Linguistic origin of musical notes ..

sev112

Semi breve
Minim
Crotchet
Quaver

none of them seem to have any linkage ?

anyone know their origins ?

viz

Breve and minim are time-based. I had to check crotchet and quaver. Quaver seems to be like quiver. Crotchet seems to be because of the notated shape. Weird. 

Tannin

Semi-breve, minim, crotchet, and quaver all originated as terms for items of specialised clothing typically worn by entertainers in smoky nightclubs. Or, of course, not worn.

BillDL

Semi-breve is when a Londoner holds their breath and exhales very slowly while concentrating on playing tricky parts.

TheBigDipper

I learned all this stuff by rote when I was 10 and didn't question it at the time. You can find definitions of breve, semi-breve and minim online, but I don't think anyone truly knows where crotchet and quaver originated. But it's all centuries old and not logical.

I hate to say this, but the cousins, using quarter-note, half-note, etc., have done a better job.