"puss" in Icelandic ? Swedish ?

Douglas G. Wilson douglas at NB.NET
Wed Aug 24 01:22:02 UTC 2005


Etymology of "pussy" given in MW3:

<<earlier _puss_ vulva (perhaps of Low German or Scandinavian origin) +
_-y_, diminutive suffix; akin to Old Norse _pu[macron]ss_ pocket, pouch,
Icelandic _pussa_ vulva, Low German _pu[macron]se_ vulva, Old English
_pusa_, _posa_ bag, Greek _byein_ to stuff, plug>>

Seems reasonable; could be an adoption much more recent than Viking days.

-- Doug Wilson



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