< Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic

Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/spēnuz

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

Etymology

Uncertain. Traditionally compared with Ancient Greek σφήν (sphḗn, “wedge”) and Sanskrit स्फ्य (sphyá, “flat piece of wood used as a ritual sword”), for a tentative Proto-Indo-European *(s)peH- (“to cut off; chip, shaving, log, length of wood”).[1] However, this connection is phonologically impossible,[2] and all of the supposed cognates are themselves of disputed origin.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈspɛː.nuz/

Noun

*spēnuz m[1]

  1. piece of wood
  2. chip, shaving
  3. (wooden) spoon
    Synonym: *lapilaz

Inflection
u-stemDeclension of *spēnuz (u-stem)
singular plural
nominative *spēnuz *spēniwiz
vocative *spēnu *spēniwiz
accusative *spēnų *spēnunz
genitive *spēnauz *spēniwǫ̂
dative *spēniwi *spēnumaz
instrumental *spēnū *spēnumiz

Derived terms
  • *sagōspēnuz (“sawdust”)

Descendants

References
  1. Orel, Vladimir (2003), “*spēnuz ~ *spōnuz”, in A Handbook of Germanic Etymology, Leiden: Brill, →ISBN, pages 364–365
  2. Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010), “σφήν, σφηνός”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 1430
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