LL-L "Etymology" 2004.01.15 (03) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 15.JAN.2004 (03) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian B=Brabantish D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian
L=Limburgish LS=Lowlands Saxon (Low German) N=Northumbrian
S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic V=(West)Flemish Z=Zeelandic (Zeêuws)
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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Etymology

Liza du Plooy <lizaduplooy at yahoo.com> (under "Names" posted today):

> In Afrikaans a necktie is a "das" although I know that the archaic word is
> "kravat".

I have long wondered what the origin of Afrikaans and Dutch _das_ for
'necktie' might be.

If the word were "generally Lowlandic," I would expect *_das_ or *_dasch_ in
Lowlands Saxon (Low German).  I cannot think of nor find any such word,
certainly not in the modern dialects of Northern Germany.

Might it be related to German _Tasche_ 'bag', 'pocket' (which in the sense
of 'bag' has been imported as _Tasch_ in LS)?  It seems far-fetched, at
least at first thought.  Might there have been some sort of garment that
served as a neck ornament as well as as a container?  Hmm ... this conjurs
up weird mental pictures, such as a Lowlands equivalent of the Scottish
sporran having moved or even slid from the waist to the neck ... (perhaps on
a very rotund person who was a fashion trailblazer).  :-)  Or might a
*_das(ch)_ have started as a type of sporran (i.e., a bag suspended on a
waist belt) and have come to denote any sort of tie-and-dangle doodad? ...

I'll leave it with that before my mind starts somersaulting.  Chances are
there is a much simpler explanation.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

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