12 Days of Wordlady: 8 Maids a-milking

Maids a-milking

There just isn't much interesting to say about "maid" or "milk".

What I do find interesting, however, is the question: Why do we call the place where milkmaids work a "dairy" rather than, say, a "milkery"?

"Dairy" is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word 
dǽge (later "daie"). The very earliest meaning of dǽge was "kneader of dough; maker of bread". You can see the kinship between dǽge and "dough". Still back before the Norman Conquest, it came to designate a maid or female servant, and specifically a milkmaid. The "daie-ery" was therefore the place where a "daie" performed her duties.

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For what swans have to do with singing, click here: 
http://katherinebarber.blogspot.ca/2014/12/12-days-of-wordlady-swans-swimming.html

Why we don't say "gooses" and "gooselings: 
http://katherinebarber.blogspot.ca/2014/12/12-days-of-wordlady-geese-laying.html


For why we don't say "fiveth", "fiveteen", and "fivety", click here: 
http://katherinebarber.blogspot.ca/2014/12/12-days-of-wordlady-fifth-day.html  

For why it was OK to call the Virgin Mary a "bird", click here: 
http://katherinebarber.blogspot.ca/2014/12/12-days-of-wordlady-calling-birds.html

For what French hens have to do with syphilis, click here: 
http://katherinebarber.blogspot.ca/2014/12/12-days-of-wordlady-french-hens.html

For turtle-doves, click here: http://katherinebarber.blogspot.ca/2014/12/12-days-of-wordlady-turtle-doves.html

For what partridges have to do with farting, click here:
http://katherinebarber.blogspot.ca/2013/12/12-days-of-wordlady-partridge.html