Re: [tied] The Beaver and Its Teeth (Origin?)

From: x99lynx@...
Message: 15226
Date: 2002-09-06

Piotr wrote:
<<But here the root is Gk. bor-/bro:- < *gWerh3- 'devour'. It's reflexes in
the other IE languages (e.g. Latin voro:) are not beaver-like at all!>>

But the reflexes don't matter if the word is of Greek origin! It would be a
matter of when and how the Greek word entered those languages and how it was
conformed to their phonotactics.

(And -- though its not relevant -- once again, how does one know that the
concept didn't start as chew up and become "devour" -- did the brew word
start in reference to wells, seas, burning or boiling malt?)

Steve