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From: mcv@inter.NL.net (Miguel Carrasquer)
Subject: Re: Etymology of Butterfly
Message-ID: <Cz2HIn.3I9@inter.NL.net>
Organization: NLnet
References: <1994Nov10.105243.29796@ac.dal.ca>
Date: Thu, 10 Nov 1994 19:44:46 GMT
Lines: 19
Xref: glinda.oz.cs.cmu.edu sci.lang:32719 sci.bio.entomology.lepidoptera:102

In article <1994Nov10.105243.29796@ac.dal.ca>,
Christopher Majka <nextug@ac.dal.ca> wrote:
>
>Consequently while _motyla_ or _motylo_ (= dung) might be quite a probable
>word to associate with certain beetles it is an entirely unlikely word
>with butterflies. Thus my belief that _metelik_ (Ukrainian), _motyle"k_ 
>(Russian), _motyl_ (Polish), _moty'l (Czech) originate from another source,
>*possibly* associated with _metkii_ (= quick, dexterous, nimble).

I haven't got a Slavic etymological dictionary, but I would think
a connection with English "moth", Dutch "mot", "made" makes sense
(IE *matH/motH, cf. also Arm. mat'il "louse").  The dung word at first
sight seems to belong more with English mud, Dutch modder, Arm.
mut' `dark', Irish mothar `thick' (IE *meut, *mutro)?

-- 
Miguel Carrasquer         ____________________  ~~~
Amsterdam                [                  ||]~  
mcv@inter.NL.net         ce .sig n'est pas une .cig 
