Reconstruction:Proto-Ryukyuan/kusa

This Proto-Ryukyuan 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-Ryukyuan

Etymology 1

From Proto-Japonic *kusa (“grass”).

Noun

*kusa

1. grass

Descendants

• Northern Ryukyuan: 姑撒 (kusa) (Liúqiú guăn yìyŭ, 1469–1470)
  • Kikai: 草 (kusa, ssa)
  • Kunigami: 草 (khusā)
  • Northern Amami-Oshima: 草 (kusa, xusa)
  • Okinawan: 草 (kusa)
  • Oki-No-Erabu: 草 (kusa, kusā)
  • Southern Amami-Oshima: 草 (xsa)
  • Toku-No-Shima: 草 (kusa)
  • Yoron: 草 (kusa)
• Southern Ryukyuan: *kusa (Bentley, 2008b)
  • Miyako: 草 (fusa)
  • Yaeyama: 草 (fusa)
  • Yonaguni: 草 (tsā)

Etymology 2

From Proto-Japonic *kusa (“smelly, stinky”).

Noun

*kusa

1. smelly, stinky

Descendants

• Northern Ryukyuan:
  • Kunigami: 臭ーせん (khusāsen)
  • Northern Amami-Oshima: 臭さり (kusasari)
  • Okinawan: 臭さん (kusasan)
  • Oki-No-Erabu: 臭さん (kusasan)
  • Southern Amami-Oshima: 臭さむっ (xsāsam)
  • Toku-No-Shima: 臭い (kusai)
  • Yoron: 臭さん (kusasan)
• Southern Ryukyuan:
  • Miyako: 臭 (fusa)
  • Yaeyama: 臭さーん (fusasān)
  • Yonaguni: 臭ーん (tsān)