LL-L "Etymology" 2003.05.15 (04) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 15.MAY.2003 (04) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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From: "Szelog, Mike" <Mike.Szelog at CITIZENSBANK.com>
Subject: Etymology (off topic)

Hello all,

While this is somewhat off-topic and we're no where near Christmas, I
just
received an interesting etymology of the word "Christmas".  The word, as
I
understand it, comes from Christesmaesse in Anglo-Saxon and means "the
Mass
of Christ", however, it's the etymology of Mass that is the cause of
this
question.

I had thought the word comes from Latin (though the Latin form escapes
me at
the moment), however,  an acquaintance who is a Copt had heard at one
point
that the word "Christmas" is made of two elements; "Christos" - Christ -
a
Greek borrowing, and "misi" or "mas/mash" a Coptic word meaning "to be
born/generated".

My question is, is there any truth to this etymology for "Mass" or is
this,
as I suspect, just a folk-etymology?

What is the ultimate etymology of the word "Mass"?

As I mentioned, this is somewhat off-topic, so perhaps those who wish to
reply can do so off-list.

Thanks,

Mike Szelog
Manchester, NH - USA
<mailto: mike.szelog at citizensbank.com>

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