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I have seen the picture before, but it wasn't until now that I figured out the Helmholtz double entendre.
Helmholtz resonation is a way to enhance certain frequencies by blowing air into a cavity shaped to resonate with the desirable frequencies, named after German scientist Hermann von Helmholtz.
Helm means helmet in German. Holtz means wood in German (nice name: wooden helmet?) but in most other languages it resembles the word "hold" making this a helmet held Helmholtz resonator. Say it fast.
Helmholtz would actually mean 'The wood of a helmet', as 'Helm' comes first. But that makes less sense.
Correctly it would be 'Holz' and not 'Holtz'
The latter I've heard as a family name sometimes. But you're probably right, that it historically referenced 'Holz'
Edit: only found a German page about the origins of the name, and yes, it is very probably coming from forest, woodland, wood
Isn't that also the name of the character from Brave New World?
Yes. There's a character in the book named Helmholtz Watson.
I don't think Helmholtz is a first name in reality though, but I've seen worse.
I used to have a teacher named Dethleff Dethleffsen, so I suppose anything is possible.
Truck nuts for audiophiles