LL-L "Etymology" 2002.04.13 (01) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 13.APR.2002 (01) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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 A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian L=Limburgish
 LS=Low Saxon (Low German) S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic Z=Zeelandic (Zeeuws)
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R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Etymology

Marco Evenhuis and I wrote:

> Marco,
>
> > Note that the Zeelandic word for 'hinge' is
> > _'ange_ or _hange_ (Dutch: _scharnier_).
>
> In Low Saxon (Low German), 'hinge' (German _Scharnier_) is _Häng_ ~
> _Heng_ [hE.N] (feminine, plural _Hängen_ ~ _Hengen_ [hE.N:]).

Of course this is related to English "hinge" (Middle English _heng(e)_
related to "hang," thus umlauted).  Might its apparent absence from Old
English mean that it is a Saxon loan?  (Cf. Modern Low Saxon (Low
German_ /hang-/ _hangen 'to hang' vs. umlauted _Häng(e)_ ~ _Heng(e)_
'hinge')

Sandy Fleming mentioned Scots _wonn_ 'dwell', 'reside', and I replied:

> Do you think this _wonn_ is derived from Old English, or might it be a
> "Flemish" loan?  The German verb root for 'to dwell' or 'to reside' is
> /voon-/ _wohn-_, Low Saxon /vaan-/ _wahn-_ ~ _wohn-_ ~ _waan-_, and
> Dutch /voon-/ _woon-_.

Modern English still has relatives of this word: nominal and adjectival
"wont" ("(having the) habit", "(having the) tendency"), from Old English
_gewuonod_, past participial of _gewunian_ 'in the habit' < _wunian_ 'to
dwell'.  Cf. Modern Low Saxon (Low German) _wennd_ ~ _wennt_ [vE.nt]
'use to', 'accustomed' vs. /vaan-/ _wahnen_ [vQ:n:] 'to dwell' (cf.
German _gewohnt_ 'use to', 'accustomed' vs. /voon-/ _wohnen_ 'to
dwell').

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

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