LL-L "Etymology" 2006.03.17 (04) [D/E]

[Lowlands-L]

======================================================================
L O W L A N D S - L * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
http://www.lowlands-l.net * lowlands-l at lowlands-l.net
Rules & Guidelines: http://www.lowlands-l.net/index.php?page=rules
Posting: lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org or lowlands-l at lowlands-l.net
Commands ("signoff lowlands-l" etc.): listserv at listserv.net
Server Manual: http://www.lsoft.com/manuals/1.8c/userindex.html
Archives: http://listserv.linguistlist.org/archives/lowlands-l.html
Encoding: Unicode (UTF-8) [Please switch your view mode to it.]
=======================================================================
You have received this because you have been subscribed upon request.
To unsubscribe, please send the command "signoff lowlands-l" as message
text from the same account to listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org or
sign off at http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html.
=======================================================================
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 (Zeeuws)
=======================================================================

17 March 2006 * Volume 04
=======================================================================

From: Marcel Bas <marcelbas at gmail.com>
Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2006.03.16 (03) [E]


Goedenmorgen allen,

Ook in het Nederlands bestaat dit woord _kwik_ waarna je in het 
Nedersaksisch verwijst, maar vooral in verbindingen. In het Nederlands 
bestaat er wel het woord _kwiek_, wat ook 'levendig' betekent. Men zegt, 
bijvoorbeeld, "Zij is kwiek voor haar leeftijd", als iemand zo oud is dat je 
verwacht dat ze trager zou moeten zijn dat wat ze laat zien.
Interessant is de verhoging van de klinker tot /i:/ in _kwiek_. Je zou bijna 
denken dat _kwiek_ een leenwoord is, terwijl de wortel _kwik_  dat weer niet 
is. Want:

Aan de andere kant kennen we wel weer _kwik_, voor het metaal Hg, en het 
werkwoord _verkwikken_, dat 'levendig worden' of 'zich verfrissen' betekent. 
Daarnaast bestaat er het woord _onverkwikkelijk_, dat 'vervelend, gênant' 
betekent.

Met vriendelijke groet,

Marcel Bas.

(Daar ben ik weer, na driekwart jaar afwezigheid :))

http://www.roepstem.net

----------

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

Welcome back, Marcel!  It's good to have you on board again.

This is a part of what the _Oxford English Dictionary_ has to say about 
"quick," before a line-up of too many current and obsolete meanings and 
usages to mention:

<quote>

[Comm. Teut.: OE. _cwicu_, _c(w)ucu_ and _cwic_, _c(w)uc-_, = OFris. _quik_, 
_quek_ (mod.Fris._ quick_, _queck_), OS. _quik_ (MDu. _quic_, Du. _kwik_), 
OHG. _quec_, _quecch-_ and _chec_, _checch-_ (MHG. _quec_, _queck-_ and 
_kec_, _keck-_, G. _keck_ lively, pert, bold; also dial. _queck_, _quick_), 
ON. _kvik-r_, _kvikv-_ and _kyk-r_, _kykv-_ (MSw. _qvik_, _qvek_, Sw. 
_qvick_; Da. _kvik_, also _kvæg_ n., ‘cattle’, and _kvæg-_, _kvik-_ in 
combs. as _kvæg-_ or _kviksand_):--OTeut. *_kwikwo-z_. The origin of the 
second _k_ is obscure; it is absent in the Gothic *_qius_ (in pl. 
_qiwai_):--*_kwiwo-z_, from the common Aryan *_g_w_ĭˆwo- _ which appears in 
Skr. _jîvá_, L. _vîvus (for *gvîvus), Lith. _gývas_, OSlav. _živŭ_, OIr. 
_biu_, _beo_ alive, living, Gr. _βίος_ life. An ablaut-variant of the Teut. 
stem is found in ON. _kveikja_ to kindle.]
</quote>

I assume that _quick-_ ~ _queck-_ in "quicksilver" and _Quecksilver_ 
indicates "alive," given that mercury is not solid and has a "live" quality.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

P.S.: Happy St. Patrick's Day!

==============================END===================================
* Please submit postings to lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org.
* Postings will be displayed unedited in digest form.
* Please display only the relevant parts of quotes in your replies.
* Commands for automated functions (including "signoff lowlands-l") are
  to be sent to listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org or at
  http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html.
======================================================================