The etimology of the vernacular tree name in germanic, slavic and romanic languages as well as of the latin fagus and greek phcgõs "oak" is explained. All derive from Indo-European bhâ[uŽg-s. Engl. book, germ. Buch and slov. bukve is akin to Goth boka "letter" (of the alphabet) and not of known relation to beech, as is often assumed.
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