{"id":4590,"date":"2026-09-12T18:34:45","date_gmt":"2026-09-12T18:34:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/?p=4590"},"modified":"2026-09-12T19:04:30","modified_gmt":"2026-09-12T19:04:30","slug":"adventures-in-etymology-beaming-trees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/?p=4590","title":{"rendered":"Adventures in Etymology &#8211; Beaming Trees"},"content":{"rendered":"<div itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/AudioObject\"><meta itemprop=\"name\" content=\"Adventures in Etymology &amp;#8211; Beaming Trees\" \/><meta itemprop=\"uploadDate\" content=\"2026-09-12T18:34:45+00:00\" \/><meta itemprop=\"encodingFormat\" content=\"audio\/mpeg\" \/><meta itemprop=\"duration\" content=\"PT2M04S\" \/><meta itemprop=\"description\" content=\"In this Adventure in Etymology we discover what links the word beam with words for tree.\n\n\n\nMeanings of beam [\u02c8bi\u02d0m] include any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its thickness, and prepared for use; one of the transverse members of...\" \/><meta itemprop=\"contentUrl\" content=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/beam.mp3\" \/><meta itemprop=\"contentSize\" content=\"2.1\" \/><div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_5923\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-4590-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/beam.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/beam.mp3\">https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/beam.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div><\/div><p class=\"powerpress_links powerpress_links_mp3\" style=\"margin-bottom: 1px !important;\">Podcast: <a href=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/beam.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_pinw\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Play in new window\" onclick=\"return powerpress_pinw('https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/?powerpress_pinw=4590-podcast');\" rel=\"nofollow\">Play in new window<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/beam.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_d\" title=\"Download\" rel=\"nofollow\" download=\"beam.mp3\">Download<\/a><\/p><p>In this Adventure in Etymology we discover what links the word <strong>beam<\/strong> with words for <strong>tree<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/andreakirkby\/2809452326\/in\/photolist-5hgbid-arvGfF-bG1jma-4FS9XV-4B4ZY8-xKG3Rb-qtfyeX-5PKCHB-4yv7Xi-Ccy4u-QNkQMT-bwBgjE-9xPZxs-aMVZLp-rqEyW5-fQZ6qJ-4GK9oG-5bBCvm-bRQPWP-x1huu7-brA7Lf-ffXpek-e5w8cy-seztSw-ngvpSJ-iWEw6a-vMFndW-m2qmgb-4uWAbo-3cdR3B-6aoZv9-fqstCV-8UTjQi-6jLANH-8UUuTd-aDqUvb-KBkz2k-bBbCSj-4rGjw2-7T4Bcy-9c55ud-8edrUg-8skhxu-amkapc-psZQcL-8ns9rL-LbviRr-QaRUN-apC84N-sG8vX\" title=\"Puivert halle\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/3230\/2809452326_661f01994e_z.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"425\" alt=\"Puivert halle\"\/><\/a><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Meanings of <strong>beam<\/strong> [\u02c8bi\u02d0m] include any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its thickness, and prepared for use; one of the transverse members of a ship&#8217;s frame on which the decks are laid; a ray or collection of approximately parallel rays emitted from the sun or other luminous body.<\/p>\n<p>It comes from Middle English <em>be(e)m<\/em> [b\u025b\u031d\u02d0m] (beam, pole, antler, tree), from Old English <em>b\u0113am<\/em> [b\u00e6\u0251\u02d0m] (tree, beam, gallows), from Proto-West Germanic <em>*baum<\/em> (tree, beam), from Proto-Germanic <em>*bagmaz<\/em> (tree, beam), possibly from PIE <em>*b\u02b0uH-<\/em> (to become, grow, appear) [<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/beam#English\">source<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p>Words from the same Proto-Germanic roots include <strong>Baum<\/strong> (tree, boom) and <strong>beamen<\/strong> (to beam, teleport, project) in German (borrowed from English, popularised by Star Trek), <strong>bom<\/strong> (bar, barrier, beam) in Danish, <strong>boom<\/strong> (tree, beam, mast) in Dutch, <strong>puomi<\/strong> (boom, barrier, pole) in Finnish, <strong>boom<\/strong> in English [<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European\/b%CA%B0el-\">source<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p>Incidentally, in Middle English there were several words for <strong>tree<\/strong>, including <em>tre<\/em> (tree, plants, wood), <em>bem<\/em> (beam, a set of scales, antler, tree) and <em>arbre<\/em> (tree). The first two come from Old English and Proto-Germanic, while <em>arbre<\/em> comes from Old French <em>arbre<\/em> (tree). <\/p>\n<p>Related words in English include <strong>arboretum<\/strong> (a place where many varieties of tree are grown for research, educational, and ornamental purposes), <strong>arboreal<\/strong> (tree-like, relating to