Quote Originally Posted by Tornatus View Post
Of course, it has no relationship whatsoever to the Quercus species, and is in fact a damn-sight better-looking. So why not just call it by its proper botanical name and be done with it?
Maybe 'cos if you offered a log of Quercus to a woodie, 98% of the time you'd simply get a blank look. Offer the same bloke a log of Sheoak and watch his eyes light up!

Like many things in life, it's not logical but the English language isn't logical. Nor is life, when it comes down to it!

Besides, if we rewrote the language to make sense, think of all the crossword compilers we'd put out of work.