|
|
My five year old daughter asked me today, "Daddy where did we get the name for Earth, our planet?" I could not answer, she was bemused. Anyone care to enlighten me on who named the planet Earth and why it is called Earth?
Question
#50403. Asked by doomed.
|
Arpeggionist
|
The word "Earth" is probably of Germanic origin (as in the German "Erde").
|
MaggieG 5
|
Some conservationists might say that it's called Earth because people treat it like dirt!
|
Brainyblonde
|
Here is an excerpt from some FAQ's and a link. It may satisfy some curiosity.
it's pretty impossible to say exactly who first named the planet 'Earth'. Actually, I really doubt one person really named it intentionally; rather it developed over time as part of the English language. Earth is Old English and German in origin, related to the Old Saxon 'ertha', the Dutch 'aerde', and the German 'erda'.
The names were part of culture even before we really understood the significance of what planets are and where they are in space.
http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/question.php?number=451
Earth is (beside Sedna) the only planet in the solar system, whose name is not derived from the Greek or Roman mythology.
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/earth.htm
|
Arpeggionist
|
And this is only its name in English. In Hebrew the word is "Eretz", the name having stuck from the term in the first chapter of Genesis. In fact, now that I think of it, maybe the Germanic "Earth" is indirectly related more to the Hebrew than to the Latin "terra".
|
Create a Free
FunTrivia ID to add
to,
request more/new answers, or
edit this entry
Other Similar Questions & Answers
Suggested Related FunTrivia Quizzes - 90,000 currently online
"Ask FunTrivia" is for entertainment purposes only, and answers offered are unverified and unchecked by
FunTrivia. We cannot guarantee the accuracy or veracity of ANY statement posted. Feel free to post an updated
response
if you feel that an answer is inadequate or incorrect. Please
thoroughly research items where accuracy is important to you using multiple reliable sources. By accessing our
website, you agree to be bound by our terms of service.
|