LL-L "Etymology" 2004.01.18 (03) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 18.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: Gavin Falconer <Gavin.Falconer at gmx.net>
Subject: wrocht

There appears to be an English verb "to wrought", a back formation from the
archaic past tense of "to work".  There also seems to be a Dutch/Flemish
verb
"wrochten".  How many other Lowlands languages have similar forms?  I'd be
particularly interested in attestations for Scots.  A number of modern Scots
writers seem to have been using "wrochtin" as the present continuous form,
but
does anyone use it in speech, or have they heard others doing so?

--
All the best,

Gavin

Gavin Falconer

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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Etymology

Hi, Gavin!

The Modern North Saxon dialects of Lowlands Saxon (Low German) have the noun
(Old Saxon _uuerk_ >) _wark_ 'work', but the usual very for 'to work' is
_arbayd_ (<Arbeit>, cf. German _Arbeit_), and the usual verb is _arbayden_
(<arbeiden>, cf. German _arbeiten_).  The verb (OS _uuwerkian_ >) _warken_
or (iterative) _warkeln_ means something like 'to tinker (about)', 'to put
things together', usually implying hobby handicraft activities rather than
working for a living.  (However, _wark(el)-_ in the sense of "serious" work
still occurs in compounds such as _warksteed'_ 'workshop', _warkeldisch_
'worktable', '_warkelbank_ 'workbench', _warkkamer_ 'workroom', 'workplace'
and _warkeldag_ 'weekday').

However, there are also the following:

_wrachten_ 'to work hard', 'to slave', 'to struggle'

_wrukken_ (<wrucken>) 'to work hard', 'to slave', 'to struggle';
   'to jerk', 'to pull violently';
   'to groan', 'to grumble';
   'to fight', 'to have an argument'

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

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