Why do they call strawberries... strawberries?

Question

My 5 year old asked me why they call strawberries... strawberries? He wanted to know why they start with the word straw. He says they dont look like straws, and they don't grow in straw(hay).
He also said... Maybe because people suck the juice out of them.
Anyone know??

Answer 1

There are many explanations about how this luscious fruit became known as the strawberry. The most common is that children in England during the nineteenth century threaded the berries onto straw and offered them for sale. Another theory is the name was derived from the nineteenth-century practice of placing straw around the growing berry plants to protect the ripening fruit.

The explanation which is widely thought to be correct is that the name originated a thousand years ago because of the plant's production of runners which spread outward from the plant. Thus, the word strawberry was derived from the Anglo-Saxon verb to strew (spread) and so the fruit became known as streabergan to the Anglo-Saxons and later, straberry, streberie, straibery, strauberry, and finally strawberry to the English.

Answer 2

The answer has never been very clear, but the root of the word is strēawberiġe (streaw meaning straw and berige meaning berry). Actually, in other Germanic countries tradition is to collect wild strawberries by collecting them on straws. But common belief is that it comes from gardeners' practice of mulching strawberries with straw to keep the fruits from rotting.

Answer 3

The name is derived from Old English strēawberiġe which is a compound of streaw meaning "straw" and berige meaning "berry". The reason for this is unclear. It may derive from the strawlike appearance of the runners, or from an obsolete denotation of straw, meaning "chaff", referring to the scattered appearance of the achenes.

Interestingly, in other Germanic countries there is a tradition of collecting wild strawberries by threading them on straws. In those countries people find straw-berry to be an easy word to learn considering their association with straws.[citation needed] (In fact, in almost all other Germanic languages besides English, the name of the fruit corresponds to "Earth-Berry", so this claim is dubious.)

There is an alternative theory that the name derives from the Anglo-Saxon verb for "strew" (meaning to spread around) which was streabergen (Strea means "strew" and Bergen means "berry" or "fruit") and thence to streberie, straiberie, strauberie, straubery, strauberry, and finally, "strawberry", the word which we use today. The name might have come from the fact that the fruit and various runners appear "strewn" along the ground.

Popular etymology has it that it comes from gardeners' practice of mulching strawberries with straw to protect the fruits from rot (a pseudoetymology that can be found in non-linguistic sources such as the Old Farmer's Almanac 2005). However, there is no evidence that the Anglo-Saxons ever grew strawberries, and even less that they knew of this practice.

Answer 4

Strawberries are called that because of the tiny 'straw like' things that grow on them (usually washed off when we buy them in stores). Also because they are frequently grown under 'mown grass or hay' to get earlier berries.

Answer 5

The call is derived from old English str?awberi?e that's a compound of streaw meaning "straw" and berige meaning "berry". the clarification at the back of that's uncertain. it might desire to derive from the strawlike visual attraction of the runners, or from an out of date denotation of straw, meaning "chaff", touching on the scattered visual attraction of the achenes. apparently, in different Germanic international places there's a convention of amassing wild strawberries by threading them on straws. In those international places human beings discover straw-berry to be an elementary be conscious to verify thinking their affiliation with straws. there is ternative thought that the call derives from the Anglo-Saxon verb for "strew" (intending to unfold around) which replace into streabergen (Strea ability "strew" and Bergen ability "berry" or "fruit") and thence to streberie, straiberie, strauberie, straubery, strauberry, and finally, "strawberry", the be conscious which we use right this moment. The call would have come from the reality that the fruit and diverse runners look "strewn" alongside the floor. standard etymology has it that it comes from gardeners' prepare of mulching strawberries with straw to guard the culmination from rot (a pseudoetymology which would be present day in non-linguistic components such using fact the old Farmer's Almanac 2005). even although, there is not any data that the Anglo-Saxons ever grew strawberries, or perhaps much less that they knew of this prepare.

Answer 6

Used to be, straw was placed around the plants in the spring to protect it from frost and early spring freezes. Hence the word "straw" berries.

Answer 7

You have a very smart 5 year old, already questioning life. Very creative. Sadly, I do not know the answer at the moment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strawberries

this is what I found.

Answer 8

streaw + berige
The reason for the name is uncertain, but perhaps it is in reference to the tiny chaff-like external seeds which cover the fruit

Answer 9

why do we call anything what we do? Somebody gives things a name and they stick, no rhyme nor reason.

Answer 10

To shay.

You have a smart five year old!!! I don't know!