From: dgkilday57
Message: 70058
Date: 2012-09-14
>Obviously Latin <forfex> is a Sabinism. The expected *forbex is reflected in Tuscan <fo`rbice>. This did not become *borbex, nor did <forbea> 'food' (Fest.) become *borbea, so simple assimilation cannot explain <barba>. I believe it must be regarded as a hyperurbanism (see message #64690).
> --- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Joao S. Lopes" <josimo70@> wrote:
> >
> > Portuguese <farpa> means "barb", as in <arame farpado>, "barbed wire". Could be <farpa> related to barba "beard"? Usual etymologies consider it as from Arabian or Germanic.
> >
> > JS Lopes
> >
> The E word barb << barba, but in L the words barba = beard, and forfex = scissors are irregular, as regular changes of:
>
> *
> ...
> bhordha:
> phortha:
> forTa:
> forfa:
> forva:
> forba:
>
> would be expected, but isn't found.
>
> An assim. f-v > f-f or v-v appears to be the cause (sim. to kW-p > kW-kW , etc.), so *farfa besides barba is just as likely as forfex, with rf > rp being regular in (some?, or opt./dia./irregular?) Romance a good possibility.
>