--- In
cybalist@yahoogroups.com, Miguel Carrasquer <mcv@...> wrote:
> I also don' t quite see how "all later variants of the word
> in Greek [molubdos, bolubdos, molibos, molibdos, bolimos,
> bolibos] can be derived from the shape attested in Mycenaean
> [mo-li-wo-do]".
The most promising source seems to be something close to pre-Latin
*pluB-no-, borrowed as *bolubno- (approximately) by the non-IE
intermediary, and then as bolubdos, molubdos, etc. by Greek. Such an
etymological trajectory would minimise the number or
arbitrary "mutations" required to derive the attested forms.
*pleudH-, with its combination of a voiceless stop with a breathy-
voiced one, looks very much like a "neo-root" from an obscured compound
(the Celto-Germanic word would contain a secondary full grade from *plu-
dH(h1)-, as visible in Latin). The EIEC suggests a derivation from
*pleu- 'flow' (lead "flows" because it melts easily), but since the
focal meaning of *pleu- is actually closer to 'sail, float' etc. than
to anything like 'melt', the suggested etymology looks a bit
like "Canis a non canendo" (lead is called "floater" because it doesn't
float). Perhaps a connection with *pel- 'fold' would make more sense.
Piotr