LL-L "Etymology" 2006.03.20 (03) [E]

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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
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   L O W L A N D S - L * 20 March 2006 * Volume 03
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From: Heiko Evermann <heiko.evermann at gmx.de>
Subject: LL-L gau

Moin tosamen,

I was wondering about the LS word vor quick: "gau".

1) What is the etymology for this word? I do not know a German or Dutch
equivalent of "gau".
2) The dictionaries also list "snell". This is also the Dutch word. So: How
freuquently is "gau" used? Is that a regional word or is its use widespread?
Hermann-Winter does not list it at all. Sass does not list it in a prominent
place. My impression however is that in the Hamburg area "snell" is not used
at all and I think that dear Jonny would probably call it "Patentplatt".
3) Talking of "schnell": what is "Eisschnelllaufen" and 
"Einsschnellläufer/in"
in Low Saxon? (As opposed to "Eiskunstlauf") And what is the LS word for
"Geschwindigkeit" like in "Lichtgeschwindigkeit"?

Kind regards,

Heiko Evermann

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

Dag, Heiko!

I can tell a man on a Wiki mission when I see one.  ;-)

Your posting contains two threads: "Etymology" and "Lexicon."  So I'll try 
to separate them, and I invited everyone to do likewise.

'fast', 'swift(ly)', 'quickly', 'soon', 'promptly', 'immediately':

Northern Low Saxon: gau
Dutch: gaauw
Afrikaans: gou (intensified as _gou-gou_)

I believe these are connected with the following:

Old Saxon:
     gāh 'sudden', 'quick'
     gāhlīk 'suddenly', 'quickly'
     gāhun 'sudden(ly)', 'quick(ly)'
Old Low Franconian:
     gālīk 'suddenly', 'quickly'
Old Frisian:
     gā 'suddenly', 'quickly'
Old English:
     gearu ~ gearo 'ready'
     gearubrygd 'quick movement'
Old German:
     gāha ~ gāhi ~ gāhī 'moment'
     gāhi ~ gāho(n) ~ gāhūn 'fast', 'quick(ly)'  (> jäh)
     gāhen 'to hurry'
     gāhida 'haste'
     gāhingūn 'suddenly'
     gāhlīhho 'suddenly', 'unexpectedly'

The basic idea seems to be 'fast' in the sense of 'sudden'.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron 

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