Re: proof that most etymologies are only fairy-tales

Peter T. Daniels wrote:
On Aug 6, 9:17 am, "Ekkehard Dengler" <ED...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Thank you for your answer. I would regard the semantic distance
between "bore" and "weave" as comparable to that between an earlier
meaning of "warp", namely "throw", and "arrange (strands of yarn or
thread) so that they run lengthwise in weaving", from which it's
only a small step to "weave".

When you weave by hand, you throw the shuttle from side to side
between the threads that are alternately raised by the foot pedals.

I have my doubts if the foot-treadle loom was used by the speakers of PIE! I suspect they used something more like the following (copied from Wikipedia):

"The earliest looms were vertical warp-weighted looms, with the warp threads suspended from a branch or piece of wood and weighted or attached to the ground. The weft threads would be pushed into place by hand or a stick that would eventually become the shuttle. At first, it was necessary to raise and lower every warp thread one at a time, which was a time-consuming and laborious process. Basic techniques, such as the insertion of a rod, were developed to produce a shed, the space between warp threads (perhaps every other thread would be alternately raised and lowered), so that the weft thread or shuttle could pass through the entire warp at once."

Note that it involves "threading" the shuttle, not "throwing" it.

And apparently stranger things have happened. My favourite
weird-but-(probably)-true etymology is "tabby": "al-3atta:biyya(t),
a suburb of Baghdad" > "striped silk"

(except that tabby silk wasn't striped!)

"striped cat" > "cat" >
"spinster" > "gossip". That's quite some distance covered in a
handful of centuries.

You missed out the first step. The suburb got its name from Prince Atta:b, the great grandson of Omeyya

? Where did it take the last two steps?

England, a couple of centuries ago (used by Byron, among others). Though this meaning may be influenced by the woman's name Tabitha, 'tis said.

And what about "Tabby: (South Atlantic U.S.) A mixture of oyster shells, lime, sand, and water used as a building material."

[...]

John.

.

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