LL-L "Etymology" 2004.03.09 (05) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

======================================================================
L O W L A N D S - L * 09.MAR.2004 (05) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
http://www.lowlands-l.net * lowlands-l at lowlands-l.net
Rules & Guidelines: http://www.lowlands-l.net/index.php?page=rules
Posting Addresses: lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org,
lowlands-l at lowlands-l.net
Server Manual: http://www.lsoft.com/manuals/1.8c/userindex.html
Archives: http://listserv.linguistlist.org/archives/lowlands-l.html
Encoding: Unicode (UTF-8) [Please switch your view mode to it.]
=======================================================================
You have received this because you have been subscribed upon request.
To unsubscribe, please send the command "signoff lowlands-l" as message
text from the same account to listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org or
sign off at http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html.
=======================================================================
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)
=======================================================================

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

Beste Mathieu, Erland en anderen,

I might be able to help you a little regarding the Danish word
"kovirke". I have researched all my Dutch dictionaries and didn't find
the word "koewerk" in any of them, but I did find the word "koebrug"
(D), which has basically two meanings. First of all, it designated a
"gangway, a plank that is used to board a cow on a wagon or a ship",
secondly it's a naval term for "orlop deck". Now this second meaning has
nothing to do with cows whatsoever, because it is actually a corrupt
form of older Dutch "cooy brugghe", litterally "cage bridge". This
confusion comes as no surprise as you might know that "koe" is
pronounced like "koei" in many (older) Dutch dialects.

You will now probably wonder what the relation is between a "koebrug"
and the Danish "kovirke". I cannot say for sure, but I had a close look
at the profile of the "kovirke" and they actually seem to consist of
three parts, a moat, a palisade and a dais. It is the latter, the raised
platform that I tend to associate with a "koebrug', as it served to make
the Danish warriors rise above their enemies. It has the shape and
function of a "koebrug" (D).

By the way, we did have similar constructions in the Middle Ages that we
called a "bolwerk" in Dutch because they were made of what we call
"bolen aat" in Brabantish, "beams" in English. When they were no longer
used for their original military purpose, all over the world they became
known as "boulevard" (via French).

Hope to have been of some help...

Kind greetings,

Luc Hellinckx

================================END===================================
* Please submit postings to lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org.
* Postings will be displayed unedited in digest form.
* Please display only the relevant parts of quotes in your replies.
* Commands for automated functions (including "signoff lowlands-l") are
  to be sent to listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org or at
  http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html.
=======================================================================