APAD: Ne'er cast a clout till May be out

Meaning: Literal.

 

Background:

   The word `clout', although archaic, is straightforward. Since at least the

   early 15th century `clout' has been used variously to mean `a blow to the

   head', `a clod of earth or (clotted) cream' or `a fragment of cloth, or

   clothing'. It is the last of these that is meant in `cast a clout'. So,

   `ne'er cast a clout...' simply means `never discard your [warm winter]

   clothing...'.

 

   The 'till May be out' part is where the doubt lies. On the face of it this

   means `until the month of May is ended'.

   

   There is another interpretation. In England, in May, you can't miss the

   Hawthorn. It is an extremely common tree in the English countryside,

   especially in hedges. Hawthorns are virtually synonymous with hedges. As many

   as 200,000 miles of hawthorn hedge were planted in the Parliamentary

   Enclosure period, between 1750 and 1850. The name `Haw' derives from `hage',

   the Old English for `hedge'.

   

   The tree gives its beautiful display of flowers in late April/early May. It

   is known as the May Tree and the blossom itself is called May. Using that

   allusion, 'till May is out' could mean, `until the hawthorn is out [in

   bloom]'.

   

   Other rhymes in which May is ambiguous are:

    - ``April showers bring forth May flowers.

    - Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,

    

   Putting the case for the month, as opposed to the flower...

   ...

   

   All in all, although the May blossom interpretation seems appealing, the

   `May' in this proverb is the month of May.

   

- www.phrases.org.uk [edited]

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May can be hawthorn!

 

I doubt that anyone would pick up this word/knowledge/culture/etc by passing

standard English tests. Or stood I alone none the wiser?

所有跟帖: 

春捂秋冻?山楂花儿?:-) -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 01/18/2025 postreply 09:05:25

Yes and yes. The Chinese saying wins in brevity! -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 01/18/2025 postreply 09:09:40

4 fun: "Can February March? No, but April May". :-) -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 01/18/2025 postreply 09:09:38

No, Feb.is a month and it cannot walk. -JoyAnna.- 给 JoyAnna. 发送悄悄话 JoyAnna. 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 01/18/2025 postreply 09:39:03

Feb.cannot march, but April might be able to march. Why? -JoyAnna.- 给 JoyAnna. 发送悄悄话 JoyAnna. 的博客首页 (167 bytes) () 01/18/2025 postreply 09:40:13

cuz April is a girl (homonyms ;-) and she has legs :-)))) -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 01/18/2025 postreply 09:44:27

Got you. It's fun. hahaha -JoyAnna.- 给 JoyAnna. 发送悄悄话 JoyAnna. 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 01/18/2025 postreply 09:50:29

Nice play on the names. -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 01/18/2025 postreply 11:23:53

春捂秋冻,秋收冬藏。秋裤现在穿起来 till May be out. lol -JoyAnna.- 给 JoyAnna. 发送悄悄话 JoyAnna. 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 01/18/2025 postreply 09:26:51

Many switched to T-shirts around noon here. -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 01/18/2025 postreply 11:26:30

First time seeing this:))Great to know it inside out. -暖冬cool夏- 给 暖冬cool夏 发送悄悄话 暖冬cool夏 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 01/18/2025 postreply 10:42:34

I knew you'd like it! -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 01/18/2025 postreply 11:26:58

从小就不断被灌输春捂秋冻 -移花接木- 给 移花接木 发送悄悄话 移花接木 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 01/18/2025 postreply 13:01:24

Also hawthorn berries in tendering meat, seasoning liquor, -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 01/18/2025 postreply 13:17:05

and making 糖葫芦 :-) -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 01/18/2025 postreply 13:18:47

啊 糖葫芦 I miss U so much!! :-)) also remembered 山楂酒 (my Dad -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 01/18/2025 postreply 13:23:01

used to drink it). And I still follow the rule of 春捂秋冻 :-)) -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 01/18/2025 postreply 13:24:52

Right. It is chilly today,only 40+ degree this morning~ -妖妖灵- 给 妖妖灵 发送悄悄话 妖妖灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 01/18/2025 postreply 16:42:34

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