LL-L "Etymology" 2005.09.13 (05) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 13.SEP.2005 (05) * 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: Paul Finlow-Bates <wolf_thunder51 at yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: LL-L "Lexicon" 2005.09.12 (11) [E]


Before reading Ron's little rhymes at the end here, I'd never realised 
"mate" had a lowlands existence outside English/Scots

Paul

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

Paul,

I get the distinct impression you're one to appreciate more sophisticated 
poetic works and your use of "little" merely refers to size, i.e., elegant 
terseness.

> I'd never realised "mate" had a lowlands existence outside English/Scots

Not only that, but -- and now hold on to your hat, mate! -- "mate" is a 
Middle (Low) Saxon loan!

I assume it reached English by way of trading contacts with the Hanseatic 
League, as did for instance "trade" (< MS _trade_ ~ _trâ_ 'path', 'track' > 
'career' > '(professional) trade' > '(commercial) trade', related to 
"tread").  (In Middle English, _trade_ was also used for 'track', 'path', 
'road'; see 
http://www.lowlands-l.net/anniversary/index.php?page=english-m-verse2)

"Mate" comes from _mate_ ~ _mât_ (cf. Early Modern Dutch _maat_ ~ _maet_ > 
Modern Dutch _maat_).  The original meaning (with _ge-_; cf. Old German 
_gimazze_) was something like "fellow eater," 'someone with whom one shares 
meals' (cf., English "meat"), thus a fellow group, team or crew member, 
'comrade' or 'friend' in extension.  (This applied not only to sailors but 
for instance also to the Hanseatic apprentices, very young fellows that 
shared cramped quarters, very regimented lifestyles, meals and beds at the 
various trading posts.)

As you can see, Paul, we are genealogically and etymologically linked not 
only in the very distant Saxon past but by way of contacts in later history 
as well.  There are even stronger Dutch/Flemish influences in English and 
Scots, due not only to trading contacts but also to fairly large-scale 
immigration to England, Wales and Scotland, mostly of textile workers.

I wish there were an easy way of searching for words of "MLG" origin in the 
online version of the OED.  I've tried the advanced search function to no 
avail.  Does anyone have any suggestion?

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

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