The Albanian Name for Badger

Authors

  • Krzysztof Tomasz Witczak

Keywords:

badger, etymologie

Abstract

The traditional etymology, according to which the Albanian term for ‘badger’, vjédhull(ë), derives from the verb vjedh ‘to steal, to rob’, seems doubtful from both a phonological and semantic point of view. A new hypothesis, which refers to IE. *wes- ‘suet, lard, animal fat’ and especially to Iran. *vasdah- n. ‘animal fat’ (< IE. *wes-d[h]-es-), is suggested. Finally, it is concluded that Alb. vjédhull(ë) and Roum. viezure ‘badger’ derives from IE. *wesd[h]-ulā f. (liter. ‘fat animal’).

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How to Cite

Witczak, K. T. (2012). The Albanian Name for Badger. Zeitschrift für Balkanologie, 47(2). Retrieved from https://zeitschrift-fuer-balkanologie.de/index.php/zfb/article/view/274

Issue

Vol. 47 No. 2 (2011)

Section

Articles

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