Re: [tied] Re: Birds

Piotr Gasiorowski wrote:

 
 

----- Original Message -----

From: Dennis King

To: cybalist@egroups.comSent: Monday, September 18, 2000 7:38 PMSubject: Re: [tied] Re: Birds

 

 Ah, yes. But, ornithologically speaking, these original "penguins" are more correctly called great auks and are now extinct (and so rarer than the capercailzie). Which said, both etymologies are beyond reproach. "Coot" (as well as Dutch "koet") are connected by some with Welsh "cwtair"

Piotr wrote:

> Will "coot" and "grebe" do? I think they are both analysable as
> ultimately Brythonic, even if borrowed indirectly.

I was actually thinking of "gull" and "penguin".  My English
dictionary says "coot" is from Middle Dutch "coet" and leaves
it at that.  For "grebe" it just gives French "grèbe", and my
small dictionnaire étymologique says "origine inconnue" for
"grèbe".

"Gull" possibly, and French "goéland" certainly, can be
traced to Welsh "gwylan" and Breton "gouelan", which are
closely cognate with Irish "faoileán", OI "foílenn".

"Penguin" is apparently Welsh "pen gwyn" (white head), not
from the color of the bird's head, which is not white, but
from the name of an island off Newfoundland on which they
congregated, and which was blazing white from all the bird
droppings.  That's the story, anyway.

Dennis King

  Piotr,
        Yes, the Great Auk I had forgotten about it.  I had suggested the Common Puffin
                                                        Steve