Gilderoy, Veritaserum

[Milz]

No: HPFGUIDX 19604

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Neil Ward" <neilward at d...> wrote:
> Angela Burgess said:
> 
> <<Someone had written about meanings behind the name Gilderoy.  It's 
already
> been pointed out that "roy" is medeival French for "king".  I 
checked my
> memory and then my dictionary, but couldn't find a listing for "gil" 
or
> "jil" (since the letters "g" and "j" are pronounced opposite in the 
French
> alphabet), but the closest thing I could find was "gilet" which 
meands a
> cardigan or waistcoat.  I couldn't find any meaning there, but maybe 
someone
> else can?>>
> 
> I think of the first part of the name is derived from the word 
"gild".
> Although gilding is associated with applying gold or a gold tint to
> something, another meaning of "to gild" is "to give a specious or 
false
> brilliance to," which certainly fits with Lockhart's high opinion of
> himself.
> 
> "-roy" could be derived from the French for king, but "-eroy" may be 
a
> twisting of Eros - referring to sexual love.  Both would work, 
because
> Lockhart appears to regard himself as a 'king' among men, and comes 
across
> as a pinup that no woman (or some men) can resist*, but he is making 
false
> claims - gilding - in both departments.  In fact, we can see that 
he's not
> the solid gold he claims; but fool's gold.
> 
> "Lockhart" is simpler: Gilderoy's heart is locked (like a gilded 
cage?) with
> only his love for himself inside it.
> 
> Well... that's my view on it.  I'm sure even JKR would be startled 
to learn
> just how much research she did on the names of her characters ;-)
> 

Demelza posted a link to a Scottish folk song called "Gilderoy". 
Here's one origin of the name according to that site.
"In The Annals of Scotland(1797), Lord Hailes notes there was also an 
Irish chief, Gilrodh, who raided Scotland in 1233. He speculates that
the name Gilderoy is a corruption of the Irish Gilruadh, which means
red-haired lad." Either way, I think Rowling choose that name for the 
character because it denotes an air of arrogance and pretention.

About Snape carrying Veritaserum in his cape, I got the impression 
that Snape had just produced the Veritaserum. Knowing that his office 
was broken into and items were taken, he was probably carrying it on 
his person for safe keeping. 

Milz