Re: fungus = mushroom

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Tavi" <oalexandre@...> wrote:

>
> > hello
> > does exist any connexion between the (Pre-)-Latin Fungus (unknow
> > origin) and Old Greek Spo(n)gos(unknow origin) = mushroom
>
> Yes, this is a Wanderwort of Uralic origin *paNka 'fly agaric (Amanita
> muscaria <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanita_muscaria> )', an
> hallucinogenous mushroom eated in shamanic rites of Siberian cultures
> and elsewhere.
>

In Uralic, the specific meaning 'fly agaric' is found in Udmurt and Mansi, while Mordvinic and Mari have a more generic 'mushroom; sponge; mildew': http://newstar.rinet.ru/cgi-bin/response.cgi?single=1&basename=/data/uralic/uralet&text_number=716&root_config

There're also forms with initial s-: Greek sphongós 'sponge', Armenian sunk(n), sung(n) 'tree-mushroom', Kartvelian *sok'o- 'mushroom', which I link to NEC *sX\w@...'k'V (~ -?\-) 'mushroom, tinder'. However, due to its scarce attestation, I don't think is a genuine root but rather a Wanderwort.