LL-L "Etymology" 2010.03.10 (02) [EN]

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*L O W L A N D S - L - 10 March 2010 - Volume 02*
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From: Jonny <jonny.meibohm at arcor.de>
Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2010.03.09 (05) [EN]

 Beste Paul (Anis), Ron,

you corresponded about the Yiddish influence on modern American English and
the partly German roots of this dialect. Very interesting, Ron, your
eludication about the origin of the German idiom "Guten Rutsch!".

Now my questions.

1. Recently I read the Dutch word *"**lawaai* *", *meaning 'noise'. What do
you think - is it of Latin/Franconian origin, perhaps a derivation from Lat.
'clamare' (to shout, to call), or could it be Yiddish, perhaps Bargoens?

2. The second is the common German word(-family) *"Murks"* (bad,
faulty work) and *"abmurksen"* (to kill so. in a cruel, 'unprofessional'
method). I cannot find any clear and sustainable roots in German and its
ancestors.
Could it stand within coherence with the Jewish custom called 'Schächten',
which means the kosher butchering to kill an animal in a very ritual manner.
As far as I know only special educated people are allowed to do it; so, if
an amateur tried it, it could have become cruel, a 'Murks'?! How else to
explain the association of 'bad work' and 'kill'?

Just ideas... .

Allerbest!

Jonny Meibohm
Lower Saxony, Germany

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

Hi, Jonny, Lowlanders!

Interesting questions there.

The origin of Dutch *lawaai* 'noise', 'racket' is apparently considered
unclear. Some have suspected it of going back to Hebrew
*lĕwa(’)y*(לְוַ(א)י) 'oh, would that ...!' or 'If only ...!'.
Personally, I am
wondering if it came via the Bargoens cant and Yiddish (*levaye*) from
Hebrew *lĕwāyāh* (לְוָיָה) 'funeral' (an occasion of loud wailing). Of
course I consider it possible that the two Hebrew words are etymologically
linked.

According to the *Herkunftsduden*, *Murks* and *murksen* come from the
dialectical German *Murk* 'clot', 'hunk' > 'boy' (diminutive *Murkel*). I
guess the implication was that work was done badly by a young apprentice.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron
Seattle, USA

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