GD 1100          SCHRAAG

H 0881             ך ר ש

Concept of root : crosswise

Hebrew word

pronunciation

English meanings

ך ר ש

seràkh

to criss-cross

Related English words

none

Comparison between European words and Hebrew

Languages

Words

Pronunciation

English meanings

Similarity in roots

Hebrew

 ך ר ש

seràkh

to criss-cross

s . r . kh

German

schräg

shrég

askew

sh r . g

Dutch

schraag

sghraagh

trestle

sch r . gh

 

 

Proto-Semitic *SARAKH --- *SKRĀG- Proto-Germanic

 

 

This root in Hebrew also is used to indicate the strings of sandals, that are tied typically crosswise. In modern language the basic version "sarakh", says " to tie one’s shoestrings" and "to cross one's legs", again typical crossing movements. In the Bible the intensive form "serakh" was also about the way a young camel would go or wander criss-cross through the desert. In modern language it has shifted : "to shuffle, trail, drag along " and also "to twist, twine".

 

We should consider that the movements the root refers to are not referred to geometrical crosses, but to the more informal meaning of crisscrossing and similar. That we find in the abovementioned Germanic words as well.

 

Oddly, this root " S R KH" is a full metathesis of the root "Q R S " from entry number E 0211 (Hebrew 0778), that gives the word " qeresh" for "crossbar" and is directly related to English "cross".

 

Note:
  • Proto-Semitic. This combination of three consonants is used to express various criss cross movements or positions, that can touch also "to intertwine, entangle" besides the less characteristic "to adhere, stick to" . It is related to "ש ר ג , S R G = to interlace, intertwine". And also to "ס ר ג , S R G = to lace, plait".

     

    This root is seen in Aramaic and Syriac "ש ר ך , serakh = he twisted, twined , adhered, struck (A); he adhered, stuck (S)." There are related meanings in Arabic "shirāk = shoelatch" and "sharak = snare". Also in Hebrew we find "ש ר ו ך, serukh = lace, latchet", with the verb "ש ר ך , sarakh = to lace shoes, sandals". This root may well have been present in Proto-Semitic "*ש ר ך , S R K".

 

Note:
  • Hebrew and Germanic. In the roots we find in the Hebrew sequence under this letter Sin " S " and the following Shin, " SH ", we see corresponding English, German and Dutch words that begin with S, SH, German SCH pronounced like English SH and Dutch SCH, pronounced SGH. In Nordic they may begin with S or SK. They are all developments with common origins.

 

Note:
  • German. Contrary to what some think, the word "schräg" has nothing to do with curving or bending. If we consider the preciseness with which our ancestors defined the specific actions of their daily life, we cannot expect them to have mixed up curving movements with diagonal or crossing ones. Thus also Latin "curvus" and "circus" do not belong to this same root. We refer to entry E 0174 (Hebrew 0484 , "kikkar" ), E 0207 (Hebrew 0508 , "kirker") and E 0211 (Hebrew 0778)

 

Note:
  • Dutch "schraag" was in Middle Dutch also "scrage" and it consists of a bar, fixed on crossing beams and is in English a trestle. There are also trestles that do not have crossing beams and this English word, of Latin origin, is based on the horizontal upper bar only, in Latin "transtrum". Once more the Dutch word that is related to Hebrew, is hardly found in other Germanic languages.

 

Note:
  • Proto-Germanic. On the basis of the Dutch and German words, without support from other Germanic languages, besides further Middle Low and Middle High German "schrage", a Proto-Germanic root may have existed and will have been probably "*SKR Ā G-".

 

 

 
"...the town, to which was given the name Babel, because it was there that the Lord confused the language of all the world on the face of which He dispersed them. GENESIS 11,9"
 
Created: Tuesday 6 November 2007 at 22.30.54 Updated: 28/11/2012 at 18.44.01