Re: The scientist's etymology debate

--- tgpedersen <tgpedersen@...> wrote:

> . .
> > > A question for you before I leave to yet again
> admire your skills:
> > > Brass is listed at etymonline.com as being a
> "mystery word".
> > > http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=brass
> > > Yet it has a striking resemblance to latin
> bractea.
> > > Could it be related or come from the latin word?
> Or could it as
> > > the site quietly suggests, akin to swedish
> brasa, fire?
> >
> > I've seen a lot of suggestions for brass.
> > See ferrum < *fersom < *bhersom < Semitic *barzum
> (vel
> > sim). I believe Miguel brought this up about 10
> years
> > ago or so.
> > I've also seen it related to some word + Latin aes
> --a
> > bit sketchy.
> > There are some Germanic words that have been
> bandied
> > around. I think there was an OE braes. or
> somethink
> > like that.
> > I've also seen it as an alteration on bronze from
> aes
> > brundisium.
> > In Spanish, at least in spoken Latin American
> Soanish,
> > brass and bronze are the same word.
>
> http://www.angelfire.com/rant/tgpedersen/bHrs.html
>
>
> Torsten
>

Yes, that's exactly what I was talking about and my
apologies if it was you and not Miguel who first
brought it up.
Now, I'm wondering if bhrs- is somehow related to the
word for beard, bristle and grain. There are bristly
forms of native copper and most examples of native
copper I've seen are twisted and have sharp edges. I
know, it sounds like a folk etymology.