"Radish" and "Radical" are from the same root word?

[kentuck]

I read that once upon a time. If true, radishes grow underground. Therefore, radicals must be "underground". Therefore, DUers must all be radicals? Or radishes? :)

[Recursion]

1. "Root"

From the proto-Indo-European *retos, I think, meaning "root"

Radishes are the "root" of a plant, and radicals wish to change the "root" of the politcal system.

[Crunchy Frog]

2. Ironically, they have the same roots as the word "root".

I'm not sure what the significance of that is. :)

[sofa king]

3. Aristophanes is amused.

In ancient Greece, one apparently common sentence visited upon adulterers was "radishment," which involved taking that radish and cramming it up the adulterer's ass. See, The Clouds.

(For this quote, it's probably worth pointing out the distinction between the dainty salad radishes most Americans are familiar with and the hulking, fist-sized radish the Greeks used for punishment. Hence the term "broad arse," which appears to pull double duty as "adulterer" and "fat-ass.")

Just discourse: Suppose your pupil, following your advice, gets the radish rammed up his arse and then is depilated with a hot coal; how are you going to prove to him that he is not a broad-arse?

Unjust discourse: What's the matter with being a broad-arse?

Just discourse: Is there anything worse than that?

Unjust discourse: Now what will you say, if I beat you even on this point?

Just discourse: I should certainly have to be silent then.

Unjust discourse: Well then, reply! Our advocates, what are they?

Just discourse: Sons of broad-arses.

Unjust discourse: Nothing is more true. And our tragic poets?

Just discourse: Sons of broad-arses.

Unjust discourse: Well said again. And our demagogues?

Just discourse: Sons of broad-arses.

Unjust discourse: You admit that you have spoken nonsense. And the spectators, what are they for the most part? Look at them.

Just discourse: I am looking at them.

Unjust discourse: Well! What do you see?

Just discourse: By the gods, they are nearly all broad-arses. See, this one I know to be such and that one and that other with the long hair.

Unjust discourse: What have you to say, then?

Just discourse: I am beaten. Debauchees! in the name of the gods, receive my cloak; I pass over to your ranks.

__________________

Edit: can you think of a radical fat-assed bastard? I sure can.

[bahrbearian]

4. I love Radishes .. they seem to grow well in my graden.

[pinto]

5. "radical" may come from this:

The Latin history and derivation of the word would make sense.

*A wild guess here*

[TygrBright]

6. They come from the Greek "radix", meaning "root"...

...and radishes are a *root* vegetable, and radicals wish to change/grow a political system from the *roots*.

Almost every word that begins with "rad" can be traced thereunto, except those from non-greco-latinate descended languages, and those (like "radar") derived from an acronym.

Radiate-- proceed or grow from a single source, as a many-branched plant from a single taproot. Radiant, radiator, lineal relationship to same.

informatively,
Bright