--- In cybalist@..., "Piotr Gasiorowski" <gpiotr@...> wrote:
> But the Polish prothesis before the etymologically back nasal vowel
is invariably <w-> [v-]. Before the front nasal vowel we get <j->,
also 100% of the time. [h] is only found dialectally (and
irregularly) in some relatively recent loans before [a] (armata ~
harmata 'cannon'). I wouldn't bet my bottom zloty that the particular
folk-etymological explanation I have offered is the best, but I'm
pretty sure the right solution must be something along these lines.
And caterpillars, unlike earthworms, do seem to be gooseneck-like
rather than rope-like to me.
>
> Piotr
>
Sorry for too compact and thus unclear wording. I meant 'following
your lines one should explain ga,z.ew : guz^ on the one hand and
uz^I:uz^a on the other (all <*o,zjI) as a folk-etymology,
probably "goose-neck roap"'.
Sergei