LL-L "Etymology" 2009.03.17 (01) [E]

[Lowlands-L List]

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L O W L A N D S - L - 17 March 2009 - Volume 01
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From: James Wilson <jawi2300 at gmail.com>
Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2009.03.16 (05) [E]

'Oxters', 'oxtern', 'oxtar', 'octar' is also used in Ireland (as well as
Scots and Northumbrian).

Regards
James
Copenahgen


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

Paul, you said:

I'd never heard of it till your post. From Old English "ohsta" according to
the Oxford Dictionary.  They describe it as Scottish and N. English; where
have you heard it?



Does anyone know any related Lowlands words?



   - Old English: "*ōxta, ōhsta* (earlier *ōcusta*) < a suffixed form of the
   Germanic base of Old Saxon *ōhasa*" (OED)
   - Old Saxon: *ahsa* (axle), *ahsla* (armpit), *ōhasa* (armpit)
   - Old German: *ahsa* (axle), *ahsala* (armpit), *uohisa* (armpit), *
   uohsala*, *uohsana* (armpit)
   - Old Norse: *ọxull* (axle), *ọxul* (armpit)
   - Gothic: *ahsa* (axle), *ahsa* (armpit)

 According to the *Oxford English Dictionary*, these are derivations of
cognates of now obsolete English *ax(e)* (< Old English *æxe, eaxe*), Old
Saxon *ahsa* > Middle Saxon *asse* (> Low Saxon *Ass*), Dutch *as*, Old
German *ahsa* > Middle German *ahse* > Modern German *Achse*, etc.; cf.
Latin *axis*, Lithuanian *aszis*, Greek άξων *á**xon*, Sanskrit आक्श *ākśa*.

Furthermore, they believe that these are related to regional Norwegian *
oster* 'hollow above the collarbones', 'throat', related to Old Norse
*óstr*> Icelandic
*hóstur* ~ *host* ~ *óst* and Faroese *óstur* with the same meaning.

Now rare or obsolete English "okselle" (armpit) comes from Middle Dutch *
ocsele*, *oxel*, *oxele* > Modern Dutch *oksel*, southern regional *oksele*etc.

Now obsolete English "assel(e)" (armpit) comes from Old (Norman?) French *
essele* (= Modern French *aiselle*; cf. Latin *axilla* ("little axle").

"Oxter" is use in Manx English as well as the varieties mentioned earlier.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron
Seattle, USA

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