LL-L "Etymology" 2008.04.07 (03) [E]

[Lowlands-L List]

=========================================================================
L O W L A N D S - L - 07 April 2008 - Volume 03
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please set the encoding mode to Unicode (UTF-8).
If viewing this in a web browser, please click on
the html toggle at the bottom of the archived page.
=========================================================================

From: Jan Neelen-Keppenne <neelen.keppenne at skynet.be>
Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2008.04.06 (02) [E]

From Jan Neelen

The Dutch word lak comes from the French word laque which comes from the
Arab word lakk.

----------

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

Welcome to the speakers' corner, Jan!

The word can be traced back even farther. Arabic *lakk* (اللك *allakk*)
comes from Persion لاک *lâk*, and this seems to go back to Hindi लख
*lakh*or directly to an earlier Prakrit form लक्ख
*lakkha*. And here is where the guessing really starts. Apparently this
referred to the sweet reddish brown type of resin used as lacquer, the type
also found on East Asian lacquer ware. Some allege that the word goes back
to Sanskrit *lakṣa* लक्ष 'hundred thousand' in reference to the multitudes
of insects that tease the resin out of trees. Others claim that लक्ख *lakkha
* goes back to Sanskrit **rakh*  in reference to 'color'. (Perhaps Chinese
visitors were involved? ;-) I am not familiar with that word but do know
रक्त *rakta* 'colored', 'died'.)  And then there are those that go as far as
connecting Sanskrit **lakṣa* लक्ष with European *laks*, *lax*, etc.
'salmon'!

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/lowlands-l/attachments/20080407/b033747b/attachment.htm>