LL-L "Etymology" 2002.05.07 (05) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 07.MAY.2002 (05) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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From: niels.winther at dfdsseaways.com
Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2002.05.07 (01) [D/E]

Ron wrote:
I really do not see how 'sluggish' and 'bluish' can be connected
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Neither do I. Likewise I can't see how dull and astringent can be
connected. What I suggested, was that the adjective _slee_ has got
an additional meaning in Dutch and Low Saxon, caused by transfer
from homonym noun _slee_ (with a different etymology).

niels.

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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Etymology

Niels,

You wrote above:

> Neither do I. Likewise I can't see how dull and astringent can be
> connected.

That I can, though, Niels.  Biting certain types of astringent matter
(such as sloe and bad persimmon) gives your teeth a "dull" or "blunt"
feeling, as opposed to a "slippery" or "smooth" feeling.  You can use
German _stumpf_ and Low Saxon (Low German) _stump_ to describe it
(though _slee_ is the more correct term in Low Saxon), and these words
also denote 'blunt' or 'dull' with regard to a cutting edge (of a knife,
sword, etc.).  Can one use English "blunt" or "dull" for this?  Not
Danish and Norwegian _sløv_, Swedish _slö_ and Icelandic _sljór_, _
sljóvga_ and _slæva_ 'blunt', 'dull', I suppose.  Or can they?

By the way, Icelandic _þyrniplóma_ for 'sloe' also means "thorny plum."

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

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