filbert
UK[ˈfɪlbət]US[ˈfɪlbərt]
n
the hazelnut, especially the nut of a cultivated hazel with a long husk that covers the nut.
n
the shrub or small tree (genus Corylus) that produces this nut.
Etymology
the word 'filbert' entered english in the 14th century from the anglo-norman french term 'philbert'. this name is a direct reference to saint philibert, a 7th-century frankish abbot whose feast day falls on august 20th. the nuts traditionally ripen around this time in england, leading to the association. the name 'philibert' itself is of germanic origin, from elements meaning "very" and "bright," but this personal etymology is disconnected from the nut's properties. thus, the modern term is a classic example of a word formed by calendrical association rather than descriptive morphology.
Analysis
the word is a simplex loanword. it does not contain separable morphemes within modern english spelling.
Examples
the recipe called for a cup of chopped, toasted filberts.
the old filbert tree in the garden produced a bountiful harvest this autumn.
he preferred the rich, sweet flavor of filberts over other common nuts.