[tied] Re: Possible connection between "ermine" and "harm"?

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Wordingham"
<richard.wordingham@...> wrote:

>
> --- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Joao S. Lopes" <josimo70@...> wrote:
>
> > Could be "mus armenius" a folk-etymology for the Germanic *harman?
> The ermine is present in Alps, why would the Romans call it "armenius"?
>
> As Pliny uses the term _mus ponticus_ for 'ermine', the connection
> with Asia Minor seems to have been more prominent.
>
> Richard.
>

I read somewhere that both are fair roots. The sound of "Armen"
(simplification of Armenius) could easily have been confused with
carmun or hermine and the like.

And Richard, WHY would there be a connection to Armenia or the Pontic
regions for ermines? Where would such a connection arise?