Re: leopard

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

>
> --- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "stlatos" stlatos@ wrote:
> >
> > If you want to use Starostin's rec., at starling.rinet.ru there is
> > ev. for the word 'badger'. In Turkic languages this is borsuq, morzuq, etc.
> >
> > Now, grouped within North Caucasian:
> >
> > Meaning: badger
> > Tsezi: birušo
> > Ginukh: birušo
> > Bezhta: beruse
> > Gunzib: miruš
>
> These are languages from the Tsezian group, from which Starostin
> reconstructs a protoform *beru~S:V.
>
> > For these, a rec. like * bOrXumt'sYa \ * bOrt'sYumXa \ etc. could explain both.
>
> Starostin's PNEC reconstruction is *bHarVntts´V, pretty similar to
> your first protoform.
>

This root would nicely explain Celtic *brokko- 'badger', assuming a collapse of the first syllable and centumization of the sibilant affricate, plus Kilday's Law for the geminate (either *kJ or *kW > kk).

> For example, I am an amateur but I'm the best historical linguist ever.
>

I'm really indebted to you, but I'd like to know your real name so I could tell my kids. :-)