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Joined: Mar 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
I was curious--and, I think we've had this on here before, but. This is from the "other" OED (the Online Etymology Dict.):
flinch (v.)
1570s, from obsolete flecche "to bend, flinch," probably from O.Fr. flenchir "to bend," probably from Frank. *hlankjan (cf. M.H.G. linken, Ger. lenken "to bend, turn, lead"), from PIE base *kleng- "to bend, turn" (see flank). Related: Flinched; flinching. As a noun, from 1817.
Arrow fletches? (Hi, doc comfort)
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295 |
What I like in this is the PIE base *kleng- , which is the way we write the sound of iron hitting iron: "Kleng!"
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Fletch is also through French from the Germanic, but it's a whole different PIE root, [i]pleu-/i], 'to flow'.
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 956
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 956 |
kleng -...the way we write the sound of iron hitting iron
Ours is:
clang (v.) 1570s, echoic (originally of trumpets and birds), akin to or from L. clangere "resound, ring," and Gk. klange "sharp sound," from PIE *klang-, nasalized form of root *kleg- "to cry, sound." The noun is attested from 1590s.
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
Thanks, Faldage. [i]pleu-/i], 'to flow'. French rain--cool!
Man, language is neat, isn't it?
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Joined: Jun 2002
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210 |
Man, language is neat, isn't it?
that's why we're here!! :¬ )
formerly known as etaoin...
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
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