Re: Starostin's proposed etymology for *hek'u_o- 'horse'

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Francesco Brighenti" <frabrig@...>
wrote:

>
> Dear List,
>
> In the version of Pokorny's IE etymological dictionary revised by

Starostin & Lubotsky, which is available at

>
> http://dnghu.org/indoeuropean.html ,
>
> I find the following note to the entry *ek'u_o-s (*hek'u_o-):
>
> "Horses were often considered the most precious sacrifice for the sea

god. That is why from root/lemma: akWā- (correct ǝkWā):
Ä"kW-: 'water, river' derived root/lemma: ek'u_o-s: 'horse'."

>
> How was this etymology received?
>
> Thanks for a reply, and best regards.
>

I really doubt this etymology is Starostin's, as the word 'horse' is a
Wanderwort also found in NEC and NWC and which originated in the Pontic
Steppes, where the animal was domesticated.

This is the kind of pseudo-historical linguistics our friend Brian is so
fond of. :-)