Dr. Science on etymology
May. 7th, 2008 09:07 amDear Dr. Science: Why do they call them apple orchards but orange groves?
The Hungarian word for apple is "Orch" and, to honor the Magyar dentist who manufactured the first wooden false teeth, President George Washington proclaimed a grove of apple trees to henceforth be known as an orchard. The word "grove" comes, of course, from Grover, the lovable, pot- bellied, fuzzy, blue ball of fur that we've all been exposed to on Sesame Street. Yes, we've been exposed and Grover loves exposing himself. It turns out that Grover's family jewels are bright orange and at least the size of tennis balls: hence the name being applied to a multiplicity of the fruit. So you see, etymology is often obscure and somewhat obscene."