Etymology Dictionary

SALLOW (1), SALLY,  a kind of willow.  (E.)   M.E. salwe, Chaucer, C. T. 6237.   'Salwhe, tree, Salix;' Prompt. Parv.—A.S. sealh; we find 'Amera, sealh; Salix, welig' mentioned together in Wright's Vocab. i. 285, col. 2.   The suffix -ow = M.E. -we = A.S. -ge, suffix of the oblique cases from nom. in -h, just as E. farrow is from A.S. fearh, and the prov. E. barrow-pig from A.S. bearh.   In Lowland Sc. the word became sauch, saugh, by loss of l. + Icel. selja. + Swed. sälg, sälj. + Dan. selje. + G. sahlweide (O.H.G. salahá), the round-leaved willow; see Fick, iii. 320. + Lat. salix, a willow. + Gael. seileach, a willow. + Irish sail, saileach. + W. helyg, pl., willows. + Gk. ἑλίκη.   β. Named from growing near the water; cf. Skt. sarí, water, saras, a large pond, a piece of water in which the lotus grows, sarasiya, a lotus, sarit, a river.—✔SAR, to flow; cf. Skt. sri, to flow.

SALLOW (2),  of a pale, yellowish colour.  (E.)   M.E. salow with one l); we find:  'Salwhe, salowe, of colour, Croceus;' Prompt. Parv. p. 441.—A.S. salu, sallow, Grein, ii. 388; whence the compounds saloneb, with pale beak, salupád, with pale garment, sealobrún, sallow-brown; id. + Du. zaluw, tawny, sallow. + Icel. sölr, yellowish. + M.H.G. sal, O.H.G. salo, dusky (whence F. sale, dirty).   Root uncertain.   Der. sallow-ness.