I went for a run after work to blow off some frustration and, as I walked up the hill to the flat area where I typically start doing something vaguely resembling running, I was enjoying the rustle and colour of the fallen leaves gave me something to smile about.
The word “litter” generally has a negative connotation, referring to trash left lying in places it shouldn’t be, but the origin of the word is very different from how we use it today.
Litter itself can mean a number of things.
- A group of kittens/puppies born at the same time
- To fill with examples of something unpleasant (the page was littered with negative comments)
- Absorbent material – kitty litter
- Straw or other bedding material used for animals
- A chair or bed with curtains carried by men or horses (historical)
Tracing the word backwards it’s the last three above that are closest to the origins of the word. The Middle English word “litter” stems from the Old French word “litiere“, which arose from the Medieval Latin “lectaria“, which was derived from Latin “lectus“….which means “bed”.
So “leaf litter” makes sense not in the way of leaf trash….but as in a bed of fallen leaves.
So now you know.
