Derivation (?) of Mimbulus Mimbletonia

[Jim Flanagan]

There are no exact matches on the word stem "mimb-" in either Latin 
or Greek.  Here are some theories on derivation of mimbulus 
mimbletonia, in decreasing order of likelihood:

1.  Derived from English "remember."  [Greek/Latin root] This would 
fit with it being a gift from a member of Neville's family.  (If I am 
not mistaken, "remember" would be pronounced ra-MIM-bah in starchiest 
British R.P., which might explain the substitution of i for e.)  I 
like the association with memory, because this would help explain how 
Harry (who was coated by stinksap while on the Hogwarts Express a few 
weeks later) was able to remember the number that had to be dialed to 
get into the MOM, after having heard Mr. Weasley mumble the number 
one time, ten months previously.  In addition, Neville (who was also 
hit by the stinksap) is not portrayed as being particularly forgetful 
in OOP, unlike previous books.

2.  Derived from English "mumble."  [Germanic root]  The plant 
makes "odd crooning noises" near the end of OOP.  Presumably the 
significance of this would be as a tie-in to the voices behind the 
veil.  Another poster noticed that only the people that had been hit 
by stinksap in the train compartment (Harry, Luna, Neville, and 
Ginny) were able to hear the voices in the arch room.  

3.  Derived from Greek "mimos" - mime.  Doesn't seem likely to me.

4.  Derived from Greek "membletai" - to be an object of care. Ditto 
#3.

-Jim Flanagan