Page:Studies in Lowland Scots - Colville - 1909.djvu/278

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STUDIES IN LOWLAND SCOTS

R. dhigh, handle, form, S. dih, L. fingo, Go. daigs=dough. Dress, S. vas (clothe), ἐσθής=L. vestis, Go. vasti.

The food-grains seem to have been a late development, and are named on separate lines, the primitive staple being a kind of spelt playing such a part as we find in Homer and among the Jews and Arabs. Grinding was done by the simple old-world hand-mill, and the action involved in it is expressed by two distinct roots. Mead implies a knowledge of fermentation. From the existence of a common root for salt, it does not follow that the primitive Aryans had any acquaintance with the sea. Our word tree retains its original reference to the use of timber as the only building material. The use of osier-twigs in plaiting, of wool in spinning, and of clay as a plastic material, and the naming of them from common roots, prove an early common acquaintance with the primitive arts of basket-making, weaving, and pottery.

11. Seasons.

Spring.—Orig. same as the dawn=ushas (vasas=aurora), R. vas-, give light, S. vasanta, ἔαρ, L ver (veser), Sl. vesna, Ic. vair, A.S. Eastre (austara), the spring goddess, E. east (auost). Winter.—S. hima (cold, snow), hêmanta, χιών (snow), χειμών, L. hiems, Lit. zima, Norse gymbr (year-old sheep), Sc. gimmer. Snow, R. snigh—, wet.—S. sneha (moisture), Z. çnizh (to snow), νίφα, L. (s)niv(is), nivis, Go. snaiws. Month, Moon.—R. ma—, measurer, S. mâs, μήν (month), μήνη (moon), L. mensis, Lit. menu, Ir. mi. (mens), Go. mên-oths, A.S. mêna. Day, R. div—, shine, S. div, divâ (by day), L. dies, W. dyw, Si. dini. Yesterday, orig.=morning-beyond.—S. hyas, χθές, L hes-ternus, Go. gistra-dagis, yester-day. Night, R. nak—, fail, disappear, perish, S. nakti, νύξ, L. nox, Lit. naktis, Go. nahts. Year, S. yâtu (time), hora, A.S. gear, Ger. Jahr.

12. Civil Life.

King (a) as father.—S. ganaka, L. genitor, Ger. König, A.S. cyn-ing (son of the kin or clan); (b) as protector—S. viç-pati (master of the wic or village-community), Sl. vesz-pati (only of God and the king); (c) as ruler—R. rak=reach, rule, S.