Explanation of the word hobbitRoman Rauschfirst presented: Omentielva Lempea, Aug. 10th 2013, Helsinki, Finland |
[...] and there in rows stood great jars and vessels filled with a wealth that could not be guessed. The Hobbit, chapter XII: Inside Information
This work was first published in Arda Philology 5 (2015). The given online version slightly differs from the original, as new entries have been added to the kup/korb lists in chapter 4 (and a few have been added to the Elvish list in chapter 5), so that the statistics are updated as well. The lists can also be accessed independently at http://sindanoorie.net/kup/kup.html with a convenient search function. I am still extending them and appreciate any additional input.
The story of how the word hobbit came about is well-known: While correcting examination papers, Tolkien came across a blank page and spontaneously wrote on it “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit”. In the introduction to The History of the Hobbit, its author John Rateliff cites various accounts of this event and presents evidence pointing to the summer of 1930 as the date of creation.
Already at the publication of The Hobbit, several speculations arose about a possible ‘explanation’ of this word, attempts to find out what Tolkien might have been influenced by when he invented it. They are discussed in detail in the History of the Hobbit. Since they have nothing in common with the one I have to offer, I just give a quick summary for the sake of completeness:
Now of course, hobbit does not need an ‘explanation’ any more than any of the numerous other words Tolkien has created, we are dealing with a language-inventor after all. But it turns out that it just might have one, in the sense that the word was not created completely arbitrarily. My approach will be a sound-symbolic rather than a philological one, in a similar vein to what has been done before by Stan McDaniel [3]. I was not aware of his work until I was finished with mine, so it would seem that we came to similar conclusions independently.
In 1926, a paper was published by the French linguist Marcel Cohen with the title “Sur un nom d’un contenant à entrelacs dans le monde Méditerrannéen” (‘About a name of a wickerwork container in the Mediterranean world’) [1]. According to his own account, he was looking through Dillmann’s Ethiopian dictionary where he stumbled upon the Ge’ez word karabo translated by the similar-sounding Latin corbis ‘basket’ and had the idea that this similarity might not be an accident. Investigating further, he found a huge amount of words denoting a container – often specifically a woven basket, other times a vessel of some other kind – in many languages across the Mediterranean, conforming to the same shape:
The variant without a liquid is represented by the Latin word cuppa ‘cup’, the variant with a liquid by Latin corbis ‘basket’. To be able to refer to this shape, I therefore call the former variant kup, the latter korb.
Cohen’s theory is that a word of this shape has been acting as a mot-bouchon (literally a ‘floater-word’; in English the German term Wanderwort is normally used), i.e. it has been roaming the Mediterranean region, being loaned back and forth across multiple languages. He speculates that it might hail from a pre-Indo-European language from the region, with the original sense of ‘wicker’, ‘reed’, ‘stipa’ or any other material originally used in the weaving of baskets. From ‘basket’ semantic shifts lead to more general ‘vessel’, ‘cage’ and the like, as well as words denoting a particular measure of volume.
Cohen’s collection of words is of an impressive size. It has to be large in order to exclude the possibility of random similarities. In order to judge that and appreciate the scope of the prevalence of this fascinating shape, I give most of Cohen’s data below. I have excluded only a few words, some that have to do with weaving only (and no vessels, the reasons will become clear later) and some which I could not corroborate:
language gloss translation links 1 Akk. kapru(m) cup; table (for eating) Wiktionary 2 Akk. karpu(m), karpatu(m) jar, vessel (which may be of a fragile material) eBL
eBL3 Akk. quppu(m) chest, box, cage Wiktionary
Assyrian Languages
eBL4 Amh. gabar pan for frying pancakes 5 Amh. gabatā 1. wooden plate or tablet 2. wicker table Wiktionary 6 Amh. gabatā measure of grain 7 Amh. gub a kind of woven disc 8 Amh. karabo, kabaro drum Wiktionary 9 Amh. qafo beehive Wiktionary 10 Ar. garafa to scoop with a hollow utensil Wiktionary 11 Ar. gārəb a kind of ship with rudders Wiktionary 12 Ar. ǧarīb
Aram. gəriwā; gəriḇāmeasure of grain for sowing Wiktionary 13 Ar. girāf vessel, measure 14 Ar. gurfa hollow of the hand full of water; measure of grain Wiktionary 15 Ar. guruf small cup 16 Ar. kabar drum Wiktionary 17 Ar. kabl
Aram. כַּבְלָאfoot shackles Wiktionary 18 Ar. kalb a red stripe which one sews between two strips of hide, making up a purse Lisān al-ʿArab 19 Ar. kfra bowl out of a netted fabric from date trees 20 Ar. kibl
Aram. כַּבְלָאfoot shackles Wiktionary 21 Ar. kiwāra
Aram. כוורתא; כורתאbeehive Wiktionary 22 Ar. kūb
Aram. kūbābig cup, bowl Wiktionary 23 Ar. kurufa, qurufa straw hat 24 Ar. kuwāra, kuwwāra
Aram. כוורתא; כורתאbeehive Wiktionary 25 Ar. kwāfri chest-maker 26 Ar. qafʿa a type of round basket without handles out of palm leaves Arabic Lexicon 27 Ar. qafaṣ
Aram. qap̄əṣā1. cage 2. shovel for wheat 3. a type of basket 4. stall 5. grid 6. measure of capacity Wiktionary 28 Ar. qaffūra big basket Arabic Lexicon 29 Ar. qafir beehive, tray for keeping dates in Wiktionary 30 Ar. qafiz
Aram. qəp̄īzāmeasure of dry things, measure in surveying Wiktionary 31 Ar. qafūr sheath of the palm tree blossoms Arabic Lexicon 32 Ar. qalīf basket for the transport of dates 33 Ar. qārəb a kind of ship with rudders Wiktionary 34 Ar. qirba goatskin flask Wiktionary 35 Ar. quffa
