Subject: LL-L: "Etymology" [E] LOWLANDS-L, 13.JUN.1999 (05)

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 13.JUN.1999 (05) * ISSN 1089-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at geocities.com>
Subject: Etymology

Dear etymologically inclined Lowlanders,

John Feather has hinted at a possible etymological link between English 'snake',
Low Saxon (Low German) _snake_ > _snaak_ 'snake' (especially 'ring-snake',
'grass-snake') (> Dutch _snaak_) and German _Schnake_ '(European) cranefly'
(_Tipula paludosa_ Meigen).

The etymology of _Schnake_ appears to be unknown.  What is known is that it
turned up in Late Middle German as _snâke_, and there is also the Upper German
adjective _snâkelt_ (< *_snâkeleht_) 'as thin as a cranefly'.  Note also that
'cranefly' is _snake_ ~ _snaak_ in Low Saxon, thus is homophonous with _snake_ ~
_snaak_ 'snake'.  This may well be coincidental.  The word for 'cranefly' may
have been derived from an onomatopeotic verb denoting the characteristic
chattering sound such an insect makes, as John's sources suggest (which appear
to link it with Low Saxon _snak-_ (_snacken_) 'to chat').  I would not be too
surprised if English 'snake', Low Saxon _snake_ ~ _snaak_ 'snake' and German
_Schnecke_ (and Low Saxon _snik(ke)_ ~ _snek(ke)_) 'snail', 'slug' turned out to
be related to the English verb 'sneak'.  This English verb turned up in writing
in the 16th century and appears to be related to Middle English _snike_ and Old
English _snîc-_ (_snîcan_) 'to creep'.  However, the existence of *both* _snake_
~ _snaak_ 'snake' and _snik_ (_Snick_) ~ _snikke_ (_Snicke_) ~ _snek_ (_Sneck_)
~ _snekke_ (_Snecke_) 'snail, 'slug' in Low Saxon seems problematic, unless it
can be shown that one of them is a loan or vowel alternation plays a significant
role here.

Regards,

Reinhard/Ron

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