< Reconstruction:Proto-Slavic

Reconstruction:Proto-Slavic/želězo

This Proto-Slavic 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-Slavic

Etymology

Likely of Proto-Balto-Slavic origin, related to Lithuanian geležìs, Latvian dzèlzs and Old Prussian gelso, with no clear cognates in other Indo-European branches. The discrepancy of root vocalism between Slavic and Baltic is problematic and requires two different Proto-Balto-Slavic reconstructions, with short -*e- and long -*ē-. Thus, no common form can be reconstructed. Latvian and Old Prussian have syncopated the suffixal -e-.

Has been compared with Ancient Greek χαλκός (khalkós, “ore, copper, bronze”), but the connection cannot be established in terms of regular phonetic correspondences. However, both could be independent loanwords from a common eastern source, whence also possibly Hittite [script needed] ((ḫ)apalki, “iron”). Possibly related to Proto-Sino-Tibetan *qhleks (“(cast) iron”), though the direction and exact details of the borrowing are obscure.

Semantically also close to Latin galēna (“lead sulphide (mineral)”), Ancient Greek γαλήνη (galḗnē, “serenity, calmness; type of metal mineral”),[1] possibly from Proto-Indo-European *ǵl̥h₂-es- (“glimmering, cheerful”).

Noun

*želě̀zo n[2][3][4]

  1. iron

Alternative forms

  • *želьzo
  • *zelězo

Inflection

Derived terms

  • *želězьnъ (“irony”)
  • *glazъ (“glass ball, pebble”) (possibly)
  • *žely (“tortoise”) (possibly, per Trubachev)

Descendants

Further reading

References

  1. Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “γαλήνη”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), volume I, with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 257
  2. Derksen, Rick (2008) “*želě̀zo”, in Etymological Dictionary of the Slavic Inherited Lexicon (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 4), Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, →ISSN, page 555
  3. Olander, Thomas (2001) “želězo, G. želěza”, in Common Slavic Accentological Word List‎, Copenhagen: Editiones Olander: “a (SA 73, 155; PR 132)”
  4. Snoj, Marko (2016) “želẹ́zo”, in Slovenski etimološki slovar [Slovenian Etymology Dictionary] (in Slovene), 3rd edition, https://fran.si: “*želě̋zo”
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