I'm wondering about the etymology of the word "beam" in the phrase "weaver's beam."
There are beams in looms, but they are big heavy logs. As per the etymological dictionary online: "Old English
beam originally "living tree," but by late 10c. also "rafter, post, ship's timber," from West Germanic
*baumaz (cf. Old Frisian
bam "tree, gallows, beam," Middle Dutch
boom, Old High German
boum, German
Baum "tree"), perhaps from PIE verb root
*bheue- "to grow" (see
be)."
In Irish and Mexican studies, there are reference to the weaver's beam being held ceremonially (Fedelm in the Táin, while prophesying) and indications in Zapotec burials, Aztec codexes, of it being a ritual tool of sorts. These clearly aren't beams as in logs, but apparently weavers' tools assigned spiritual potency and significance.
Any linguistic insights?