Re: Charudes - Croatians

From: stlatos
Message: 59281
Date: 2008-06-17

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, Rick McCallister <gabaroo6958@...> wrote:
>
> Here's the version I've always run into:
> Here, from online etymological dictionary, but I've
> seen it many other places. What's wrong with it?
>
> http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=cravat
>
> cravat
> 1656, from Fr. cravate, from Cravate "Croatian," from
> Ger. Krabate, from Serbo-Croat Hrvat "a Croat," from
> O.Slav. Churvatinu "Croat," lit. "mountaineer,
> highlander," from churva "mountain" (cf. Rus. khrebet
> "mountain chain"). Cravats came into fashion 1650s in
> imitation of linen scarves worn by Croatian
> mercenaries in the French army in the Thirty Years
> War.

Whatever the origin, I can't believe in arguments that take *xorv-
from 'horn' instead of related to *xorn- from PIE 'move (cattle)' >
'watch, protect (cattle)'.