--- In
cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Daniel J. Milton" <dmilt1896@...> wrote:
>
> --- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Joao S. Lopes" <josimo70@> wrote:
> >
> > Portuguese bruxa and Spanish bruja, both meaning "witch, hag", are
> usually linked to Latin brusca "tree-frog, small frogg, Hyla arborea"
> *******
> Lewis and Short's Latin dictionary doesn't have "brusca". There's
> Pliny's "bruscum", translated as "an excrescence on maple trees", but
> nothing to do with frogs (or witches).
> What's the source of your information?
> Dan
******
I've found some references to 'bruscus' "frog". It appears to be
medieval rather than classical Latin, which raises the question of
borrowing from some other language.
Nevertheless, an interesting etymology in Starostin's I.E. Etymology
site:
Proto-IE: *gʷredh-
Nostratic etymology:
Meaning: toad, frog
Russ. meaning: жаба, лягушка
Old Greek: bátrakho-s m., dial. bótrakho-s, brótakho-s, pl. bratákhọ̄s
(Hes.), bǘrthakos, pl. brǘtikoi (Hes), { bathǘrako-s} `Frosch'
Germanic: *krad-ōn- f.; *krid-ōn- f.; *krud-(i)ōn- f.
Latin: bruscus `ranae genus', ruscus `Kröte'
References: WP I 698 f