E 0740          ROOST

The word " roost " is of Germanic origin.

H 0833             ץ ר

Concept of root : wooden balk

Hebrew word

pronunciation

English meanings

ץ ר

rats

balk, beam, bar

Related English words

none

Comparison between European words and Hebrew

Languages

Words

Pronunciation

English meanings

Similarity in roots

Hebrew

      ץ ר

rats

balk, beam, bar

r . ts

Old English

hrōst

roost

hr . st

English

roost

roost

r . st

MiddleDutch

raster ;

-

roest

raster ;

-

rust

balk, beam, bar;

roost

r . st

 

 

Hebrew *RATS --- *RŌST Proto-Germanic

 

 

There is a metathesis between TS and ST. This can be recognized as such because of the similarity in meaning.

 

Yet there is a complication regarding this similarity. First we see the Old English version of "roost" that was "hrost" . Secondly, the word "roost" is also used for the structure of a roof, that consists of balks and beams. And this has perhaps a predecessor, perhaps a cousin, in Old Saxon "hrost". Apparently all the same word. And the point is the initial H.

 

An initial H in front of an R is very common in older Germanic tongues. It may develop into a stronger sound , like GH or G. In such cases we have found also similarities with Hebrew that sometimes has practised the same development. But the initial H may also disappear (again).

 

In both cases its presence does not contradict the common origin of the European and Hebrew roots. An English "rooster" has its name from the place it chooses to stay on. This entry is probably related to number GD 1081 (Hebrew 0832).

 

 

Note:
  • Proto-Semitic. We have no evidence that would allow a hypothesis. The Hebrew root "R TS TS", certainly developed out of an earlier "*R . TS", says " to break, crush" and is too far off in meaning.

 

Note:
  • Proto-Germanic. The use of the words of this entry in various languages has undergone some limitations in relation to the original meaning. That was a wooden structure , usually for a roof, as well as the therewith created space below. Norwegian "rot" still indicates both the "inner roof" and the "roof-space (below the roof)". This was already the case in Old Norse "hrōt" that still had the initial "H". And this is also found in Gothic "hrot", that also covers the meaning of "house". Old Saxon "hrōst with comparable meaning had the initial "H" and a final "ST" .

     

    Today the first meaning that comes to mind for English "roost" is the beam on which chickens and their "rooster" rest . But it also says, besides a large fowl house, a constructed place to lodge, rest or sit in. In Middle Dutch "roest" we find comparable meanings. There is an opinion that the message of the root of these words originally was that of a more or less developed construction of branches or beams. And this is comparable to the construction of a grate or roster, as seen in entry E 0734 (Hebrew 0831). On the basis of this information, and supposing that in Germanic the initial "H" in front of "R" came to be added but then disappeared again , Proto-Germanic may have had "*R Ō T", but more probably "*R Ō ST" and perhaps both.

 

Note:
  • Indo-European. We have no evidence for cognates in other branches of Indo-European and the comparison stays between Semitic and Germanic.

 

 

 

 

 
Created: Tuesday 6 November 2007 at 22.30.54 Updated: 01/01/2013 at 12.27.51