Matris animula « serpolet » : médecine et folklore autour d’un phytonyme

Abstract

Creeping thyme or mother of thyme is usually called serpillum in Latin but Isidore of Seville gives it another name, matris animula ‘mother’s little soul’, which he explains with its gynaecological virtues. The word is not attested anywhere else in Latin literature but Slavic languages have similar names for the same plant (Czech mateřídouška, etc.). The present paper tries to trace out the links between the Latin word and further European names of creeping thyme, which generated tales and myths.

Keywords

• Comparative lexicology
• Isidore of Seville
• Phytonym
• Slavic languages