----- Original Message -----
From: <brahmabull@...>
To: <norse_course@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, December 08, 2003 9:43 AM
Subject: [norse_course] hiwi for wife
> Laz--
>
> >>The interpretation I have just read claims that 'Hiwi' means "Wife".<<
>
> There is a Germanic root {híw-} (as always, acute for macron), with a
> general meaning of relation or affinity. It is cognate with Latin "civis."
> The word /híwa/ means wife (Gattin) in Old Saxon and Old High German.
> In Old Icelandic the plural /hjú(n)/ or /hjón/ means husband and wife,
> or members of the same household (Gatten, Hausgenossen).
>
> My source is F. Holthausen's <Altenglishes etymologisches Wörterbuch>
> 2nd edition (1963), p. 161.
>
> Gazariah
>
>
>
> A Norse funny farm, overrun by smart people.
>
> Homepage: http://www.hi.is/~haukurth/norse/
>
> To escape from this funny farm try rattling off an e-mail to:
>
> norse_course-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>