LL-L "Etymology" 2011.11.24 (01) [EN]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L - 24 November 2011 - Volume 01
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From: Hellinckx Luc luc.hellinckx at gmail.com
 Subject: LL-L "Etymology"

Beste Ron,

You wrote:

In many Low Saxon dialects, this type of light, steady rain (and the
accompanying low light conditions) are known as (masculine)
*Druus*[dru:s], and the derived adjective/adverb is
*drusig* ['dru:zɪç].


I think the original meaning of [dru:s] may have been "murk" (compare Old
English "drusan" to sink, and "to drowse"), evolving to:

   - [dru:s]: nickname for the devil (the dark one, in many dialects)
   - [dru:s]: sediment, dark sludgy substance in a liquid, also a horse
   disease (cf. droesem in Dutch)
   - [dru:s]: as in toponym Droeshout and surname Droesbeke (dark, marshy
   wood and muddy, slow running brook)
   - [dru:s]: nickname for a big, clumsy, slow-witted fellow


Not too sure English "drizzle" is related btw. Seems like a substrate word,
together with Dutch "dras".

Kind greetings,

Luc Hellinckx, Halle, Belgium

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From: Mark and Ruth Dreyer mrdreyer at lantic.net
 Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2011.11.23 (05) [EN]

Dear Ron:
Subject: LL-L Etymology

We've started with that now on the Highveld. Fine weather, for ducks. S
Africans can get really morbid when they don't see the Sun.
By the way; I think you'll get more meat out of the English term 'drizzle'
by which they mean light rain of long duration. A brief burst of the same
would rate 'shower'. My Yiddish ear says this has to be a *little* 'drizz'
- whatever that izz.

Reciprocations to you, Ron & all you Americans, eat a fat slice of pecan
pie for me!

All Yrs,
Mark

You wrote:
...I am referring to a dark, depressing day of constant rain ... November
at its worst (short of snow in a hilly area like this).

I may have mentioned the following some years ago, but I am sure it can
stand repeating.

In many Low Saxon dialects, this type of light, steady rain (and the
accompanying low light conditions) are known as (masculine)
*Druus*[dru:s], and the derived adjective/adverb is
*drusig* ['dru:zɪç].

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From: Paul Finlow-Bates wolf_thunder51 at yahoo.co.uk
  Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2011.11.23 (05) [EN]

That sort of rain is called "drizzle" in England (and probably other UK
countries too).  Online Etymological dictionary dates it to 1540s, probably
from OE *dreosan*, to fall.  Related to PIE **dhreu,* related to "drip".

Paul.

PS: when it is really fine rain, we call it "mizzle", combining "drizzle"
with "mist".

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From: Ed Alexander edsells at cogeco.ca
  Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2011.11.23 (05) [EN]

At 08:16 PM 23/11/2011, Ron wrote:

In many Low Saxon dialects, this type of light, steady rain (and the
accompanying low light conditions) are known as (masculine)
*Druus*[dru:s], and the derived adjective/adverb is
*drusig* ['dru:zɪç].

Now, this reminds me of English "drowsy" and the Scots verb *drouse* (*
droose* [dru:z] 'to be drowsy'), considering also that, like English
"drowsy" and Scots *drouse*, the Low Saxon words can refer to a state of
sleepiness as well. Are we talking about a coincidence or about a
relationship? Are there other Lowlands pieces of the puzzle?


You forgot "drizzle."  It looks like drowsy comes from a different root
than *drusig*.

Ed Alexander

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From: Jacqueline Bungenberg de Jong Dutchmatters at comcast.net
   Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2011.11.23 (05) [EN]

Hello there ‘stadgenoot’

A Dutch friend came to visit me this afternoon and she said, while we were
negotiating the puddles in the driveway,  “en als dit thuis was geweest,
zou ik ook nog op de fiets zijn gekomen”!! Brrrrr

Which brings me back to your etymological question.

Dutch knows ‘druisen’ which my dictionary tells me is ‘een aanhoudend maar
ongelijkmatig, verward, vrij sterk geluid voortbrengen. I think that makes
meterological sense today. And then there are of course druilen en druipen
(respectively not showing any energy and to drip). Does that remind you of
something??

Keep dry!
Jacqueline BdJ

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

Thanks for all the responses.



Now that you have mentioned it I am convinced that *drizzle* is related,
must have come from **drysel* ['dry:zl] (< /druz+el-/, diminutive
frequentive, umlauted).

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron
Seattle, USA



My keyboard just broke, and the stores are closed for the holiday … It is
horrendous working around that.

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