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.