Re: Etymological Help Needed


"Robert Rosen" <rosen647@xxxxxxx> wrote ...

> Thanks very much for the extremely interesting analysis, Doug. I'd
> like to ask one additional question that seems to be related to these
> words.
>
> The AHD attributes the Gk. verb for throwing "ballein" to the PIE
> gwel-2, and "bolis" 'missile, javelin' (> L. "bolide' fireball) to
> gwel-2's "o-grade form." However, for some reason, the AHD does not
> attribute Gk. "bolos" ' lump, clod" to the same o-grade form, stating
> instead that the word is "of obscure origin." Why the discrepancy?

Greek <bo:los> and <bo:lax> (both feminine) have a long stem-vowel and
cannot be referred to the o-grade of *gwel-. Furthermore, their primary
sense is 'lump or clod of earth', like Latin <gle:ba>, not 'lump or clod
suitable for throwing': note the Epic compounds <eribo:los>, <eribo:lax>
'with large clods, fertile, fruitful' (referring to soil). The Greek stem
bo:l- thus appears to be an isolate, not convincingly connected with other
words.



.

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