LL-L "Etymology" 2008.01.06 (03) [E]

[Lowlands-L List]

L O W L A N D S - L  -  06 January 2008 - Volume 03
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From: R. F. Hahn < sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Etymology

Folks,

I wonder if "spring" for a water source is primarily a Saxonism.

Modern English and Modern Low Saxon have this word alone (non-compound) with
this meaning in common.

*(natural water) spring:*

English:

   - spring
   - wellspring
   - source (< French)

Old English:

   - ǣder ~ ǣdre
   - ealdor
   - cielde
   - cwiella
   - *spring ~ spryng*
   - *gespring*
   - héofod
   - ord
   - ordfruma
   - *séaþ*
   - þéote
   - wiell ~ wiella ~ wielle
   - *wiellgespring*

Modern Low Saxon:

   - spring ~ spreng ~ sprang
   - born
   - springborn

Old Saxon:

   - *springi*
   - *gispring*
   - born
   - burno
   - brunno
   - kwella
   - wella

*well:*

Modern English:

   - well

Old English:

   - pytt
   - *séaþ*
   - wiell ~ wiella ~ wielle

(NB: *burna* 'well water')

Modern Low Saxon:

   - *sout* (pl. soyt)
   - born
   - *spring ~ spreng ~ sprang*

Old Saxon:

   - *sōth*
   - born

Notes:

Scots:

   - spring:
      - *spring ~ spryng > **springe ~ spryng ~ spreing ~ sprink* > ?
      - wiell ~ wiella ~ wielle > wele ~ weal > wall ~ wallie
      - *wiellgespring > **welespring ~ weal spring ~ wylsprynge* > ?
   - well:
   - wiell ~ wiella ~ wielle > wele ~ weal > wall ~ wallie

N.B. *burn* 'brook' (also in older English)

Old Frisian:

   - spring:
      - burna
      - walla
   - well:
      - burna
      - walla
      - *sāth*

Old Low Franconian"

   - spring:
      - brunno
   - well:
      - putte
      - brunno

Modern Dutch:

   - spring:
      - bron
      - *springbron*
   - well:
      - bron
      - wel
      - put

German:

   - spring:
      - *gispring ~ gisprungi* > extinct?*
      *
      - brunkwella > Quelle
   - well:
      - brunno

Norse:

   - spring:
      - lind
   - well:
      - brunna
      - bruðr
      - kelda

Gothic:

   - spring:
      - brunna
      - kaldiggs
      - well:
      - brunna
      - kaldiggs

I'm also interested in the *séaþ* / *sāth* / *sōth* group for 'well'. Is
there any connection with "to seethe"?

Any input would be welcome.

Reinhard/Ron
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