Aram. quppābag of palm leaves Wiktionary 36 Aram. kawęręt beehive 37 Aram. kɘbʰȧsa 1. cluster of grapes 2. testicles Jastrow 38 Aram. kūbbȧsa 1. cluster of grapes 2. testicles Jastrow 39 Aram. kubʰa tub 40 Aram. qapʰsa
Gr. κάψαbottle, cage, basket Wiktionary
Wiktionary41 Aram. qəbōṭīn
Gr. κιβωτός, κιβώτιονbox, chest 42 Aram. qībōta
Gr. κιβωτός, κιβώτιονbox, chest 43 Aram. qubbəta water reservoir; tent Jastrow 44 Basque copalet pouch with water (for a whetstone) 45 Basque gopor bowl Elhuyar 46 Basque kupel
Lat. cūpatub Elhuyar
www.cambridge.org47 Basque khoban beehive 48 Basque khopor cup Azkue (quotation) 49 Basque kofoi(n), kofan
Lat. cophinusbeehive Elhuyar
Elhuyar
euskerazaintza.org50 Basque kopa pouch with water (for a whetstone) Basque Lexicon 51 Basque kopor bowl, basin Elhuyar 52 Basque kupel
Lat. cūpatub Elhuyar
www.cambridge.org53 Beja guffa, gūfa cup 54 Beja gŭraf drinking glass 55 Beja kabūr drum 56 Beja kafas closed basket, cage 57 Beja kŭrāfa drinking glass 58 Berber (a)gərrabu a kind of ship 59 Berber akäfu basket out of paper 60 Berber akufi jar for cereal Kabyle Dictionary 61 Berber t-guff-ət big carrycot out of halfah grass 62 Berber þaqᵊfif-þ big carrycot out of halfah grass Tamazight Dictionary 63 Bagrimi al-āgawa straw hat 64 Bagrimi al-gapa big sieve 65 Bulg. кораб
P.Slav. *korabъ; *korabľьship Wiktionary
Wiktionary (RU)66 Bilen kalambura drum 67 Bilen qaffo big vessel out of palm tree, used for storage 68 Chamir kirbra drum 69 Chamir qefa elongated basket, beehive 70 OCS koliba hut, cabin 71 Cop. kabi jar, measure Coptic Dictionary 72 Cop. kebi jar, measure 73 M.Egy. kb jar, measure 74 M.Egy. qby jar, measure Coptic Dictionary 75 Fr. cabane
Lat. capannahut, cabin Wiktionary 76 Fr. cabas
Prov. cabaswoven bag for groceries Wiktionary 77 Fr. cabine
Eng. cabinbooth, cubicle Wiktionary 78 Fr. carabe withy boat covered in hides; a kind of litter; caravel 79 Fr. carafe
Ar. g-r-fcarafe Wiktionary 80 Fr. coffin
Lat. cophinus1. small basket, basket for fruit 2. pouch with water (for a whetstone) 3. coffin Wiktionary (FR) 81 Fr. coffre
Lat. cophinuschest Wiktionary 82 Fr. corvette
Lat. corbītacorvette (small warship) Wiktionary 83 Fr. couffe
Prov. coufoa type of basket Wiktionary (FR) 84 Fr. gobelet
O.Fr. gobelgoblet Wiktionary 85 Fula gafakke woven feedbag (for horses) Fulfulde Dictionary 86 Ger. Koben
P.Germ. *kubôshed, sty Wiktionary 87 Ger. Korb
P.W.Germ. *korbbasket Wiktionary 88 Geez gabatā plate, frying pan Dillmann 89 Geez gərāb goatskin flask, amphora (?) Dillmann 90 Geez kabalo handle, ring Dillmann 91 Geez kafar chest, basket Dillmann 92 Geez karabo basket Dillmann 93 Geez qafo chest, basket, cage, beehive Dillmann 94 Geez qirāb case, sheath 95 Ir. corb coach McBain 96 Gr. κάβος
Heb. קַבmeasure of wheat Wiktionary 97 Gr. κάλπη pitcher, vessel for drinking; cinerary urn LSJ 98 Gr. κάλπις pitcher, vessel for drinking; cinerary urn Wiktionary 99 Gr. καλύβη hut, cabin Wiktionary 100 Gr. καπᾱνη 1. manger (crib for the food of cattle) 2. chariot, basket of a chariot Wiktionary 101 Gr. κάπη
P.Gr. *kápāmanger (crib for the food of cattle) Wiktionary 102 Gr. καράβιον
Gr. κᾱ́ρᾰβοςvessel, ship Wiktionary 103 Gr. κάραβος big ship Wiktionary 104 Gr. κίβισις pouch, wallet Wiktionary 105 Gr. κιβωτός, κιβώτιον box, chest, bottle Wiktionary
Wiktionary106 Gr. κλωβóς birdcage Wiktionary 107 Gr. κόφινος basket; measure of volume Wiktionary 108 Gr. κύμβη 1. vessel, cup, bowl 2. small boat Wiktionary 109 Gr. κύμβος cup LSJ 110 Gr. κύπη hole LSJ 111 Gr. κύπελλον big-bellied drinking vessel, beaker, goblet, cup Wiktionary 112 Gr. κύπελλον vessel for drinking, for milking Wiktionary 113 Gr. κύπρος measure of capacity for cereal Wiktionary (EL) 114 Gr. κυψέλη box, chest; cell; hollow of the ear Wiktionary 115 Gr. κύμβαλον
Gr. κύμβηcymbal Wiktionary 116 Hausa gafakka leather bag Bargery 117 Hausa gurunfa straw hat Bargery 118 A.Heb. gȧrȧpʰ vessel 119 A.Heb. g-pʰ-l vessel for drinking 120 A.Heb. kbsa pouch, bag, wallet 121 A.Heb. kəbʰȧra sieve Wiktionary 122 A.Heb. kəlūbʰ, kəlībʰa basket for grapes Wiktionary 123 A.Heb. kilubi nest 124 A.Heb. kōmer pile of fruits made overripe Jastrow 125 A.Heb. qūpʰa tub Jastrow 126 A.Heb. quppa vessel, basket Jastrow 127 Heb. kębʰęl foot shackles Wiktionary 128 Heb. kəlūbʰ basket, cage Wiktionary 129 Heb. kəpʰōr metal cup BDB / Strong 130 Heb. kpʰipʰa basket out of palm leaves Jastrow 131 Heb. qab measure of capacity for non-liquids BDB / Strong 132 It. cófano
Lat. cophinuschest Wiktionary 133 It. coffa
Sic. coffacrow’s nest (on a ship’s mast), little basket Wiktionary 134 Kabyle þaḫabiþ jar 135 Kafa kambo drum 136 Kunama kubula drum 137 Lat. calpar vessel for wine Wiktionary 138 Lat. capanna hut, cabin Wiktionary 139 Lat. capis, capedo bowl with a handle Wiktionary
Wiktionary140 Lat. capsa
P.Ital. *kapsosvessel, chest Wiktionary 141 Lat. capsula
Lat. capsasmall bottle Wiktionary 142 Lat. capsus
P.Ital. *kapsoswagon-body, cage for large animals Wiktionary 143 Lat. capula bowl with a handle Wiktionary (FR) 144 Lat. capulus
Lat. capiōcoffin Wiktionary 145 Lat. carabus
Gr. κάραβοςcoracle Wiktionary 146 Lat. cavea
Lat. *caveuscage, fence, beehive Wiktionary 147 Lat. copa small boat Du Cange 148 Lat. copelletus small cup Du Cange 149 Lat. copellus measure of volume Du Cange 150 Lat. cophinus
Gr. κόφινοςbasket Wiktionary 151 Lat. coppana small boat 152 Lat. coppanus measure of grain 153 Lat. corbis basket Wiktionary 154 Lat. corbīta
Lat. corbistransport vessel Wiktionary 155 Lat. cumera, cumerus basket out of rush; clay vessel to store grain Wiktionary 156 Lat. cūpa cask, tub, barrel Wiktionary 157 Lat. cuppa
Lat. cūpacup Wiktionary 158 Lat. gabata a kind of dish, plate Wiktionary 159 Mac. kanavaza vessel 160 Mandinka gabā woven straw hat 161 Mandinka gafa woven feedbag (for horses) 162 N.Aram. kūlb jar 163 Oromo gūbo woven vessel 164 Oromo hubo pot 165 O.Turk. kövrūg big trunk 166 Pers. kawār
