This base type goes back to Latin iŭncus 'rush'. It is further represented in many Romance languages, such as ita. giunco, pms. gionch, cat. jonc, spa., por. junco and fra. jonc 'rush'. From Middle French onwards, expressions to designate the utensil made of rushes in which soft cheese was prepared can be found, including jonchiere 'petit panier en jonc pour la preparation du fromage mou' and jonchée 'panier en jonc pour la préparation du fromage mou'. Jonchée is, however, also known to denote 'fromage préparé dans un petit panier' (cf. FEW , 5, 65-67, under jŭncus). Ita. giuncata also has this meaning (cf. Treccani, under giuncata). The semantic change can be explained by the metonymic connection between word and thing. Various devices are used to mould whey cheese or cheese, including baskets, which are often woven from rushes. The cheese mass is poured into these baskets and placed on a dripping board so that the excess liquid can then be squeezed out by hand (cf. Scheuermeier 1943: 41). Incidentally, baskets with this purpose are already mentioned in the Polyphemus episode in the Odyssey (ταρσοί [Book 9, 219] and πλεκτοὶ τάλαροι [Book 9, 247]).