Gmc * -o:N (was: Foxtail)

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

>
> --- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, Piotr Gasiorowski <gpiotr@> wrote:


> > Some
> > folk-etymological connections between the PGmc. 'fox/vixen' words like
> > *fux-o:(-n-) or *fux-s-a/u-


>
> I'm not sure what relation you're advocating here, but since *-a: +N
> is an anlogical Gmc creation from masculine *-o:N as if < *-o- +N
> (yes, I think it happened before the merger of o/a but that's not the
> main point) there's no reason to think this was the oldest feminine
> form within Gmc or that the ks vs k distinction came from anything
> more than sound changes in different environments.
>
> The oldest fem. ending that can explain this would be *puksni:x
> (analogical after *potni:x) in PIE or soon after. If s>0 / stop_$C
> (assuming for now that -st formed an onset when possible) then
> *pukni:x > *fuxi:n+ / *fuxo:n+ while *puksos > *fuxsaz, etc.

To update my theory, the order probably was:


o > a

a: > o:

V > +nasal / _N#

nasal > 0 / V_#

õ: > ã: / _#

analogy ( a+z : ã: :: o: : õ: )

reassignment ( many from PIE -a:x / -i:x / -o:n. / -NYi:x > -õ: (with no regularity regarding which words change, and no need for an intermediate -NYi:x > -NYi: > -i:NY (although it might have occurred anyway))

> > Skt. púccHa- 'tail, rear part' (no sexual
> > connotations, possibly < *puk-s-k^o-) suggests that the 'tail'
> etymon is
> > old enough to count as PIE.
>
> This is much more likely to be met. ~ *puksyo+ > *puskyo+ >
> *pus^c^(y)o+ (like tus^c^ias vs tuccha- 'empty', etc.).
>
> The *-yo+ ending specified location, as in body parts (many with
> both forms surviving in historic IE languages), or with prepositions
> (like *ekYspetnyo+ or your recent mention of Latin e:gregius, etc.).
>

To update my theory, the order probably was:

met. ( ks. > s.k ; xt. > t.x ; etc.) [opt.]

Ky > KY by T. [opt.]

yK > KY by T. [opt.]

Kw > KW by T. [opt.]

wK > KW by T. [opt.]

KY > Ky by T. [opt.]

KY > yK by T. [opt.]

KW > Kw by T. [opt.]

KW > wK by T. [opt.]


Moreover, the s.k is probably older than ks. for this word, but just in case:


...
pu_ws.kyó+
pu_ws.kYó+
pu_ws.kYHó+
pu_s.kYHó+
púccha-m 'tail / rod' S;