Re: Bear taboo

> > The general word is 'björn';
> > thought to be derived from the same stem as 'brown'
> > with the original IE-stem (lat. ursus) being lost
> > due to a taboo.
>
> I'm subscribed to the digest, so this may have been
> asked and answered, but I'm curious about the taboo
> you mentioned. Can you describe more about this
> or point me to some writings?

Not really :-) My only source for this is Íslensk
orðsifjabók by Ásgeir Magnússon. I didn't have it
at hand when I wrote that and I don't have it now
but I think he said "e.t.v. vegna bannhelgi; perhaps
due to a taboo" (so my statement above is a notch
too definite).

I doubt anything is known for sure.

Kveðja,
Haukur