LL-L: "Etymology" LOWLANDS-L, 03.JAN.2001 (03) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 03.JAN.2001 (03) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
 Posting Address: <lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org>
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 A=Afrikaans, Ap=Appalachean, D=Dutch, E=English, F=Frisian, L=Limburgish
 LS=Low Saxon (Low German), S=Scots, Sh=Shetlandic, Z=Zeelandic (Zeeuws)
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From: john feather [johnfeather at sceptic1.freeserve.co.uk]
Subject: Etymology

David Strommen wrote:

>In Scandinavian we can use the word matros for sailor. I have always
assumed it came from German and eventually Latin. Could Matros have been
shortened and Mat used for future words in the lowland languages?<

According to Duden Herkunfts-WB "Matrose" was borrowed in parallel  into
German (ca 1600 CE) and the Scandinavian languages from Dutch "matroos",
borrowed from Fr. "matelots" (plural of "matelot" = sailor), a later form of
OFr. "matenots", presumably from MD. "mattenoot". Hachette agrees, without the
"presumably". "Mattenoot" meant "hammock companion" because sailors were
paired off to share hammocks (ie use them alternately). "Matte" comes
ultimately from Latin "matta".

John Feather johnfeather at sceptic1.freeserve.co.uk

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