Wede Away": Exploring The Intriguing Meaning Behind This Unusual Phras

The Flowers of the Forest are a' wede away is a line from a traditional Scottish song written by Jean Elliot in the 18th century. The song laments the deaths of Scottish soldiers in the Battle of Flodden in 1513, where it is said that 10,000 men perished along with their king. In the context of the song, wede away means wilted away or dead forever.

Separately, wede is also a noun used to refer to cannabis, especially when smoked or consumed as a psychoactive drug.

'Wede' as a shortened name

Wede is a surname that can be traced back to Britain and Ireland, with records showing that Wede families were found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The name was most popular in the USA in 1920, with New York having the highest population of Wede families in 1840.

The name has various spellings, including Wade, Weide, Wedel, Fede, Wehde, Wege, Weder, and Wrede, among others.

The name Wede is also associated with a series of languages created by Bavarian politician and teacher Adalbert Baumann. The first of these languages, Wede, was published in 1915 as a simplified version of German that could be easily learned by foreigners. Baumann created Wede as an auxiliary language based on German, with the name being an abbreviation of "Welt-dialekt", meaning "world dialect".

In addition, Wede can be a first name, although it is not very common. According to one source, fewer than 5 people per year have been born with the first name Wede since 1880.

'Wede' as a noun for cannabis

Wede, pronounced "wed", is a noun used to refer to cannabis, especially when smoked or consumed as a psychoactive (mind-altering) drug. It is often used as a lazier alternative to the word "weed".

The word "weed" has a long history, with its origins dating back to Middle English, Old English, and even Proto-West Germanic. In the past, it was used to refer to unwanted plants that grow among cultivated crops, hindering their growth. Over time, the term has also been associated with tobacco and cigarettes, and it has found its way into slang and colloquial language.

The use of "wede" as a shortened reference to cannabis is a more modern development, with the term gaining popularity in recent times, especially among certain demographics. While "weed" is already a slang term for cannabis, "wede" takes the informality a step further, offering an even more casual and laid-back way to refer to the substance.

The evolution of language surrounding cannabis is an intriguing aspect of the cultural conversation surrounding the substance. The emergence of "wede" as a shorthand for cannabis illustrates how language adapts to the needs and preferences of its speakers, with new words and variations constantly being introduced and adopted.

'Wede' as a verb meaning to go mad

Wede is a Middle English verb that means "to go mad", "to rage", or "to rave". It is derived from the stem of Old English "wood", meaning "mad".

The word "wede" is found in the traditional Scottish song, "The Flowers of the Forest", written by Jean Elliot in the 18th century. The song is about the death of thousands of Scottish soldiers in the Battle of Flodden in 1513. The lyrics refer to the fallen soldiers as "flowers" that are "wede awa", meaning they are dead and gone forever.

> "I've heard the lilting, at the yowe-milking, Lasses a-lilting before dawn o' day; But now they are moaning on ilka green loaning; 'The Flowers of the Forest are a' wede away'."

In modern usage, "wede" can be used to describe someone who is wild with anger or desire, or it can be used to describe something that is raging or furious, such as waves or pestilence. For example, someone might say, "He is weding with anger after losing the game" or "The waves were weding in the storm".

'Wede' as a Middle English form

Wede is a Middle English word with several meanings.

Firstly, wede can refer to an article of clothing or garment. This could be used to refer to clothing in general, or more specifically to religious garb, widow's weeds (mourning clothes), or a coat of mail or armour.

Secondly, wede can refer to weeds, or undesirable plants. This could be used figuratively to refer to a person of bad character or a vice.

Thirdly, wede can be used as a verb meaning 'to go mad', 'to rage', or 'to be wild with anger or desire'.

In the phrase 'a wede awa', as in the song 'The Flowers of the Forest', wede means 'withered' or 'dead'. This song was written in the 18th century by Jean Elliot as a lament for the thousands of Scottish soldiers who died in the Battle of Flodden in 1513.

'Wede' as a surname

The Wede surname is most commonly found in Ethiopia, with 8,049 people bearing the name. It is also present in 36 other countries, with the highest number of Wede families found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The name is thought to have originated in Lancashire, in the township of Whalley, after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The first recorded instance of the surname was Wyamarus Whalley, who accompanied William the Conqueror from Normandy and served as the Standard Bearer at the Battle of Hastings.

The name Wede is derived from the Saxon word "Walalæh", meaning "Field of Wells". Over time, the name has undergone various spelling changes, including Whalley, Whaley, Walley, and Whally. The family was closely associated with the church of St. Michael in Aughton, Lancashire, where several members served as rectors. The Wede family also held a significant position in the village of Whalley, with one of its members, Henry de Lacy, helping to establish an abbey there in the 13th century.

The Wede surname has a global presence, likely due to globalisation and migration. While it is most prevalent in Ethiopia, it can also be found in other African countries such as Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Additionally, there is a notable presence of Wede families in Germany, the USA, and other parts of the world.

Frequently asked questions