From: mbottorff@lshelby.com   
      
   Brian M. Scott  wrote:   
      
   > > If not from the woods but from the tree... which tree and   
   > > in what way is someone "from/of" it?   
   >   
   > You may already have seen Dirk's post that essentially   
   > answers this.   
      
   Yep.  My question and his answer sort of crossed eachother in   
   cyberspace.  Interesting stuff.   
      
   > I'd forgotten that the Dutch word also means   
   > a pole, shaft, etc.,   
      
   Same evolutionary path as you described happening in English to get us   
   beam, looks like to me.  :)   
      
      
   ...   
   I'm not that familiar with many famous trees, but I assume that certain   
   trees become local landmarks, and it's just a matter of not being able   
   to differentiate one local landmark tree from the local landmark tree   
   two counties over that prevents me from having any knowlege of specific   
   examples.   
      
      
   The Chinese have a thingy about trees.  Every tree over a hundred years   
   old is considered a national treasure, with a plaque and everything.  At   
   least, I saw a number of plaqued trees in this book I read on Chinese   
   Gardens, and that was the explanation the author gave.  :)   
      
      
      
      
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