LL-L "Etymology" 2005.03.06 (07) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian B=Brabantish D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian
L=Limburgish LS=Lowlands Saxon (Low German) N=Northumbrian
S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic V=(West)Flemish Z=Zeelandic (Zeêuws)
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From: Críostóir Ó Ciardha <paada_please at yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: LL-L "Literature" 2005.03.06 (02) [E]


Ron wrote:
"Don't you think Low Saxon _rysig_ will do? It includes all of the above,
mostly "giant" with an emphasis on elevation."

I have no Low Saxon, but it seems fine. On a related note, however, is
_rysig_ the element in the Dutch footballer Michael Reiziger's surname? I
often wondered where the name came from. Apropos of nothing!

Also:
"It is related to _rys'_ 'giant' (, Dutch _reus_, German _Riese_ 'giant'
(nom.), cf. Gaelic _famhair_ 'giant', Irish _fomhor_ 'pirate' < Early Irish
_fomhór_ < *_fo-mór_, pl. _fomhórach_ in reference to the mythical race of
the giant Fomorians)..."

I may be folk-etymologising here, but I think _fo-mhór_ means "undersea". I
certainly always understood the name to mean that. It certainly made sense
when you see how far Oileán Toraigh, their home island, is from the Donegal
coast! I think one of the epithets in English for the Fomorians was also
_the Under Sea Men_.

"I feel that _rysig_ works here because it expresses height while we know
that the protagonist either sees the mountain from a distance (approaching
them by boat from the sea) or just in his or her mind (more likely, namely
from the dreaded city)."

Yes, it certainly works well like that. Nice choice!

Go raibh maith agat,

Criostóir.

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

Críostóir (above):

>  may be folk-etymologising here, but I think _fo-mhór_ means "undersea".
> I certainly always understood the name to mean that. It certainly made
> sense when you see how far Oileán Toraigh, their home island, is from the
> Donegal coast! I think one of the epithets in English for the Fomorians
> was
> also _the Under Sea Men_.

That makes a lot of sense.  In fact, the OED confirms it.  Good going, Kitto
kiddo!

But I sometimes wonder if there is an ancient connection between "more" (and
its cognates) and Celtic _mór_ 'great' with Latin _mare_, English "mere,"
etc. 'sea' and its cognates ...

Cheers!
Reinhard/Ron

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