LL-L "Etymology" 2002.07.23 (06) [E]

Lowlands-L sassisch at yahoo.com
Tue Jul 23 19:50:18 UTC 2002


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 L O W L A N D S - L * 23.JUL.2002 (06) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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From: Colin Wilson <lcwilson at btinternet.com>
Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2002.07.23 (01) [E]

At 15:59 23/07/02, Reinhard/Ron wrote:

>I am intrigued by the apparent fact that Scots has two borrowed variants
>for what basically is 'point'.
>
>(1) point, pint, pwint, etc. (cf. English _point_) 'point' < French
>    _point_ < Latin _punctus_ (masc.), or French _pointe_ < Latin
>    _puncta_ (fem.)
>
>(2) punct, punt 'dot', 'speck', 'point', 'period/full stop', 'moment',
>    'item' < Latin _punctus_
>
>I wonder if _pun(c)t_ was borrowed directly from Latin or via a
>different language, and, if the latter, which language that might be.

Historically this is of interest, but as far as the present-day spoken
tongue goes, I must admit I've never heard "punct" being used. Here
in the north-east the usual form is "pint", pronounced the same as
the measure of liquid.

Has anyone heard "punct" used in other regions of Scotland?

Goodwill to all,

Colin Wilson.

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