who knew? random words from a summery mind

summer is a great time for learning of a different kind.  whether it's portland then and now architectural walking tours or new hikes, my mind is clear and ready to make connections.  i never knew, for example, that the word "jeweler" came from the late 14th c. Anglo for jueler from joel (jewel), see also juelrye or precious ornaments.  this discovery came from wondering with a friend whether it was related at all to Jew, which it's not, but was an interesting quest nonetheless.  i also didn't know that buckwheat was a relative of the rhubarb plant and that the word galette, French for "curled" & Latin crispa, is where we get our crepe; originating in Brittany, France and Quebec.  in other news, Haystack rock is famous, but i also learned the lesser known rock south along the beach is named Jockey Cap and it indeed looks the part.  last but not least, did you know that a mansard roof is one that is done in a four-sided sloping style?  if you can use all of these new terms in one sentence, kudos to you!  i'll be out learning some more...