Re: *petiko- (was: The oddness of Gaelic words in p-)

From: stlatos
Message: 59053
Date: 2008-06-04

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "stlatos" <stlatos@...> wrote:

> ps- / spalís 'shears', sphalássein 'to cut'
>
>
> from PIE *psxaLí:x psxaLík+
>
>
> If the der. verb *psxaLikàx+ underwent double met. to *spxaLàkix+
> then changes like:
>
> *psxaLikàx+
> *spxaLikàx+
> *spxaLàkix+
> *spxaLàkixox 'I cut'
> *spHaLàkiHoH
> *spHaLàkyo:
> *spHaLàcçyo:
> *spHaLàtsyo:


Notice that double met. also occurred in Celtic:

*psxaLí:x
*spxaLí:x
*spxíLa:x
*spxíLa:
*spxeLa:

MIr spel, Ir speal 'scythe'


The odd cluster was one of the few that prevented loss of p.