LL-L: "Etymology" LOWLANDS-L, 01.NOV.1999 (08) [E]

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From: R. F. Hahn [sassisch at yahoo.com]
Subject: Etymology

Dear Lowlanders,

Over lunch I enjoyed an episode of the delightful and both entertaining and
informative Danish TV series "Det er et yndligt land" ("It's a lovely country"),
each episode focusing on a different area of Denmark, with plenty of information
about local traditions and language.  This particular episode was about the area
of Dronninglund in Northeastern Jutland (Jylland) and included a fair bit about
the local Danish dialect, not only in comparison with Standard Danish but also
in comparison with surrounding dialects.  Among other things they discussed the
use a verb: /mak-/ _at makke.  In surrounding dialects it means 'to tinker
(around)', 'to fool around (tinkering, repairing, etc.)', while in Dronninglund
it specifically means 'to fool/mess around (apparently sexually)', perhaps
something like American 'to make out' and 'to neck' (described as something like
"things young folks get up to ..." accompanied by a wink and a grin).  I guess
the common meaning is 'to fool around'.  So I got thinking about this verb
/mak-/ vis-à-vis /maak-/ 'make', and I am wondering if you can help me sort out
the etymology, for I suspect that there is something complicated going on,
perhaps "cross-contamination" or something of that sort.

Below is what I have, but I'm not sure it all belongs to the same group.

Standard Danish:
_makke ret_ 'to straighten up/out', 'to put right' (colloquial or vulgar)
_makke {noget} sammen_ 'to put {something} together in a dabbling fashion'
(colloquial or vulgar)
_makker_ 'comrade', 'partner'
_makkerskab_ 'comradeship', 'partnership'
(I am not sure, but I suspect there are South Jutish cognates but no other
Scandinavian ones.)

Low Saxon (Low German), North Saxon:
_Mack_ (1) 'comfort', 'convenience', 'ease', 'relaxation' (2) 'mental
deficiency', 'damage', 'defect' (possibly two separate origins; (2) also as
_Macke_ in Missingsch and North German dialects)
_mack_ 'easy to control', 'harmless', 'docile', 'tame'
_mack(e)lig_ (Eastern Friesland _makelk_; note the long vowel!) 'comfortable',
'convenient', 'easy', 'relaxed'
_Macker_ 'comrade', 'partner', 'supporter', 'friend', 'ringleader' (also in
Missingsch and North German dialects)

Dutch:
_gemak_ 'ease', 'comfort'
_(ge-)makkelijk_ 'easy', 'comfortable'
_gemakkelijkheid_ 'ease', 'comfort'
_mak_ 'easy to control', 'harmless', 'docile', 'tame'
_makker_ 'comrade', 'companion'

Afrikaans:
_gemak_ 'ease', 'comfort' (and several derivations)
_(ge)maklik_ 'easy', 'comfortable'
_(ge)maklikheid_ 'ease', 'comfort'
_mak_ 'easy to control', 'harmless', 'docile', 'tame'
_makheid_ 'ease of control', 'harmlessness', 'docility'

Westerlauwer Frisian:
_maklik_ 'easy', 'convenient'

Scots:
_ma(c)k_ 'neat', 'tidy'
_makly_ 'evenly'

German:
_Gemach_ 'chamber', 'sleeping quarter' < 'convenience'
_gemach_ 'gently', 'slowly', 'in a relaxed manner'
_gemächlich_ 'slow', 'comfortable', 'easy'

Apparently, there *is* a connection with /maak-/ 'to make' (Low Saxon, Dutch,
Afrikaans /maak-/, English _make_, W. Frisian _meitsje_, Scots _mak_ or _make_ <
IE *_mag^-_ 'to knead') with the original meaning 'to put together', 'to make
fit', 'to make suitable', 'to make proper', 'to put right'.  (So, 'suitable' >
'convenient' > 'easy'/'proper' may be the crucial connection between all items
here.)  But in that case, how is the long versus short vowel discrepancy
explained?

An interesting thing is that Danish has a verb form of /mak/ (with a short
vowel), and Low Saxon _Macker_ would assume a verb (which may be lost).  ('To
make' is _at gøre_ in Danish.)

Another few important pieces of information:
Old Norse (/mak/ ->)_makr_ 'comfortable', 'snug', 'fitting', 'proper'
Old English _gemec_ 'fitting', 'proper'
Old Saxon _gemako_ 'comrade'

So, what's going on here?  What is inherent and what is borrowed, and who
borrowed from whom?

As always, thanks for thinking about it.

Regards,

Reinhard/Ron

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