references at hand. Overall, though, it's sounding like
there isn't a previously researched, accepted etymology. Rather, it might be
good subject for a research project. In this case, for someone else, not me!
Regardless of etymology, though, even one contemporary inventory reference
that uses the word would answer my inquirer's question, as she was told the
word wasn't actually used for the headdress in the period, except perhaps as a
term of derision.
--Robin
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