# Tombstone engraving **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 16, 2007, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tombstone-engraving/411932 "2007-07-16T03:15:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Scienceman123](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Scienceman123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scienceman123)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tombstone-engraving/411932/1 "2007-07-16T03:15:04Z")
I have seen this symbol and similar ones engraved on tombstones in cemeteries in North Andover, MA, as well as around Reading, MA. The tombstones date from the 18th and 19th centuries. Anyone know anything about it? [http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/3711/picture855nk2.jpg](http://img222.imageshack.us/my.php?image=picture855nk2.jpg) [http://img455.imageshack.us/img455/5972/picture822cc1.jpg](http://img455.imageshack.us/my.php?image=picture822cc1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tombstone-engraving/411932/2 "2007-07-16T03:20:11Z")
It looks like a weeping willow to me. ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tombstone-engraving/411932/3 "2007-07-16T03:23:16Z")
What? The weeping willow? (can’t hardly see the thing) Means sorrow or grief. pdf from [BYU](http://www.byui.edu/ce/assets/documents/familyhistory_handout_boise_apr/boiseconference_wilson2.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![Grave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/71c47a/32.png) [@Grave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grave)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tombstone-engraving/411932/4 "2007-07-16T03:41:10Z")
Indeed it is a willow - generally referred to as a [Weeping Willow](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willow). I have seen it many times in older cemeteries, both as an engraving and as a living specimen, while helping relatives on genealogy quests. The common explanation seems to be that the Weeping Willow (as its name implies) signifies sorrow and / or loss. A cursory web search seems to support that : [HugeDomains.com](http://magnolia.cyriv.com/DynamicTree/Cemetery/Search/DocDtl.asp?FK=10&OB=1&L1=0&EID=31) Edit - remove .th from the OP’s links to see a decent size ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tombstone-engraving/411932/5 "2007-07-16T16:26:28Z")
Yes, it’s a weeping willow, sheltering a funerary urn. My family’s been involved in the management of an old city cemetery for many years, and I’ve seen that kind of design before. My favorite inscription, by a widower for his late wife: “Fifty years with a tongue so sharp - O angels, give her a harp!”