Ar. kuwāra, kuwwārabasket Amid 167 Pers. kuwār(a)
Ar. kuwāra, kuwwārabasket Amid 168 Pers. qafes
Ar. qafaṣcage, palanquin Wiktionary 169 Pers. qar(r)āba bottle, vessel out of glass Dehkhoda 170 Pol. korab basket 171 Prov. coufo a type of basket Mistral 172 Rif. aq(ə)bbuz chest for cereal 173 Rif. aqrab bag woven out of palm tree sprouts 174 Rif. þ-aqrab-þ crib 175 Rom. coliba hut, cabin Wiktionary 176 Rus. корабль
P.Slav. *korabľьship Wiktionary
Wiktionary (RU)177 Sans. kapāla
P.IIr. *kapā́lascup, jar, dish Wiktionary 178 Sans. kapāla
P.IIr. *kapā́lasskull, cranium, skull-bone Wiktionary 179 Sans. karparas cup, shard Wiktionary 180 Sans. karparas skull Wiktionary 181 Saho-Afar kabaro little drum Saho Lexicon 182 Somali gorof woven vessel 183 Songhay gafa woven feedbag (for horses) 184 Sp. cafiz, cahiz
Ar. qafīzmeasure of capacity defined by the grain load on a mule with which one can inseminate an area Wiktionary 185 Sp. cuévano
Lat. cophinus1. large basket for grapes 2. beehive Wiktionary 186 Saho kabalō travel bag 187 Saho qafo large vessel out of palm tree, used for storage; beehive Saho Lexicon 188 Saho qōb waterproof basket Saho Lexicon 189 Syriac kabʰla shackles 190 Syriac kȧpʰarta drinking vessel made out of woven and tarred palm leaves 191 Syriac kulbȧša basket for grapes 192 Syriac qarbīn
Gr. καράβιονship 193 Tigrinya gabatā measure of grain Kane (quotation) 194 Tigrinya gabbarā very large vessel made of a tree trunk; trough to make pastry 195 Tigrinya kafar woven withy basket Wiktionary 196 Tigrinya käläbo pot 197 Tigrinya kāribbo goatskin flask stitched into a form of a bottle 198 Tigrinya qʷafo chest, basket, cage, beehive Saho Lexicon 199 Tuareg ăgrəbbən small spherical vessel for butter made out of leather 200 Tuareg akabar mortar without legs Foucauld 201 Tuareg takəbat very small can with a lid 202 Turk. kabrān measure of volume 203 Turk. küp
P.Turk. *küpjar Wiktionary 204 Turk. qāliba hut, cabin 205 Turk. qavanoz
Pont.Gr. γαβανόςvessel Wiktionary 206 Turk. qobur holster, case Kāmūs-ı Türkī / Redhouse 207 Turk. qova
P.Turk. *kobgabucket Wiktionary 208 Turk. qub case, envelope
Having brought Cohen’s data in digital form, it is possible to generate some statistics about sound distributions. To simplify things across different phonologies, I put similar sounds in groups: For the first consonant, all voiceless stops are represented by K, voiced by G and voiceless fricatives by H. For the vowel, I use the obvious notation A, E, I, O, U for the five common vowels, Y for [y] and empty curly brackets in the case of a schwa, an unknown vowel (as in Middle Egyptian) or no vowel at all. For the second consonant, the possibilities are P, B, F, V, M and MP/MB for a nasalized cluster. This gives the following distribution (values below 3% are suppressed):
If the words chosen have no correlation with their phonetic shape at all, one would expect the sound frequencies to follow their respective distributions among the languages. For example, the first sound was restricted to a velar, but no further, so that the above values would match how common K is compared to G or H. And indeed, the relative commonness of F as the second consonant, for example, seems to be related to a bias of the data towards Semitic and its commonness in Arabic (where [p] > [f]). If there is a correlation, one should see a deviation. However, this is obviously difficult to show in practice, since the rank-frequencies for the given languages are unknown. Still, one notices that the vowels E and I appear rather rarely, clearly way below their typical rank-frequencies across languages. I shall come to this point further below.
If one looks further still, Cohen’s theory cannot be the whole story, as argued by Anatoly Liberman in a 2010 paper titled “Iconicity and etymology”. As an illustrative example, he considers the English word cob which is attested in the following meanings in the Oxford English Dictionary [20], with the year of first attestation:
The word apparently shows quite a bit of semantic spread, but the meanings seem to be centered around the ideas of ‘lump, small roundish piece’, ‘head, bulb, clove’, ‘stoutness’ (by extension ‘stout man, leader’) and ‘a kind of animal’. Such a semantic spread, along with its late (i.e., long past the Proto-Indo-European stage) appearance strongly suggests one thing: The English word ‘cob’ is sound-symbolic, and as such, it has simply been reinvented rather than taken as a loan or continued from the ancestor language.
And it is far from being alone, consider for example the following attested meanings of the Hungarian word gamó [7]:
Here, the meanings could be grouped under ‘swelling’ or ‘crookedness’, the common denominator with cob being an idea of curvature or convexity.
A joining of the two semantic fields of ‘vessel’ and ‘convex shape’ is soon found by noticing that German Kolben ‘club, the thick end of a club’ underwent a change to ‘flask’ (which can be considered club-shaped), or that Ancient Greek κύμβη on the one hand appears with the meaning ‘hollow of a vessel, drinking cup, bowl; boat’, but also as ‘head’ and ‘knapsack, wallet’. The latter, in particular, can be considered both as a kind of container and as a kind of lump at the same time.
Words with this idea also appear far from the Mediterranean region, as e.g. Korean kopta ‘be winding’, kwupta ‘be bent’ or Japanese kobu ‘bump, lump, protuberance, swelling’. This does not neglect the cross-loaning in the Mediterranean region discussed by Cohen, of course, but some instances should be perhaps rethought, especially when they do no not match up as etymologists would like them to. Liberman mentions Sanskrit kapalam ‘cup, skull’ and Greek κύβος ‘cube’ which are thought of as cognates despite the mismatch of a voiceless and voiced sound. A similar mismatch is found in Greek χαμός beside χαβός ‘curved’ or Latin globus and glomus ‘globe, ball-shaped mass’.
