Re[2]: [tied] Scutland

At 10:00:15 PM on Friday, February 24, 2006, Patrick Ryan
wrote:

> "Brian M. Scott" <BMScott@...> wrote:

>> At 3:31:43 PM on Tuesday, February 21, 2006, Aigius wrote:

>>> What is etymology of name Ireland, Eire? Can it be related
>>> to Latin word AURUM?

>> No. Watkins derives it from Celtic *i:wer-iu:, from PIE
>> *pi:-wer- 'fat, fertile', from a root *pei&- 'to be fat,
>> swell'.

> Frankly, the only thing that derivation has going for it
> is that Watkins has proposed it.

Not really, no. In addition to OIr <Ériu> ~ <Érenn>, it
fits nicely with Welsh <Iwerddon> and Breton <Iwerzon>
'Ireland', which point to Brit. *i:werjón- (Jackson, LHEB
472), not to mention the classical names. And of course the
match with Gk. <Pi:eria:> is appealing.

Brian