Re: [tied] Dr van Helsing, I presume?

The interpretation of Ohthere's "Sillende" remains unclear, and
opinions vary (favouring various identifications, from
Silund/Selund/Sjælland to northern Schleswig). A connection with the
Silings' name is possible, though I haven't seen it worked out in
detail. <sile> is, I think, a derivative of the the verb root *si:-
'strain, filter, sieve' (cf. Old Norse si:a), so "pass through a
strainer" > "come down (of rainwater)". The etymological long *i:
does not match the vocalism of *sil-.


Piotr

--- In cybalist@..., tgpedersen@... wrote:
> --- In cybalist@..., "Piotr Gasiorowski" <gpiotr@...> wrote:
> > You're right, the -ing formation is more general and can refer to
a
> place of origin, though I'm not sure how old this usage. So maybe
the
> Helsings were "people from the Hals" rather
> than "descendants/servants of Hals".
> >
> > Silesia is supposed to be the land of the Silings (Polish S'la,sk
<
> *sIle~z^-Isk-U < *siling-isk-), one of the major "Vandalic" tribes
of
> the Lugian union. They are usually mentioned together with the
> Hasdings, as in Tacitus. The name is no doubt Germanic but I don't
> know how to etymologise it. Sall- in Salling doesn't look too
> promising as a match for Sil-. Give me some time to think it over.
> >
> > Piotr
> >
> Alfred the Great's "Sillende" comes to mind. Bomhard has a "water"
> root *s-l-, cf Danish <sile> "pour down steadily (esp. of rain)"
>
> Torsten