xudozhnik etymology (was: Grossman - Mama - teryat' v vese)

[Curt F. Woolhiser]

As far as I am aware, the word "xudozhnik" is etymologically unrelated to the
Common Slavic root *xud-. Rather, as indicated by Vasmer, it appears to be
derived from the Gothic *handags "skillful, dexterous" (cf. English "handy"),
borrowed into Common Slavic as *xo,dog- ( > Old Russian xudog"). This being
said, it would still be interesting to see if the folk etymology linking
"xudozhnik" to the root xud- is reflected at all in popular perceptions of
artists...

Curt Woolhiser

================================
Curt Woolhiser
Preceptor in Slavic Languages
Department of Slavic Languages
and Literatures
Harvard University
12 Quincy St., Barker Center
Cambridge, MA 02138-3879 USA

Tel. (617) 495-3528
Fax (617) 496-4466
email: cwoolhis at fas.harvard.edu
================================


Quoting greniers at GEORGETOWN.EDU:

> Indeed.  The word "khudoi", of course, has both the meaning of low weight and
> of poverty/badness (plokhoi-khuzhe; sdelat' chto-to khudo-bedno,
> "'khudozhnik' ot slova 'khudo'", etc.)
>
> Svetlana Grenier
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>  Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
>   options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
>                     http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
                    http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------