[Lexicog] Re: origin of the word "gullible"

[Rudolph C Troike]

Howdy, y'all,

	My COED desktop reveals the suspected origin of "guile" is from
Old French, probably borrowed from Old Norse (the Normans of course were
originally "Northmen" who settled that part of France and were absorbed
linguistically over time). This is similar to other Germanic w-words that
were borrowed into Romance, which evidently lacked an initial /w/ and
reinterpreted this as a /g/, as ward:guard [re-borrowed from French] and
war:guerre/guerra (Spanish), the derivative "guerrilla" re-borrowed into
English.
	The presumed Norse orgin of "guile" is "wile", most familiar today
in "wiles" and "wily", as in "Wily Coyote".

	The COED says the origin of "gullible" is from "gull", to deceive/
a person who is deceived (16 century), "origin unknown", so Allan's guess
is as good as anyone's, and makes good sense.

	Rudy Troike

P.S. Since the origin of "guilt" (from Old English gylt) -- the spelling
must have been influenced by French, and perhaps folk-etymological
association with "guile" -- is also unknown, there is a possibility of
an etymological relationship there as well, with the -t representing an
old resultative participle.





Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lexicographylist/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    lexicographylist-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/