*angw/(h)i- `snake, worm' is one of much attested root in IE
languages (see Pokorny pp. 43-44).
If we accept zero-grade and unaspirated form *n.gw|i-, we can easy
explain Illyrian form <abeis> and Greek <ekheis>. But, I am much
interested to explain Alb. word <bishë> `beast' from Ill. <abeis>
through aphaeresis of first unaccented syllable and regular
evolution of the diphthong *ei > i. The change of the gender for
many nouns is very normal in Albanian, so <bish> and <bishë> are, to
me, very regular.
Its derivation from Latin <bestia>, even semantically seems more
plausible, phonetically is very hard to be explained. Indeed, e > i
is regular before a consonantal cluster, but reduction of the
cluster st > sh is very unexpected in Albanian (cf. Latin crista >
Alb. kreshtë), for its distribution in Albanian is very high,
probably the most frequent cluster in Albanian, especially in final
position, due to function of PIE root *stH-/*steH2- as a second
compound element in many nouns.
Real counterpart of Latin <bestia> is Albanian <shtâzë>, until
<bishë> is more related to <hedgehog> and to <snake> (cf. m'u ke bâ
si bishë `you look to me like hedgehog', in particular for girl with
unkempt hairs; as metaphore is used for bloodthirsty person,
animal). In ichthyology it has the meaning of armless snake eel
(OAED, pp.83), preserving so its primary meanings, attested in other
IE languages.
Konushevci