[gothic-l] Terms For Scandinavians in the East

[Bertil Haggman]

The names greutungi and tervingi of the Goths (Swedish
grytingar and tyrvingar) and the Russian Varjazi and Kolbjazi
(Swedish vaeringar, 'Varangians' and kylfingar) are most
likely all Gothic and formed in a similar way, that is
nominalizations with an -ing suffix. As I have discussed
earlier the form greutingi in Latin and gryting in Swedish
possibly has a Germanic stem *greuta- 'stone ground'
(compare Swedish gryt). 

The name Varangians was so widespread that it became the 
overall term for Scandinavians. It is a term referring to settlers,
which can be formed from Oöld Swedish vara 'high situated
area'. The term seems to have been so common in Scandinavia
in reference to Goths in Russia that Umlaut occured.

Kolbjazi (Swedish kylfingar) is showing the same features as
Varangians.

Gothically

Bertil


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