From: bmscotttg
Message: 62563
Date: 2009-01-21
>>>>> Eng rib < Tibetan rtsib<shrug> You're welcome to your fantasies. I prefer linguistics.
>>>> PIE *h1rebH- 'to cover (with a roof)', with reflexes in
>>>> Greek, Germanic, Slavic, and perhaps II (Khufi <rawj>
>>>> 'plank' < Proto-Iran. *rabaka, according to Mallory & Adams
>>>> s.v. <roof>).
>>> We're talking about a rib (anatomical part) not a roof !?
>> I know. Apparently in Germanic and Slavic the ribs were seen as
>> the roof (or perhaps the rafters) of the chest.
> This is just an etymological fancy.
> Apparently, as you say, it's a LW.