R. mgla and E. gloom?

[Daryl Bullis]

The relationship is tempting, but I believe they are not related. Gloom
comes from the Middle English gloum(b)en, meaning to become dark or
moody(cv. glum), or to be savage, but it is not related to "gloaming," which
is related to "glow." The Russian word "mgla" comes directly from the Greek
word "omikhle" (or in some variants "omikhla"), meaning a mist or fog.
Perhaps there is a PIE connection between the Greek omikhle and the ME
gloum(b)en, but I don't see any real connection other than a tempting, but
tenuous propinquity of meaning.

Daryl

-----Original Message-----
From: Slavic & East European Languages and Literature list
[mailto:SEELANGS at LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU]On Behalf Of pjs
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2004 10:00 AM
To: SEELANGS at LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU
Subject: [SEELANGS] R. mgla and E. gloom?


Philologists! Linguists!

Is there any etymological collection between Russian "mgla" (m-g-l) and
English "gloom" (g-l-m)?

I haven't been able to find any in the sources available to me, but it
would be nice.

Peter Scotto
Mount Holyoke College

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