Reconstruction talk:Proto-Germanic/linþaz

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@Leasnam, isn't lithe and all its cognates descended from *linþijaz? --Victar (talk) 09:49, 7 November 2017 (UTC)[reply]

@Victar:, Yes, and it's listed as an Alternative form on the page for West Germanic. Leasnam (talk) 17:31, 7 November 2017 (UTC)[reply]
@Leasnam: As there are no non-West Germanic descendants, why is *linþijaz even labeled specifically as WGmc? Either way, shouldn't they all be moved to that entry? --Victar (talk) 18:40, 7 November 2017 (UTC)[reply]
That's something that can be done, yes. The reason I made the entry for the non-derived form was a). because that's how my source shows it, and b). because it ties it nicely to the noun. Now, Old Norse does have *linnr (adj) which we might consider adding to this entry, with Norwegian linn (bendsome) as its descendant. Leasnam (talk) 18:46, 7 November 2017 (UTC)[reply]
@Leasnam: Cool, I added the Faroese and Elfdalian forms as well. Porkorny says linni (snake) is also attested. He also mentions lindi (ribbon, belt), tieing it to the same root. --Victar (talk) 05:13, 8 November 2017 (UTC)[reply]
@Victar:, I see you've added Faroese linur, but I don't think this is right. This goes back to Old Norse linr (soft), which is a totally different word, albeit related to *linþaz at the PIE level. Old Norse linni is certainly related. However, Porkorny may not be a suitable/reliable source these days... Leasnam (talk) 14:08, 8 November 2017 (UTC)[reply]
Those were taken from Kroonen, but you're right, the Faroese and Elfdalian are actually from Old Norse linr and the Old Danish form could be borrowed from MLG. --Victar (talk) 18:49, 8 November 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Another thought. In Westphalian we have Lind (ribbon, band). Could *linþaz actually have meant "band" and "serpent" is figurative? --Victar (talk) 10:11, 7 November 2017 (UTC)[reply]

This might descend from Middle Low German lint (band, strip of cloth or clothing, ribbon), from Old Saxon lint (veil, dress, robe), which might possibly hark back to PGmc *līną. Leasnam (talk) 17:31, 7 November 2017 (UTC)[reply]
That certainly follows well! --Victar (talk) 18:40, 7 November 2017 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, either that or borrowing from Latin linteum. See etymologiebank.nl at lemma "lint". 2.201.0.20 00:18, 4 April 2021 (UTC)[reply]