trees) [<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/tree#English\">source<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p>If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/uk\/cgi-bin\/webscr?cmd=_flow&amp;SESSION=aLjPfXL-vP_1gQ_U23Iz8_hSWLlhzLHPMFZrt32dIEfG8htoNFLYaPoWkv8&amp;dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f8e263663d3faee8def8934b92a630e40b7fef61ab7e9fe63\">PayPal<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/omniglot\">Patreon<\/a>, or <a href=\"http:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/donations.htm\">contribute to Omniglot in other ways<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with <a href=\"https:\/\/blubrry.com\/services\/podcast-hosting\/?code=omniglot\">Blubrry Podcast Hosting<\/a>, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code <strong>omniglot<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.japanesepod101.com\/member\/go.php?r=759259&amp;i=b0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/images\/banners\/banner_japanesepod.jpg\" alt=\"The Fastest Way to Learn Japanese Guaranteed with JapanesePod101.com\" width=\"630\" height=\"83\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I also write about words, etymology and other language-related topics on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/bloggle\/\">Omniglot Blog<\/a>, and I explore etymological connections between Celtic languages on the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/\">Celtiadur<\/a> blog.<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-5001128073855040\"\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<!-- Blog horizontal --><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\n     style=\"display:block\"\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-5001128073855040\"\n     data-ad-slot=\"1685480124\"\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/AudioObject\"><meta itemprop=\"name\" content=\"Adventures in Etymology &amp;#8211; Beaming Trees\" \/><meta itemprop=\"uploadDate\" content=\"2026-09-12T18:34:45+00:00\" \/><meta itemprop=\"encodingFormat\" content=\"audio\/mpeg\" \/><meta itemprop=\"duration\" content=\"PT2M04S\" \/><meta itemprop=\"description\" content=\"In this Adventure in Etymology we discover what links the word beam with words for tree.\n\n\n\nMeanings of beam [\u02c8bi\u02d0m] include any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its thickness, and prepared for use; one of the transverse members of...\" \/><meta itemprop=\"contentUrl\" content=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/beam.mp3\" \/><meta itemprop=\"contentSize\" content=\"2.1\" \/><div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_5924\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-4590-2\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/beam.mp3?_=2\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/beam.mp3\">https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/beam.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div><\/div><p class=\"powerpress_links powerpress_links_mp3\" style=\"margin-bottom: 1px !important;\">Podcast: <a href=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/beam.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_pinw\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Play in new window\" onclick=\"return powerpress_pinw('https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/?powerpress_pinw=4590-podcast');\" rel=\"nofollow\">Play in new window<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/beam.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_d\" title=\"Download\" rel=\"nofollow\" download=\"beam.mp3\">Download<\/a><\/p><p>In this Adventure in Etymology we discover what links the word beam with words for tree. Meanings of beam [\u02c8bi\u02d0m] include any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its thickness, and prepared for use; one of the transverse members of a ship&#8217;s frame on which the decks are laid; a ray [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[98,31,47,20,125,23,24,4,58,11,55,109,1,57,59,119],"tags":[496,495,494,493,491,492,90,9,167,15,88,8,307,103],"class_list":["post-4590","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-adventures-in-etymology","category-danish","category-dutch","category-english","category-finnish-suomi","category-french","category-german","category-language","category-middle-english","category-music","category-old-english-aenglisc","category-old-french-franceis","category-podcast","category-proto-germanic","category-proto-indo-european","category-proto-west-germanic","tag-arboreal","tag-arboretum","tag-arbre","tag-baum","tag-beam","tag-boom","tag-etymology","tag-language","tag-linguistics","tag-music","tag-omniglot","tag-podcast","tag-tree","tag-words"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4590","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4590"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4590\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4594,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4590\/revisions\/4594"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4590"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4590"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4590"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}