A common pattern with such words that I have observed in etymological dictionaries, is then that the frustrated etymologist will either give up, tentatively suggest a Wanderwort, a loan, or propose some kind of substate effect. However, at one point the German etymologist Friedrich Kluge admits to a sound-symbolic origin when discussing the etymology of Kropf, writing “apparently a sound-symbolic formation with a phonetic shape common to such meanings” [15] (my translation).
Another way to cope with the difficulties has often been to cut up the words even further, for instance postulating Proto-Indo-European *keu- ‘bend, curve’ with possible extensions *keu-p- or *keu-b-. It appears highly doubtful, however, that languages really work in this way – clearly, English cob was not created by extension of a root *ko-. But while the exact consonant is a big deal for etymology, it is much less so for sound symbolism. Its simpler form is onomatopoeia where beep is just a louder peep and a lot of leeway is natural.
Having become slightly obsessed with the matter, I set out to find as many kup/korb shapes as possible which would confirm to the above ideas. To classify them, I devised the following semantic subdivisons:
Since Cohen was focused on vessel-words, simply mixing my list into his would create a bias towards vessel. Therefore, I keep all the words in my list distinct from Cohen’s, unless there are reasons to repeat them – like words appearing here in different semantic fields.
Apart from the glosses and their translations, I also list the semantic field I counted them in, as well as their origin, if such was suggested in an etymological dictionary. The sources are given in the last column. I do not provide sources for words from common languages which can be looked up easily in a number of dictionaries.
lang. gloss translation sem. orig. dictionary links 1 Western Abnaki kokkw- humpy, in mounds swelling [9] Bruchac 2 Western Abnaki kwalagw- concave cavity [9] Bruchac 3 Western Abnaki kwelegw- roll, twist, turn on an axis rotation [9] Bruchac 4 Akk. gamlu bent stick (as projectile), throwing stick hook [8] Assyrian Languages
eBL5 Akk. kamkammatu 1. metal ring ring [8] Assyrian Languages
eBL6 Akk. kamkammatu 2. round moon, full moon lump [8] Assyrian Languages
eBL7 Akk. kapālu(m) to roll up, wind up, intertwine each other (of snakes, birds etc.) bending [8] eBL 8 Akk. kapāpu to curve, bow bending [8] Assyrian Languages
eBL9 Akk. kapāṣu to bend back, distort (of part of body, snake, horn of moon, part of liver) bending [8] Assyrian Languages
eBL10 Akk. kappultum wrapping (as purpose of textile) bending Akk. kapālu [8] eBL
eBL11 Akk. karmu(m) heap, mound lump [8] Assyrian Languages
eBL12 Akk. kiplu twisting, twine bending Akk. kapālu [8] Assyrian Languages
eBL
eBL13 Akk. kippatu(m) circle, hoop, ring ring Akk. kapāpu [8] Assyrian Languages
eBL
eBL14 Akk. kippatu(m) tendril, twining stem of vine bending Akk. kapāpu [8] eBL
eBL15 Akk. kippatu(m) handle, grip of vessel, musical instrument hook Akk. kapāpu [8] Assyrian Languages
eBL
eBL16 Akk. kippu(m) loop, trap ring Akk. kapāpu [8] Assyrian Languages
eBL
eBL17 Akk. kirbānu lump (of earth) lump [22] Assyrian Languages
eBL18 Akk. kuppu cistern, water source vessel [8] Assyrian Languages
eBL19 Akk. kuppupu(m) very bent bending Akk. kapāpu [8] Assyrian Languages
eBL
eBL20 Akk. kupputtu measuring vessel vessel Akk. kupputu [8] eBL 21 Akk. kupputu conglomerated (of parts of liver) lump Akk. kapātu [8] Assyrian Languages
eBL22 Akk. qablu(m) 1. hips, waist 2. belt, girdle ring [8] Assyrian Languages
eBL23 Akk. qabru(m) grave, tomb cavity [8] Wiktionary
Assyrian Languages
eBL24 Akk. qabūtu bowl vessel [8] Assyrian Languages
eBL25 Akk. qebēru(m) 1. bury 2. wrap up (as though for burial) 3. be rolled up, convoluted (?) bending Akk. qabrum [8] Wiktionary
Assyrian Languages
eBL26 OE crump, crumb crooked bending P.Germ. *krumpaz [14] Wiktionary
Wiktionary27 Ar. ġarrāfa noria (wheel-like machine for lifting water) ring Wiktionary 28 Ar. ḥufra pit cavity [30] Wiktionary 29 Ar. qubba dome dome Aram. קוּבְּתָא Wiktionary 30 Av. kamarā girdle, belt ring [13] Frisk 31 Basque gurpil wheel ring Wiktionary
Elhuyar32 Basque harpe cave, cavern, grotto cavity Basque harri + -pe [26] Trask
Elhuyar
projetbabel.org33 Basque kabi nest vessel Lat. cavea [26] Trask
Elhuyar34 Basque koba cave, cavern cavity Wiktionary
Elhuyar35 Basque kobazulo cave, cavern cavity Elhuyar 36 Basque kopeta forehead swelling O.Sp. copeta Elhuyar
projetbabel.org37 Basque kopor bowl, basin vessel [26] Trask
Elhuyar38 Basque kuma cradle vessel Lat. cūna [26] Wiktionary
Trask
Elhuyar39 Basque kume cub lump Basque -kume Wiktionary
