Talk:זייגער
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@Kolmiel: I don't think I know any other examples of German /ts/ corresponding to Yiddish /z/, and I would normally expect *tseyger. Can you elucidate this? —Μετάknowledgediscuss/deeds 06:50, 28 November 2016 (UTC)
- @Metaknowledge: The word is from MHG seigære (“scales”, later also “clock”), from seigen (“to weigh”), related to sīgen (“to sink”), from Proto-Germanic *sīganą. So the resemblance with Zeiger is conincidental, although the two words have influenced each other semantically. Kolmiel (talk) 10:45, 28 November 2016 (UTC)
- PS: I provided the MHG semantic development and the further etymology myself (from the German dictionaries), but the hint as such is from Polish wiktionary. When there's a Polish entry for a Yiddish word, it's worth checking. They have good etymologies. Kolmiel (talk) 10:54, 28 November 2016 (UTC)
- PPS: I've written the etymology and added an alternative further path. Kolmiel (talk) 11:10, 28 November 2016 (UTC)
- Ah, that makes far more sense. Thank you very much. —Μετάknowledgediscuss/deeds 18:37, 28 November 2016 (UTC)