Why do we say Jenny wren - it doesn't even rhyme Jen Wren or Jenny Wrenny maybe?

Answer 1

Jenny Wren is so named in very old nursery rhymes. The expression precedes her appearance in Dickens's "Our Mutual Friend" and goes back to medieval times. There is a reference to her in Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsor.

Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes

Little Jenny Wren fell sick,
Upon a time;
In came Robin Redbreast
And brought her cake and wine.

"Eat well of my cake, Jenny,
Drink well of my wine."
"Thank you, Robin, kindly,
You shall be mine."

Jenny she got well,
And stood upon her feet,
And told Robin plainly
She loved him not a bit.

Robin being angry,
Hopped upon a twig,
Saying, "Out upon you! Fie upon you!
Bold-faced jig!"

She also appears in the very long poem "The Death of **** Robin"
http://fairytales4u.com/fable/cockrobi.htm

It is, of course, the English ornithological term. In Britain there was at one time a trend for calling birds after people. There's the martin and the robin and very young children call any small bird a dicky-bird. Less obvious is the jay, Jay being the anglicized form of the Latin name Gaius. These names date to the late middle ages when personal names were applied to various birds. With some birds these names were added to existing names. Thus, the daw became the jackdaw and the pie became the magpie (where mag- is short for Margaret). At the same time, the wren became known as the jenny-wren, a name that doesn't seem to be used widely but also survives in the cryptic English folk jingle "The robin and the jenny-wren are God Almighty's **** and hen" and other nursery rhymes.

Answer 2

Jenny Wren Bird

Answer 3

The Wren, Troglodytes troglodytes, referred to as `Jenny` Wren, was NEVER intended as a rhyme.Charles Dickens uses the name for one of his characters in the novel ,Our Mutual Friend; she is a dressmaker for toy dolls. Also mentioned as the `wife` of Robin Redbreast in the children's poem, and featured as the only British bird to appear on UK coinage, declared to be Paul McCartney`s favourite bird, and known in folklore as the `King of all Birds`, the Wren has a fascinating folklore attached to it, is held in affection by gardeners, bird lovers, and country dwellers everywhere. Not a rhyme, more like a big slice of ornithological folklore.

Answer 4

Troglodytes troglodytes to you!

The sweetheart of Robin Redbreast.

Robin promised Jenny, if she would be his wife, she should `feed on cherry-pie and drink currant-wine'; and he says:
`Ill dress you like a goldfinch,
Or any peacock gay;
So, dearest Jen, if you'll be mine,
Let us appoint the day.'
Jenny replies:
`Cherry-pie is very nice,
And so is current wine;
But I must wear my plain brown gown,
And never go too fine.

'Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894

Answer 5

I have an idea that it may have something to do with poetry - check out William Wordsworth!

Answer 6

WTF are you on about?