Elhuyar40 Bulg. коруба tree hollow cavity Bulg. кора Wiktionary 41 Chag. koburčak box vessel [28] Vasmer 42 Chag. kopur vessel vessel [28] Vasmer 43 Welsh copa top, summit, head head ME cop Wiktionary 44 Welsh cwm valley cavity P.Celt. *kumbā Wiktionary 45 Dan. kop drinking cup vessel ON koppr [30] Wiktionary 46 Dan. krum curved; crooked; arched bending MLG krum [30] Wiktionary 47 Dutch homp chunk of food lump MLG hump [30] Wiktionary 48 Dutch klamp heap lump [14] MNW 49 Dutch klamp clamp hook O.Dut. *clampe [14] Wiktionary (NL) 50 Dutch kom bowl vessel P.Germ. *kumbaz [30] Wiktionary 51 Dutch kop head (especially of an animal) head M.Du. cop [30] Wiktionary 52 Dutch koper trading vessel vessel [14] 53 Dutch korf basket vessel P.W.Germ. *korb [30] Wiktionary 54 Eng. calabash pumpkin-shaped vessel vessel Sp. calabaza Wiktionary 55 Eng. calf calf, young of a cow, etc. cub PIE *gʷelbʰ-/*gʷolbʰ- [14] Wiktionary 56 Eng. cap close-fitting hat headgear P.W.Germ. *kappā [30] Wiktionary 57 Eng. clamp heap lump M.Du. clamp; klampe [14] Wiktionary 58 Eng. clamp clamp, device for fastening hook O.Dut. *clampe [14] Wiktionary 59 Eng. cob round object, stone of a fruit, testicle, roundish heap, lump, haystack, knot of hair, lump of coal, dumpling lump [20] Wiktionary 60 Eng. cob head of a herring, seeding head of wheat, clover etc. head [20] Wiktionary 61 Eng. cob great man, big man, leading man, wealthy man, miser, huge, lumpish person swelling [20] Wiktionary 62 Eng. cobble cobble, rounded stone lump Eng. cob [14] Wiktionary 63 Eng. coble a kind of fishing boat vessel Lat. caupulus [14] Wiktionary 64 Eng. coif cap, headdress headgear O.Fr. coiffe [14] Wiktionary 65 Eng. combe valley cavity OE cumb [30] Wiktionary 66 Eng. coop basket vessel Lat. cūpa [14] Wiktionary 67 Eng. corf large basket used for coal vessel P.W.Germ. *korb [30] Wiktionary 68 Eng. cove small coastal inlet cavity P.Germ. *kubô [30] Wiktionary 69 Eng. cower crouch, squat, kneel (with a rounded back) bending MLG kūren [14] Wiktionary 70 Eng. cramp bent piece of iron bending M.Du. crampe, cramp [14] Wiktionary 71 Eng. creep move the body near or along the ground as a reptile or insect doe bending P.Germ. *kreupaną Wiktionary 72 Eng. crib 1. bed for a baby 2. box with food for farm animals vessel P.Germ. *kribjǭ Wiktionary 73 Eng. crimp to wrinkle bending M.Du. crimpen; crempen Wiktionary 74 Eng. cripple lame or partly disabled person or animal; original sense ’bent, twisted’ bending P.Germ. *krupilaz [14] Wiktionary 75 Eng. crumple to curl up, become wrinkled or bent bending OE crump, crumb [14] Wiktionary 76 Eng. cub the young of the fox, bear, lion, tiger etc. cub ON kobbi [14] Wiktionary 77 Eng. cup drinking vessel vessel ME cuppe [30] Wiktionary 78 Eng. gaff fishing hook hook M.Fr. gaffe [14] Wiktionary 79 Eng. gob lump of slimy substance lump O.Fr. gobe [14] Wiktionary 80 Eng. gobbet piece of flesh, lump of food (archaic) lump O.Fr. gobet [14] Wiktionary 81 Eng. goblet stemmed drinking vessel vessel O.Fr. gobellet [30] Wiktionary 82 Eng. grave grave, tomb cavity PIE *grebʰ-/*grobʰ- [14] Wiktionary 83 Eng. groove furrow, trench, channel cavity PIE *grebʰ-/*grobʰ- [14] Wiktionary 84 Eng. hamper large basket vessel O.Fr. hanapier [14] Wiktionary 85 Eng. hanaper case for holding documents vessel O.Fr. hanapier [14] Wiktionary 86 Eng. heap large, disordered pile of things lump PIE *keu-p- [14] Wiktionary 87 Eng. hive nest for bees lump P.W.Germ. *hūfi Wiktionary 88 Eng. hobby small horse cub Wiktionary 89 Eng. hoop circular band ring P.Germ. *hōpą Wiktionary 90 Eng. hump rounded swelling on the back swelling [30] Wiktionary 91 ME cawell fish basket vessel [17] McBain 92 Est. kaevama dig cavity P.Finn. *kaivadak [30] Wiktionary 93 Est. kalm grave cavity P.Finn. *kalma [30] Wiktionary 94 Est. kolp skull head Wiktionary 95 Est. kübar hat headgear Latvian cepure Wiktionary 96 Fin. huppu hoof, cowl headgear Wiktionary 97 Fin. kaivaa to dig, excavate cavity P.Finn. *kaivadak Wiktionary 98 Fin. kimpale slab, chunk, clod, lump, large irregular piece lump Wiktionary 99 Fin. klimppi gob, clump, clot lump Sw. klimp Wiktionary 100 Fin. kolpakko tankard, jug vessel Rus. колпак Wiktionary 101 Fin. kuhmu knot, swelling swelling P.Finn. *kuhmu Wiktionary 102 Fin. kumara bent, bowed bending P.Finn. *kumara Wiktionary 103 Fin. kumpu mound; hummock lump P.Finn. *kumpu [30] Wiktionary 104 Fin. kuoppa hole, pit cavity P.Finn. *kooppa Wiktionary 105 Fin. kuppi drinking cup vessel Sw. kopp [30] Wiktionary 106 Fin. kupu dome; rounded stomach; bulb swelling P.Finn. *kupu [30] Wiktionary 107 Fin. kyhmy swelling, protuberance swelling Fin. kuhmu Wiktionary 108 Fin. kypärä helmet headgear P.Finn. *küpärä Wiktionary 109 Fr. cave cellar cavity Lat. cava [30] Wiktionary 110 Fr. coiffe headdress, cap headgear Lat. cofia (cofea) [14] Wiktionary 111 Fr. combe valley cavity P.Celt. *kumbā [30] Wiktionary 112 Fr. couffe carrycot vessel 113 Fr. couffin carrycot vessel Prov. coffin Wiktionary 114 Fr. coupe cup vessel Lat. cuppa Wiktionary 115 Fr. courber to bend bending Lat. curvāre Wiktionary 116 Fr. cuve vat vessel Lat. cūpa Wiktionary 117 Fr. gobe fattening ball (for poultry), poisoned ball (for a dog) lump O.Fr. gobe [14] Wiktionary (FR)
