Re: Romanian gheara 'claw' is really a cognate with ONorse klo: Ger

From: tolgs001
Message: 42481
Date: 2005-12-12

>P.S.: Can somebody help with the etymology of German Kralle 'claw'

die Kralle (primordial sense "something curved") < PIE *ger- "turn,
wind; (cause to) curve/bend" (according to a German dictionary). Perhaps
akin to kauern "to cower" < OHG kuren < PIE *geu-.

NB: Kralle is always "talon", but Klaue also means "hoof" in some
animals (hence Maul- und Klauenseuche "mouth and claw disease",
adica febra aftoasa -> bovine)

And: in some regions, unghie is a synonym of gheara (older spelling:
ghiara). Compare Lat. unguis and ungula (nail and hoof). Also
compare this with what's said in DEX 98, esp. in the entry no. 1,
as well as in the locutions <a pune unghia in gat; a reteza cuiva
din unghii; unghia-gainii, unghia-gaii>, where unghie has the
initial meaning "claw, talon", and not "nail".

George