LL-L "Etymology" 2008.11.30 (01) [E]

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L O W L A N D S - L - 30 November 2008 - Volume 01
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From: Mark Dreyer <mrdreyer at lantic.net>
Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2008.11.29 (04) [E]

Dear Paul



Subject: LL-L "Etymology"



You wrote:

In the Wiki article I noted the word "vuurreus" referring to the fire-giant
Surtr; "Vuur" I obviously know, but what exactly does "reus" mean, and are
there any related words in other languages?



Mark:

In Afrikaans 'reus' = giant. My Afrikaanse Etimologie (Boshoff en Nienaber)
reports as follows:

Something or someone particularly large of its kind. Nederlands 'reus'; Mndl
'rëse/reuse/röse' - hero, giant; Hd 'riese'. Origin further back uncertain.
Perhaps related to Greek '(h)rion' mountain-top/heights.



Nice string. I should have expected a common term throughout the Teutonic
languages, but we have ME 'giant', OE 'ent', Ndl & Afr 'reus'. Did we then
all make separate, isolated contact with giant things (enta weorcan) OE?



Yrs,

Mark

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From: Mark Dreyer <mrdreyer at lantic.net>
Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2008.11.29 (04) [E]

Dear Ron:



Subject: LL-L "Etymology"



On the subject of Paul's Vuurreus:



Apologies: Of course the fact that I was stealing your fire had nothing to
do with Surtr...



Reguards,

Mark

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

Don't you worry one single iota, Mark! You stole nothing from me, just
gilded the lily. ;-) And even if you did, steal away, my dear brother!
Double is better than not at all.

Please give my love to that Ruth of yours.

Aloha en groete!

Reinhard/Ron

P.S.: Pardon the Polynesian-influenced Yank way of phrasing this. It's meant
sincerely, and my American sistah Ruth will probably translate for you if
need be.
P.P.S.: Hopefully those straight-laced British, Antipodean and Netherlandic
types among us didn't take offense re the "sentimental" tone of this.
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