Wiktionary (FR)118 M.Fr. gaffe long pole with an attached fishhook hook [11] DMF 119 O.Fr. gobe mouthful, lump lump [14] Oxford 120 O.Fr. hanap goblet vessel Frank. *hnap [14] Wiktionary 121 O.Fr. hanapier basket for holding a goblet vessel O.Fr. hanap [14] Godefroy 122 N.Fr. klumerig plump, crude lump [24] 123 N.Fr. Klump dumpling lump [24] 124 Geo. gaberili swollen swelling Wiktionary 125 Geo. gumbati dome dome M.Pers. gumbat; gumbad Wiktionary 126 Geo. kamari girdle, belt ring Pers. kamar Wiktionary 127 Geo. khbo calf cub O.Geo. ჴბოჲ Wiktionary 128 Ger. Garbe sheaf; bundle of grain stalks lump P.W.Germ. *garbā [30] Wiktionary 129 Ger. Graben ditch cavity PIE *gʰrebʰ- [15] Wiktionary 130 Ger. Hamen 1. horse collar, 2. fishing hook hook Pol. chomąto Wiktionary 131 Ger. Haufen heap lump P.Germ. *hūpô; *haupaz [30] Wiktionary
Wiktionary132 Ger. Haupt head (arch.) head PIE *kapwet-/kaput- [15, 27] Wiktionary 133 Ger. Hüfte hip bending PIE *keu- [15] Wiktionary 134 Ger. Humpen tankard vessel Wiktionary 135 Ger. Kalb calf cub PIE *gʷelbʰ-/*gʷolbʰ- [14] Wiktionary 136 Ger. Kalebasse pumpkin-shaped vessel vessel Sp. calabaza Wiktionary (DE) 137 Ger. kauern crouch, squat, kneel (with a rounded back) bending MLG kūren [14] Wiktionary 138 Ger. Kerbe dent, groove cavity P.Germ. *kerbǭ Wiktionary 139 Ger. Kiepe dosser, pannier (high basket carried on the back) vessel MLG kīpe Wiktionary
Wiktionary (DE)140 Ger. Kiepe straw hat, hood headgear Wiktionary (DE) 141 Ger. Knospe bud swelling Wiktionary 142 Ger. Knubbe bud, bulge, swelling swelling Duden 143 Ger. Kolben various club-like or cylindric objects: corncob, spadix, butt of a rifle, club or mace proper; piston lump P.W.Germ. *kolbō Wiktionary 144 Ger. Kolben laboratory flask vessel P.W.Germ. *kolbō Wiktionary 145 Ger. Kopf head head Lat. cuppa [15] Wiktionary 146 Ger. Korb basket vessel Lat. corbis [15] Wiktionary 147 Ger. Kropf crop, craw (outwards expanded portion of the alimentary tract in birds) swelling P.Germ. *kruppa- [15] Wiktionary 148 Ger. krumm crooked bending P.Germ. *krumbaz Wiktionary 149 Ger. Kruppe croup (anterior of horse) swelling Fr. croupe Wiktionary 150 Ger. Kübel tub, bucket vessel Lat. cūpella [15] Wiktionary 151 Ger. Kufe vat, tub (especially for transporting salt) vessel Lat. cūpa [15] Wiktionary 152 Ger. Kummet horse collar hook U.Sorb. chomot Wiktionary 153 Ger. Kuppel dome dome It. cupola [15] Wiktionary 154 Ger. Kürbe dosser, pannier (high basket carried on the back) (Bavarian dialect) vessel DRW 155 Ger. Kurbel crank, winder rotation Lat. curvus [15] Wiktionary 156 Ir. cabhuil conical basket for catching fish vessel ME cawell [17] McBain 157 Ir. cam crooked bending O.Ir. camm [30] Wiktionary 158 P.Germ. hulmaz small island, hill, mound swelling PIE *kelH- Wiktionary 159 OHG kramph bent, crooked bending P.Germ. *krampaz [15] Kluge
Wiktionary160 Gr. γλάφῠ hollow, cavern cavity [16] LSJ 161 Gr. κάλυμμα grave cavity Gr. καλύπτω [16] Wiktionary
LSJ162 Gr. κάλυμμα head-covering, hood, veil, covering put on the face of the dead headgear Gr. καλύπτω [16] Wiktionary
LSJ163 Gr. καμάρα anything with an arched cover: covered carriage; covered boat or barge; vaulted chamber; burial chamber; vault of heaven; vaulted ceiling dome [16] Wiktionary
LSJ164 Gr. κάμπτω 1. to bend, curve 2. to turn or guide a horse or chariot round the turning-post 3. to be bowed down bending P.Gr. *kámptō [16] Wiktionary
LSJ165 Gr. κελεβή cup, jar, pan vessel [16] LSJ 166 Gr. κεφαλή head head PIE *gʰebʰ(e)l- [16, 13] Wiktionary
LSJ
Frisk167 Gr. κέραμος 1. potter’s clay, 2. earthen vessel, wine-jar, 3. tile, 4. dungeon vessel [16] Wiktionary
LSJ168 Gr. χαβός curved bending [27] 169 Gr. χαμός curved bending [27] 170 Gr. κλίμα inclination, slope bending Gr. κλῑ́νω [16] Wiktionary
LSJ171 Gr. κυβιστάω tumble head foremost rotation Gr. κύβη [16] Wiktionary
LSJ172 Gr. κύβος 1. cubical die, 2. vertebra, 3. block of stone, 4. piece of salt fish, 5. kind of cubic cake, 6. hollow above the hips of cattle, 7. part of an irrigation-machine hook [16] Wiktionary
LSJ173 Gr. κύφελλα hollows of the ears cavity [16] LSJ 174 Gr. κύφελλα clouds of mist, arrows lump [16] LSJ 175 Gr. κῦμα anything swollen (as if pregnant): the swell of the sea, a wave, billow; the foetus in the womb, embryo etc. swelling Gr. κῠ́ω [16] Wiktionary
LSJ176 Gr. κύμβη 1. hollow of a vessel, drinking cup, bowl 2. boat 3. knapsack, wallet vessel [16] Wiktionary
LSJ177 Gr. κύμβη head head [16] Wiktionary
LSJ178 Gr. κύπη 1. a kind of ship 2. a kind of hut vessel [16] Wiktionary
LSJ179 Gr. κύπη gap, hole cavity [27] 180 Gr. κόλπος (kólpos) gulf; bay; creek cavity [30] Wiktionary 181 Gr. κρυπτή (kruptḗ) crypt; vault dome Gr. κρύπτω [30] Wiktionary 182 Gr. κύπτω (kúptō) bend forward; stoop; bow down bending [30] Wiktionary 183 Gr. κυφός (kyphós) bent forward; stooping; curved bending [30] Wiktionary 184 Heb. gavía goblet vessel [30] Wiktionary 185 Heb. kipá kippah, traditional Jewish hat headgear Heb. כָּפַף Wiktionary 186 Heb. kipá dome (liteal meaning of kippah) dome Heb. כָּפַף Wiktionary 187 Heb. חָפַר (ḥāpar) dig cavity P.Sem. *ḥapar- [30] Wiktionary 188 Heb. כופף (kofef) bend bending [30] Wiktionary 189 Hindi khopri skull head Sans. kharpara [14] Wiktionary 190 Hindi kuppī small flask vessel Hindi kuppā [30] Wiktionary 191 Hun. gamó hook, crook, branches hook [7] ÚESz 192 Hun. gamó 1. having windgalls (swellings on the joints of horses) (1802), 2. big, unshapely foot (1885) swelling [7] ÚESz 193 Hun. gömb sphere lump [30] Wiktionary 194 Hun. görbe curve (a curved line) bending [30] Wiktionary 195 Hun. himpók windgall (swelling on the joints of a horse) swelling Pesti 196 Hun. kalap hat headgear Hun. kalapsüveg Wiktionary 197 Hun. kampó hook hook Wiktionary 198 Hun. koporsó coffin vessel P.Turk. *kapïrčak [28] Wiktionary
