[ia-bird] RE: Derivation of lores

[Rick Hollis]

Perhaps.  although neither bird's lores nor herps loral scales exactly bring stripes to mind.

Thanks for all who have tried to help my wandering brain.

-----Original Message-----
From: EA
Sent: May 3, 2014 2:35 PM
To: IA-BIRD
Subject: [ia-bird] RE: Derivation of lores

According to the third usage in the Oxford English Dictionary, the word derives from Latin lorum, strap or thong, and it gives the following definition:

 

2. Natural Hist. A strap-like appendage or surface in certain animals:

a. in insects a horny appendage in the mouth of certain Hymenoptera, upon which the mentum or chin is carried (also in quasi-Latin form lora)

b. in birds, a space between the eye and the side of the superior mandible, sometimes naked.

c. in snakes, a region between the eye and the nostril, sometimes covered by certain plates called lorals.

 

They give the following quotations:

1826   W. Kirby & W. Spence Introd. Entomol. III. 367   Lora (the Lora), a corneous angular machine observable in the mouth of some insects, upon the intermediate angle of which the Mentum sits.

1828   J. Fleming Hist. Brit. Animals 132   Horned Grebe..Lores crimson.

1837–43   W. Yarrell Hist. Brit. Birds I. 97   The black hairs on the lore, or space between the base of the beak and the eye.

1890   E. Coues Handbk. Field & Gen. Ornithol. ii. 145   The next commonest [form of head-nakedness] is definite bareness of the lores, as in all herons and grebes.

 

Not being entirely satisfied with OED’s etymology, I consulted my little bitty Latin-English dictionary and found this:

loreus -a -um adj. striped

 

Even though this is an adjective and lores is a noun, I think my etymology makes more sense, at least for the ornithological usage.  But I’m not going to contact the editors of the OED about it.

 

Elizabeth Aubrey

Amateur Etymologist (not Entomologist)

 

-----Original Message-----
From: bounce-ia-bird-2785...@lists.iowabirds.org [mailto:bounce-ia-bird-2785...@lists.iowabirds.org] On Behalf Of Rick Hollis
Sent: Friday, May 02, 2014 21:51
To: IA-BIRD
Subject: [ia-bird] Derivation of lores

 

What is this word derived from.  The adj is loreal

 

Rick Hollis

rural North Liberty IA

 

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Good Birding,

Rick Hollis
rural North Liberty IA

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