Re: [tied] Re: Sarasvati River

From: Piotr Gasiorowski
Message: 7456
Date: 2001-06-01

The most convincing etymology of the Rhône (Rhodanus) is Celtic: *ro-dan(u)- 'big river' (Celtic *ro- < *pro- is an intensive prefix). The Rhine (Rhenus), I believe, reflects Celtic *re:nos < *rei-no-s 'rushing water' from *rei- 'run, flow' (cognates include Latin ri:vus and English run), but Chris Gwinn's expert opinion on that would be worth hearing. The two names are unrelated, and hydronymic *ran(d)- can scarcely be related to either. It is difficult to say what it might be in etymological terms. Perhaps the simplest possibility is Germanic *rand- 'boundary, border' -- but of course it's a mere shot in the dark. It usually helps if one knows something concrete about the river in question -- its physical features, local topography, etc.
 
Piotr
 
 
----- Original Message -----
From: Alexander Stolbov
To: cybalist@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, June 01, 2001 5:44 PM
Subject: Re: [tied] Re: Sarasvati River

I wouldn't be surprised if the name of the Ran(d) river appeared to be connected with Rhone and Rhine on the territory of the Megalithic culture (although later names could be the heritage of Beakers who did not reach Denmark).