Vasmer199 Indon. kubah dome dome Ar. qubba [30] Wiktionary 200 It. caraffa decanter, carafe vessel Sp. garaffa [15] Wiktionary 201 It. coppa goblet; bowl; trophy cup vessel Lat. cuppa [30] Wiktionary 202 It. cupola dome dome Lat. cūpula (cuppula) [15] Wiktionary 203 It. gabbia basket for fowls, coop vessel Lat. cavea Wiktionary 204 It. gobba hump; hunch swelling Lat. *gŭbba [30] Wiktionary 205 It. grumo lump lump Lat. grūmus [30] Wiktionary 206 Jap. kaban bag, basket, briefcase vessel Wiktionary 207 Jap. kabuto helmet, headpiece headgear P.Jap. *kanputo Wiktionary
Wiktionary208 Jap. kobu bump, lump lump Wiktionary 209 Jap. kobu protuberance, swelling swelling Wiktionary 210 Jap. kubi neck, head head P.Jap. *kunpi Wiktionary 211 Jap. kubomi hollow, cavity, dent, depression cavity Jap. 窪む Wiktionary 212 Jap. kurumu wrap up bending Wiktionary 213 Kor. kopta be winding bending [25] Wiktionary 214 Kor. kwupta be bent bending [25] Wiktionary 215 Lat. calvāria skull head PIE *klHe-/klHou̯o- [27] Wiktionary 216 Lat. camera chamber; room; vaulted room dome Gr. καμάρα [30] Wiktionary 217 Lat. camurus curved or arched inwards; having such horns bending [21] Wiktionary (FR) 218 Lat. cappa cape, hooded cloak headgear [15] Wiktionary 219 Lat. caput head head PIE *kap-ut- [27] Wiktionary 220 Lat. caucum wooden bowl vessel Gr. καῦκος Wiktionary 221 Lat. caupulus a kind of small ship vessel [14] Wiktionary 222 Lat. cavea enclosure, cage vessel Lat. *caveus Wiktionary 223 Lat. caverna cave, hole cavity Lat. cavus Wiktionary 224 Lat. cavus hollow, excavated, concave, deep (of water) cavity PIE *ḱouH-ó- [27] Wiktionary 225 Lat. cerebrum brain, skull vessel P.Ital. *kerasrom Wiktionary 226 Lat. cofia (cofea) cap headgear [14] 227 Lat. columen 1. pillar, column 2. peak, summit, zenith swelling PIE *kelH- Wiktionary 228 Lat. crypta vault; covered passage dome Gr. κρυπτή [30] Wiktionary 229 Lat. cubitum elbow, forearm bending Lat. cubō Wiktionary 230 Lat. cubitus elbow, forearm bending Lat. cubō [27] Wiktionary 231 Lat. cumulus heap, pile lump PIE *ḱuh1-mo- [27] Wiktionary 232 Lat. cūpella small vat or cask vessel Lat. cūpa Wiktionary 233 Lat. cuphia cap headgear [14] 234 Lat. cūpula (cuppula) small, crooked handle hook Lat. cūpa (cuppa) 235 Lat. cūpula (cuppula) little tub, cask vessel Lat. cūpa (cuppa) Wiktionary
Wiktionary (FR)236 Lat. cūpula (cuppula) small burying vault dome Lat. cūpa (cuppa) Wiktionary (FR) 237 Lat. curvus bent, crooked, curved bending P.Ital. *korwos [27] Wiktionary 238 Lat. gibbus hump, hunchbacked swelling PIE *geibʰ-? [27] Wiktionary 239 Lat. glēba (glaeba) lump of earth, clod lump PIE *gleb(ʰ)-? *glob(ʰ)-? [27] Wiktionary
Wiktionary240 Lat. globus round body, round sphere, globe ring Wiktionary 241 Lat. glomus ball-shaped mass lump PIE *glem-o/es- [14, 27] Wiktionary 242 Lat. grūmus heap of earth, hillock lump PIE *h2ǵr-ōm-o- [27] Wiktionary 243 Lat. hāmus hook, fish-hook hook [27] Wiktionary 244 Lith. kamuolys ball; ball of thread lump P.BSl. *kam(ˀ)as [30] Wiktionary 245 Lith. kapas grave, tomb cavity Wiktionary 246 Lith. kaũpas heap; mound; pile lump P.BSl. *kā́ˀupas [30] Wiktionary 247 Lith. kupra hump swelling Wiktionary 248 Liv. kālma grave; burial mound cavity P.Finn. *kalma [30] Wiktionary 249 Mal. koppara coconut lump Hindi khopri [14] Wiktionary 250 Mal. kuppi bottle vessel Hindi kuppī [30] Wiktionary 251 Moksha комба (komba) hump swelling P.Ural. *kumpe [30] Wiktionary 252 M.Du. crampe, cramp bent piece of iron bending [14] Franck–Van Wijk 253 Maranao koba grave cavity [18] Wiktionary
McKaughan254 Erzya кумбо (kumbo) hummock lump P.Ural. *kumpe [30] Wiktionary
Wiktionary255 Nivkh qob ladle vessel [23] 256 ON hvirfla whirl; spread rotation P.Germ. *hwirbilōną [30] Wiktionary 257 ON kobbi young seal cub [29] Cleasby–Vigfusson 258 O.Jap. kabu head head [12] 259 Ottoman Turkish kepenek raincoat, cloak headgear Wiktionary 260 Pers. gonbad dome, vault, arch dome M.Pers. gumbad Wiktionary 261 Pers. kamar waist, loins ring P.Iran. *kamarā- [14] Wiktionary 262 Pali kumbha water pot vessel Sans. kumbha [30] Wiktionary 263 Pol. chomąto horse collar hook P.Slav. *xomǫtъ Wiktionary 264 Pol. garb hump of the back swelling P.Slav. *gъrbъ [30] Wiktionary 265 Pol. klomb flowerbed lump Eng. clump [28] Wiktionary
Vasmer266 Pol. kubek mug; drinking cup vessel P.Slav. *kubъkъ [30] Wiktionary 267 Port. copo drinking glass vessel Lat. *cuppu [30] Wiktionary 268 Port. grumo lump lump Lat. grūmus [30] Wiktionary 269 Quechua kump’u crooked, hunchbacked swelling Aulex / Runasimi 270 Quechua q’iwi arc, bow, curve; crooked, curved bending Aulex / Runasimi
Calvo Pérez271 Rus. глыба big lump lump P.Slav. *glyba Wiktionary
Wiktionary (RU)272 Rus. голова head head P.Slav. *golva Wiktionary
