Re: [tied] Digest Number 792

From: Mark DeFillo
Message: 12364
Date: 2002-02-15

Piotr wrote:
>The etymology and original meaning of *erilaz (< *er-elo-s ?) are
> >uncertain. Old Runic formulaic <ek erilaz ...> is routinely translated
> >as 'I, the runemaster, ...' or alternatively as 'I, the >nobleman, ...'.
>Germanic cognates (OE eorl, OM jarl, OSax. erl) are >social rank or status
>terms ('earl, warrior, high-born'). I suspect >*erilaz formed an antonymous
>pair with *karilaz 'man, free peasant, >farmer' (ON karl, OE ceorl.

What do you think is the most likely derivation for the "*er-"?

~Mark

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