Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/limuz

This Proto-Germanic entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Germanic

Alternative forms

  • *līmuz

Etymology

Probably from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning “to bend, skew”, but which root in particular is uncertain: possibilities include *h₂el- (extended as *h₂l-ey-), *Heh₃l- (extended as *(H)h₃l-ey-), and *leyH-. (Can this(+) etymology be sourced?) Perhaps cognate with Latin līmus (“askew”), but with a slightly different derivation, and/or Lithuanian liemuõ (“log, torso”) (the latter for which Kroonen reconstructs *ley- as the base Indo-European root).[1] Also compare *liþuz (“joint, bend, limb”).[1]

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈli.muz/

Noun

*limuz m

  1. (anatomy) limb; member
    Synonym: *liþuz
  2. (of a tree) branch; twig
    Synonyms: *astaz, *telguz, *tōgô, *twīgą

Inflection

Declension of *limuz (u-stem)
singular plural
nominative *limuz *limiwiz
vocative *limu *limiwiz
accusative *limų *limunz
genitive *limauz *limiwǫ̂
dative *limiwi *limumaz
instrumental *limū *limumiz

Descendants

  • Proto-West Germanic: *limu
    • Old English: lim, lym n
    • Old Saxon: *limu, *lim
      • Middle Low German: lem n (“limb”) (possibly borrowed from Scandinavian)
    • Old Dutch: *limu
      • Middle Dutch: lēme (“fishbone, stubble of flax”)
        • Dutch: leem (“pine needle”)
      • ⇒ Old Dutch: druhtlimig
  • Old Norse: limr m; lim f; lim n

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Kroonen, Guus (2013) “*limu-”, in Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Germanic (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 11)‎[1], Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 338
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