> No, because of the multiple irregularies of <Amsel> ~ <ouzel> ~
> <merula> ~ <mwyalch>.
> http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/cybalist/message/19248
Leafing through Falk & Torp: Etymologisk Ordbog I came across some
bird names which should be added to this etymon (my translation):
"Meise (parus) is borrowed from Germ. Meise, while sw. mes and
Nynorsk meis probably are domestic names; ON has meisingr, whence
Fr. mésange. To ON meisa corresponds MLG mêse (Du. mees), OE mâse
(with the reformed compositions Eng. titmouse and coalmouse,
colemouse < OE colmâse = No. kulmeise, Sw kolmes: cf. musvit). The
word cannot be separated from Welsh mwyalch (from
*meisalko) "blackbird", with probably the ablauted form Lat.
merula "blackbird" (from *misulâ)."
Torsten