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E 0804 SHELF
The word " shelf " is of
Germanic origin .
H 0901 ב ל ש
Concept of root : horizontal
shelf
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Hebrew word
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pronunciation
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English meanings
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ב ל ש
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shalav
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cross-bar, shelf, step
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Related English words
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shelf
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Comparison between European words and
Hebrew
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Languages
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Words
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Pronunciation
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English meanings
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Similarity in roots
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Hebrew
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ב ל ש
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shalav
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cross-bar, shelf, step
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sh . l . v
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English
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shelf
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shelf
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sh . l f
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Middle Low German
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schelf
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shelf
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shelf
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sh . l f
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Proto-Semitic *SHALEB --- *SKÈLF Proto-Germanic
A rather straightforward case of similarity. We must only note that the Hebrew word today is partially out of use. It remains a "step", both litterally and figuratively, like a "phase", and also a step or rung of a ladder. The old meaning of "shelf", but also a that of a vertical pole in a wooden structure , is now lost and the root has shifted into "to connect, link".
Note:
- Proto-Semitic . The root "SH L B" is found in Aramaic and Akkadian, but the meanings are quite different from the one of this entry. The root existed and was probably used in Proto-Semitic "*ש ל ב , SH L B". The probability is that anyhow older meanings as found in Biblical Hebrew were served by it. There seems to us no basis to presume inter-Semitic loaning. In our comparison we use the vowels A and E that may have been practised in the old language.
The final consonant " B " certainly had its original poronunciation, as seen in the Hebrew (Post Biblical !) plural "ש ל ב י ם , shelabim" and in Akkadian cognates.
Note:
- Proto-Germanic . In older languages there are Old English "scylfe = shelf, ledge", Old Norse (in composed words) "-skjalf = bench, ledge", Middle Dutch "scelf" and Middle Low German "schelf". The most probable form for Proto-Germanic is "*SK È LF".
Note:
- Indo-European. We have no information available regarding possible cognates in other Indo-European branches. The comparison, as often, stays between Semitic and Germanic.
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| Created: Tuesday 6 November 2007 at 22.30.54 Updated: Thursday 7 February 2013 at 16.08.09 |
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