There's no affinity, just superficial
similarity -- let me explain why. In *ek^w-o-s, *-o- is a stem-forming element
(called the "thematic vowel" in this case), and *-s is a mere inflectional
ending, ignored by derivational processes. It is the *ek^w- part that would have
served as the base for any derivatives (e.g. Latin equ-a 'mare', equ-et- [eques,
equitis] 'rider', not *equos-a or the like).
If you want to compare *ek^w-o-s with
anything, you have to compare like with like, beginning with the central
morpheme. These Ukrainian words contain the root <kos'-> plus various
word-forming suffixes. Since both <-o-> and <-s'> are clearly
root elements, they can't legitimately match anything in *ek^w-o-s. Looking from
the other side, neither *e- nor *-w- correspond to anything in <kos'->.
The _only_ thing that could be matched (with additional assumptions concerning
the unexpected "centum" reflex) is *-k^- vs. <k-> -- scarcely enough to
support even a tentative etymology.
What is <kos'->, then? My _guess_ (I
can check it tomorrow) is that it is a mutilated diminutive of <kon'-> --
a reduced form of something like Polish <konis'>. <kos'katy> seems
to presuppose *kos'ka 'little horse' (I don't know if it's attested, hence the
asterisk, but there is at least a Polish surname of that shape). Most likely the
oldest item in your list is the hypocoristic (or shall I say hippocoristic)
vocative <kos'-kos'> 'hossie-hossie', and the rest is derived from
that.
Piotr
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2001 9:05 PM
Subject: [tied] *ekwos and friends
Here are some words taken from Hrinchenko's Dictionary of the
Ukrainian Language [1958, t. II, p. 292; t. IV, p. 330] which might have
affinity to *ekwos (*EKuOS). I wonder if they are also present in other Slavic
languages?:
KOS'JA = "a small mare"
KOS'KATY = "to call a horse
hither"
KOS' KOS' = the actual cry summoning a horse
UKOS'KATY= "to tame a
horse"
KOS'JAK= "a small herd of horses"