Künnapuu (Künnapuu)

Called European white or fluttering elm by the Brits and Russian elm by the Americans, Ulmus laevis. Interesting names! The first part comes from künnap (sinew, tendon, indicating its strength) and the Latin species name looks like a Latinized genitive of Estonian laev (ship). Appropriate, since its highly water-resistant timber has long been used for underwater piles, water pipes and ship-building. Sadly, it’s not. Despite Latinists rejecting the æ or ae in the word, botanists like it so there we are, and levis simply means ‘light’ or ‘smooth’, more the hairless variety, hence also youth and pallor, hence ‘white elm’.