LL-L "Etymology" 2003.07.24 (07) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 24.JUL.2003 (07) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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From: John Duckworth <jcduckworth2003 at yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Etumology


Greetings to all Lowland-Listers!

Friedrich says:

'On the first glance I was absolutely convinced  of Latin "vadere" as
the origin.But- in all our languages it is just and exclusively used in
connection with water or mud.'

I must admit that there is something about the connection between Watte and
verbs such as waden, wade, watan, but I think there is a strong possiblilty
that these verbs are either derived from or cognate with the Latin 'vadere'.
In Old High German watan meant both 'to wade' and 'to go', and in Middle
English waden seems to have meant 'to go ahead', 'to proceed'. Even in
Middle English though the verb can be used in the metaphorical sense 'to
wade through problems', which seems to echo the sense of the modern verbs
which give a feeling of walking forward but in a medium that tends to oppose
our progress.

I like the derivation of Watte from 'waden / wade', etc., but I still remain
a little uncomfortable with it. I also cannot help of thinking of High
German Watte, in the sense of Wattierung, E. 'wadding'.

John Duckworth.


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From: Luc Hellinckx <luc.hellinckx at pandora.be>
Subject: Etymology

Beste liëglanners,

Just like "to waddle" is a frequentative of "to wade", the Latin verb
"vadare" (= to
wade) could stem from "vadere" (= to go). That would explain the shift from
a general to a more specific meaning.

Regarding "wadi", I have a problem with the chronology and the geographical
distribution. Where did those Arabians spend the night in Northern Germany,
somewhere
around 500 AD? *s*

Greetings,

Luc Hellinckx

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