Mona wrote:
concerning bóndi and bond:
i would be careful with gothic, this connection does not sound very logical
to me. gothic is a completely different branch of germanic languages, and
although they all share a common origin, they have developed in different
ways, especially concerning sound alternations in inherited words.
what is the original verb the participle ga-bundi comes from in gothic? i
think there's some mutation stuff in there (ablaut).
by the way in modern german we have the verb "bauen" (meaning to build, bu
probably related to bua originally) and a "bauer" is a farmer.
mona

Laurel: I'm replying before I've read all the posts, so hope I'm not duplicating. My etymological dictionary indicates two different meanings of the word bond, with two different roots. Bond (#1) meaning a shackle or restraint is a variant of "band" (from "bind") It was "band" in ON. Cognate Du. "bond", Ger. "bund".
 
Bond #2 (now archaic) for a serf. Hence bondage, bondman, bondwoman, bond and free. HOWEVER, originally the word meant a farmer. The change of meaning came LATER, due partly to humble position, and partly to mistaken association with "bond #1" The original sense survives in Norw. Dan. Sw. "bonde" = small freeholder, husbandman, etc. Late AS bonda, ON bondi, for buandi, pres. part. of bua, to dwell, till; cognate with Ger. bauer, peasant, and Du. boer
 
Ca. 1025 (according to the OED), the AS word "bond" meant householder, master of the house, husband.
 
For that matter, our word husband, also comes from ON bondi.