Quiver

[geoffretired]

We all know what the quiver is, but where did the word come from? I tried some research and found that way back before the Normans etc etc the word had its roots in the better known word "copper".
In several European languages in ancient times, their word for copper is like Quiver. I wonder what copper has to do with quiver? Were arrow containers made from copper in the early years. Was the connection perhaps that copper coloured leather made a good container. It's had me thinking for some time now. Can anyone throw some light on this,please?
Geoff

[JohnK]

Not sure about that one Geoff. Sounds interesting. I'll dig around on Google later.

Speaking of archery etymology, who can tell me the origin of the word "target" (i.e. the language that introduced it to the British Isles, the form it took and the original meaning)?

Full marks if you don't have to Google it

According to the Oxford English Dictionary it's from the Old French word "Quiveir" I understand this is a verb, so it implys it's a doing or action thing? Anyone out there speak French?

[JohnK]

Quiver certainly does sound like a word of Norman French/Latin origin, but my Latin is rather rusty these days and I'm not sure where my text books are.

Correction, its a Noun.

here you go:-

Middle English, from Anglo-Norman quiveir, variant of Old French cuivre, from Old Low Franconian cocar, probably from Medieval Latin cucurum, probably from Hunnish; akin to Mongolian kökür.

Bit over my head?

[geoffretired]

I think the verb idea comes from the making things copper coloured. Coppering them to go brown.
The origin goes back further than the latin, if my memory is correct.
The dictionaries tell the word's original meanings but not the reasoning behind it. I think Mongolians had a word for arrow holder and it looks like all the other words for copper.
My curiosity has been raised by this connection with copper.It's a bit like the old wash house boilers were often called "coppers" because they were made from copper. Would copper quivers make good sense?

[Rik]

The online etymology dictionary suggests:
"case for holding arrows," 1322, from Anglo-Fr. quiveir, O.Fr. quivre, probably from P.Gmc. *kukur "container" (cf. O.H.G. kohhari, O.Fris. koker, O.E. cocur "quiver"); said to be from the language of the Huns.

link
here.

Nothing about copper, I'm afraid. Interesting to think we might still be using a word derived from Hunnish, correctly... Weren't they reputed pretty good horse archers?

Oh, and a good dictionary link:
onelook dictionaries
It searches a shedload of online dictionaries for you...

[orius]

I think the word derived when the Normans met the Saxons at Hastings and seeing these things on there belts full of nasty sharp arrows, it made them QUIVER: I Know I Know I'm going Hee Hee

[JohnK]

My wife's Middle French is a bit rusty, but as she remembers it, "cuivre" means "leather". So I would guess that leather quivers gave rise to the use of the word.