Reconstruction:Proto-Slavic/želězo

This Proto-Slavic entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Slavic edit

Etymology edit

Likely of Proto-Balto-Slavic origin, related to Lithuanian geležìs, Latvian dzèlzs and Old Prussian gelso, with no clear cognates in other Indo-European branches. The discrepancy of root vocalism between Slavic and Baltic is problematic and requires two different Proto-Balto-Slavic reconstructions, with short -*e- and long -*ē-. Thus, no common form can be reconstructed. Latvian and Old Prussian have syncopated the suffixal -e-.

Has been compared with Ancient Greek χαλκός (khalkós, ore, copper, bronze), but the connection cannot be established in terms of regular phonetic correspondences. However, both could be independent loanwords from a common eastern source, whence also possibly Hittite [script needed] ((ḫ)apalki, iron). Possibly related to Proto-Sino-Tibetan *qhleks ((cast) iron), though the direction and exact details of the borrowing are obscure.

Semantically also close to Latin galēna (lead sulphide (mineral)), Ancient Greek γαλήνη (galḗnē, serenity, calmness; type of metal mineral),[1] possibly from Proto-Indo-European *ǵl̥h₂-es- (glimmering, cheerful).

Noun edit

*želě̀zo n[2][3][4]

  1. iron

Alternative forms edit

Inflection edit

Derived terms edit

Related terms edit

  • *glazъ (glass ball, pebble) (possibly)
  • *žely (tortoise) (possibly, per Trubachev)

Descendants edit

Further reading edit

References edit

  1. ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “γαλήνη”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), volume I, with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 257
  2. ^ Derksen, Rick (2008) “*želě̀zo”, in Etymological Dictionary of the Slavic Inherited Lexicon (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 4), Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, →ISSN, page 555
  3. ^ Olander, Thomas (2001) “želězo, G. želěza”, in Common Slavic Accentological Word List[1], Copenhagen: Editiones Olander:a (SA 73, 155; PR 132)
  4. ^ Snoj, Marko (2016) “želẹ́zo”, in Slovenski etimološki slovar [Slovenian Etymology Dictionary] (in Slovene), 3rd edition, https://fran.si:*želě̋zo