E 0398          GROUSE

The word " grouse " is of Germanic origin .

H 0790             א ר ו ק

Concept of root : grouse

Hebrew word

pronunciation

English meanings

א ר ו ק

qor’é

grouse, partridge

Related English words

grouse

Comparison between European words and Hebrew

Languages

Words

Pronunciation

English meanings

Similarity in roots

Hebrew

      א ר ו ק

qor’é

grouse, partridge

q (o) r (‘)

English

grouse

grouse

g r (ou) s

Dutch

korhoen

korhun

black grouse

k (o) r +

h (u) n

 

 

Proto-Semitic *QOR'É --- *KŪR- Indo-European

 

 

The origin of the English word "grouse" is totally unknown. So is that of Dutch kor(hoen). The second part, "hoen" indicates all types of the gallinaceous birds. The first part "kor" has been explained as representing the sound this bird makes. But in reality this does not sound like "kor" at all. So the similarity with Hebrew opens a new view.

 

The difference with "grouse" is that the O-like vowel comes after the R, probably through a metathesis, not uncommon in English, especially in words with an R before or after a vowel. Once that was done, an S for pronunciation became natural.

 

 

Note:
  • Hebrew and Dutch . Scholars of Dutch believe that the name of the bird "korhoen" has been derived from the way the male bird calls . They refer to a verb "korren" , that is specially used for bird's calls and has a sister in "koeren, kùren" for the sound of pigeons . Also for Hebrew "qùr" a link with the verb "qar'à" is supposed. That verb says amongst other "to call, provoke".

 

Note:
  • Proto-Semitic is considered to have used this same root, as found in Hebrew: "*ק ו ר א , Q W R Aleph". It seems of course possible, as some scholars think, that both the Semitic and the Germanic name for this bird are based on its "call" . The basic root would then be found in entry E 0217 (Hebrew 0767). Anyhow we have no information from other Semitic languages that would reinforce this existing specific hypothesis for Proto-Semitic. But one may compare with Slavic.

 

Note:
  • Slavic has a hypothesis of "*kurj-" or "*kura-", indicating gallinaceous birds like hens and pheasants. Indeed Russian has as an older word "кур, kur cock"; today the used word is "курок, kurok". The hen of course is "кура, kura = hen".

 

Note:
  • Indo-European. On the basis of the available information one may suppose that the name of the related birds has no link with their voice. Indo-European probably had a basic form "*K U R-" for gallinaceous birds.

     

    Old Indian may have related words in "kakora-, krakara- = partridge", with the initial "K" or "KR" doubled", as well as in "kúkāla- = pheasant, wild cock (!!)", also with the doubled " K " and with the "R" changed into "L". There is also "krka-vāku = cock, peacock".

     

    Avestan "kahrkāsa-" oddly says "vulture", and even more oddly, sounds like what the vulture feeds on : "carcasses".

 

 

 

 

 
Created: Tuesday 6 November 2007 at 22.30.54 Updated: 24/11/2012 at 16.27.59