Re: [tied] Re: Vrddhi in sigmatic aorist

I think all these crunchy terms are expressive variants of (half-onomatopoeic) roots like *skrembH- (cf. Slavic *skrob- ~ *xrob-). *xormU is an interesting word. One feels tempted to connect it with Sanskrit sra:ma- 'lame', which could in turn be the same as Germanic lam- with a mobile *s (*slom-os). The only trouble is that this attractive etymology would absolutely require an Iranian intermediary (*slomo- > PIIr *srama- > Iranian *hrama- > Slavic *xromU) and I don't think it's documented in Iranian. Of course an accidental attestation gap is possible but the fact that we must assume it weakens the etymology.

Piotr

----- Original Message -----
From: Sergejus Tarasovas

To: cybalist@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2001 4:05 PM

Subject: [tied] Re: Vrddhi in sigmatic aorist

I realize that *x- in anlaut is problematic by itself (<*sk-? expressive? onomatopoeia?), but still what about *xromU 'lame,gammy' and (if not of merely onomatopoeic origin) *xro,stU 'crunch;sticks, falen deadwood etc', *xre,stjI 'cartilage;beetle etc'.