In "Historically Vôtre", Stéphane Bern always has the last word and tells us the story of a phrase or expression.

Monday, he explains to us the eccentric origins of "chickweed", a somewhat outdated expression which means that we are worried.

To understand, you have to go back to the 18th century.

Every day in "Historically yours", Stéphane Bern sets out to discover expressions that we use on a daily basis without necessarily knowing them well.

Monday, he explained the origin of chickweed. "A somewhat dated expression and for good reason: you have to go back to the 18th century to find the first traces. Today, it is used to express concern.

When a person around him is worried, when he is worried, bad blood, bile, we can try to reassure him by saying to him "Come on, do not worry".

An expression that dates from the 18th century.

But what are we talking about exactly?

The "chickweed" is actually a small wild plant that is found in Europe and particularly in France.  

>> Find all the shows of Matthieu Noël and Stéphane Bern in replay and podcast here

Hair and white hairs

The appearance of chickweed is original because its leaves are bushy with small white hairs on the edges.

Cuniculturists were also wary of chickweed, the plant being a poison for hutch rabbits.

Quite naturally, the link was therefore made between this vegetation and good hair health: as anxious people tended to have white hair, we quickly said to "get chickweed", in reference to the white hairs of leaves.

We then said more simply "to do white hair", it was much easier for everyone.