Re: More Etymology!

mike3 wrote:


Interesting, however the meanings of the words cited seem to very quite
a bit. "Hitting with horns"? How does this exactly relate to something
meaning "shining", "glittering", etc. or even "vibrating"?


A legitimate question, especially if one thinks that in English there
is only one meaning associated with 'to coruscate': "To give forth
intermittent or vibratory flashes of light; to shine with a quivering
light; to sparkle, glitter, flash." (OED). In Latin there are at least
three different meanings (Oxford Latin Dictionary):
"corusco, verb. tr., intr. 1 (tr.) To move rapidly to and from, shake,
brandish. 2 (intr.) To make rapid movements, quiver, shake. 3 (intr.) To
emit or reflect flashes of light, glitter, flash, gleam."
Let me show some examples of Latin use different from English:
Erat autem in castris tantus armorum fragor, et gladiorum tinnitus et
coruscatio (WILLIAM OF TYRE)
(There was in fortified posts too only clangour of arms, and clink of
swords and shaking)
Satiati agni ludunt blandeque coruscant (Lucretius)
(The sated lambs play and gently frisk)

Your question, anyway, remains unanswered. The OLD shows two
fundamental meanings of the adjective coruscus:
"coruscus, adjective. [cf. Gk skaíro^]
1 Moving rapidly, trembling, quivering;
2 Emitting or reflecting flashes of light, glittering, glistening,
gleaming, flashing."
So, the Oxford Latin Dictionary agrees with the Vaniceck's hypothesis
cited by Pianigiani. But the Gk. skaíro^ means skip, dance, frisk (of
calves). A related term, skarízo^, means jump, throb, palpitate. How
frisking lambs and lightnings are related?

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: More Etymology!
    ... A legitimate question, especially if one thinks that in English there ... is only one meaning associated with 'to coruscate': ... Let me show some examples of Latin use different from English: ... the Oxford Latin Dictionary agrees with the Vaniceck's hypothesis ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: More Etymology!
    ... A legitimate question, especially if one thinks that in English there ... is only one meaning associated with 'to coruscate': ... Let me show some examples of Latin use different from English: ... the Oxford Latin Dictionary agrees with the Vaniceck's hypothesis ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: More Etymology!
    ... A legitimate question, especially if one thinks that in English there ... is only one meaning associated with 'to coruscate': ... Let me show some examples of Latin use different from English: ... the Oxford Latin Dictionary agrees with the Vaniceck's hypothesis ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: More Etymology!
    ... A legitimate question, especially if one thinks that in English there ... is only one meaning associated with 'to coruscate': ... Let me show some examples of Latin use different from English: ... the Oxford Latin Dictionary agrees with the Vaniceck's hypothesis ...
    (sci.lang)