Dear Seelangers, I have no access to the J. Rudnyc'kyj's An etymological Dictionary of the Ukrainian Language (published at Winnipeag?). Could anyone know if Rudnyc'kyj explain the etymology of the word _szczelepa_ (shtchelepa?)? Please send the answer to my e-mail address rather then to the list. I will send the summary. Henryk Duda Lublin, Poland