LL-L "Lexicon" 2002.05.11 (01) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 11.MAY.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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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Lexicon

Dear Lowlanders,

I'd like to throw a few interesting Low Saxon (Low German) vocabulary
items into the ring in hopes of sparking off some discussions, input,
comparisons, etymologizing, etc.

The first three are weather-related, soon to be timely as the Northern
Hemisphere summer is drawing near.

(1) Swark [sva:k] 'large, dark, ominous cloud', 'thunder cloud'

(2) Smutt [smUt] 'sultry, oppressive heat' (cf. _Smutt_ [smUt] 'dirt',
    'filth', cognate of English "smut" and German _Schmutz_, according
to
    the _Herkunftsduden_ related to Dutch _mot_ 'fine rain' [+ ancient
    _s-_)

(3) Wedderkatten ['vEd3katn=] ("weather cats", no singular form)
   'flickering, distorting hot air', 'distorted images in bright
sunlight
    and hot air', (may also be used to denote 'mirage'; a typical phrase
    is _De Wedderkatten spelen_ "The weather cats were playing" = 'The
    air was hot and played with images')

The next two have something to do with ethnicity.  (There are more, but,
at least for now, I am leaving out those I suspect of reflecting
prejudices.)

(4) oldfranksch ['?o:ldfra.NkS] ("Old Franconian") 'old-fashioned'
    (alternative to _oldbacksch_ "old-baked-like" and _oldmoodsch_
    "old-fashioned" -- but why "Franconian"?)

(5) wedderdäänsch ['vEd3dE:nS] ("against-Danish", "anti-Danish"?
    < wedder _against_, cf. German _wider_) 'stubborn', obstinate',
    'pigheaded' (used only in Mecklenburg dialects; elsewhere
    _wedderbö(r)stig_ "against-brush-like" or _opsternaatsch_ ~
    _upsternaatsch_ < French _obstiné_, _obstiniâtre_, or < English
    _obstinate_?)

I look forward to your input.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

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