Wiktionary (RU)273 Rus. горбатый hunchbacked lump P.Slav. *gъrbatъ Wiktionary
Wiktionary (RU)274 Rus. кабушка (кабушек) small lump (especially of curd or cheese) lump [10] Dahl 275 Rus. канава ditch cavity Pol. kanał Wiktionary
Wiktionary (RU)276 Rus. кап burl (deformed growth on a tree) swelling Wiktionary
Wiktionary (RU)277 Rus. карапуз pudgy, chubby child swelling Wiktionary
Wiktionary (RU)278 Rus. каравай large round bread; round cake; boulder, roundish underwater stone lump P.Slav. *korvajь [10] Wiktionary
Dahl
Wiktionary (RU)279 Rus. каравай round bread lump P.Slav. *korvajь Wiktionary
Wiktionary (RU)280 Rus. карман vessel Wiktionary
Wiktionary (RU)281 Rus. холм hill swelling P.Slav. *xъlmъ [28] Wiktionary
Vasmer
Wiktionary (RU)282 Rus. клобук monk’s headgear headgear OES *клобукъ Wiktionary
Wiktionary (RU)283 Rus. клуб puff, roundish formation of smoke, dust, mist lump P.Slav. *klǫbъ Wiktionary
Wiktionary (RU)284 Rus. клубень tuber lump P.Slav. *klǫbьnь Wiktionary
Wiktionary (RU)285 Rus. коба (кова) stump, snag; pile for fastening boats; hummock lump [10] Dahl 286 Rus. кобениться to bend, writhe, squirm, wriggle bending Wiktionary (RU) 287 Rus. кобеняк 1. bag, pouch 2. awkward, clumsy person lump [10] Dahl 288 Rus. кобло pit cavity [10] Dahl 289 Rus. колоб ball, round bread lump Wiktionary (RU) 290 Rus. колпак high-crowned cap, cowl headgear Turk. kalpak [28] Wiktionary
Vasmer
Wiktionary (RU)291 Rus. колыбель crib vessel P.Slav. *kolybělь Wiktionary
Wiktionary (RU)292 Rus. ком lump, ball lump P.Slav. *komъ Wiktionary
Wiktionary (RU)293 Rus. копь mine cavity Wiktionary
Wiktionary (RU)294 Rus. копа sixty (originally: pile, heap) vessel P.Slav. *kopa [28] Wiktionary
Vasmer
Wiktionary (RU)295 Rus. копать to dig cavity P.Slav. *kopati Wiktionary
Wiktionary (RU)296 Rus. копец hill, knoll, boundary post lump Rus. копа [28] Wiktionary
Vasmer
Wiktionary (RU)297 Rus. копна haycock; something having the shape of a haycock (in particular a tuft of hair) lump Wiktionary
Wiktionary (RU)298 Rus. короб basket, box vessel P.Slav. *korbъ Wiktionary
Wiktionary (RU)299 Rus. коробья 1. basket, chest, box 2. measure of grain vessel Wiktionary
Wiktionary (RU)300 Rus. ковалок chunk, slice (esp. of meat) lump [10] Dahl
Wiktionary (RU)301 Rus. ковчег 1. box, vessel 2. Ark of the Covenant, Noah’s Ark vessel OCS ковьчегъ [28] Wiktionary
Vasmer
Wiktionary (RU)302 Rus. коверкать to bend, distort bending Rus. вертеть Wiktionary
Wiktionary (RU)303 Rus. ковш ladle vessel Lith. káušas Wiktionary
Wiktionary (RU)304 Rus. куб vat vessel P.Slav. *kubъ Wiktionary
Wiktionary (RU)305 Rus. кубарь spinning top rotation Wiktionary (RU) 306 Rus. кубель vat vessel [10] Dahl 307 Rus. кубель 1. wooden toy sphere 2. wallet, knapsack out of birch bark lump [10] Dahl 308 Rus. кубиться to gather into a pile, lump, crowd lump [10] Dahl 309 Rus. кубок cup, goblet, bowl vessel Rus. куб [28] Wiktionary
Vasmer
Wiktionary (RU)310 Rus. кувшин jug vessel Wiktionary
Wiktionary (RU)311 Rus. кувырок somersault, roll, tumble rotation Wiktionary
Wiktionary (RU)312 Rus. кузов carcass of a truck or ship; basket vessel Tat. kyzau̯ [28] Wiktionary
Vasmer
Wiktionary (RU)313 Sans. kapāla skull, cranium, skull-bone head P.IIr. *kapā́las [19] Wiktionary
Monier-Williams314 Sans. kapāla cup, jar, dish vessel P.IIr. *kapā́las [19] Wiktionary
Monier-Williams315 Sans. kharpara 1. thief, rogue, cheat 2. skull 3. a beggar’s bowl or dish, 4. umbrella or parasol 5. a kind of mineral substance head [19] Monier-Williams 316 Sans. kumbhá jar, pitcher, water-pot, ewer, small water-jar vessel P.IIr. *kʰumbʰás [16, 19] Wiktionary
Monier-Williams317 Sans. kumbhá the frontal globe or prominence on the upper part of the forehead of an elephant swelling P.IIr. *kʰumbʰás [19] Wiktionary
Monier-Williams318 Sans. kūpa well cavity [30] Wiktionary 319 Sans. कुब्ज (kubja) humpbacked swelling [30] Wiktionary 320 O.Ir. camm bent; curved bending P.Celt. *kambos [30] Wiktionary 321 N.Sami goaivut dig cavity P.Sami *koajvōtēk [30] Wiktionary
Wiktionary322 Sp. cavar dig; excavate cavity Lat. cavāre [30] Wiktionary 323 Sp. cúmulo heap; accumulation lump Lat. cumulus [30] Wiktionary
Wiktionary324 Sp. garrafa decanter, carafe vessel Ar. ġarrāfa [15] Wiktionary 325 Sp. grumo lump lump Lat. grūmus [30] Wiktionary 326 Sum. gabil 1. basket 2. main beam of a chariot vessel [22] ePSD2
ePSD2327 Sum. gam shepherd’s crook, bent stick; haft, hilt hook [22] ePSD2 328 Sum. gurum to bend, curve, wrap around; to bow; to roll up; to curb, restrain; to watch over bending [22] Wiktionary
ePSD2329 Sum. gurum pile lump [22] ePSD2 330 Sum. kibid backside, ass swelling [22] ePSD2 331 Swah. kuba dome dome Ar. qubba [30] Wiktionary 332 Sw. grop pit cavity [30] Wiktionary 333 Sw. kavel rolling pin rotation P.Germ. *kablaz Wiktionary 334 Sw. klamp chunk of wood or metal lump P.Germ. *klumpô [30] Wiktionary 335 Sw. klump lump lump MLG klumpe [30] Wiktionary 336 Tamil kappal ship vessel P.S.Drav. *kappal Wiktionary 337 Tamil kumpal heap lump [30] Wiktionary 338 Tamil kuppi bottle vessel [30] Wiktionary 339 Turk. kabar to swell swelling P.Turk. *kāp- Wiktionary 340 Turk. kabuk bowl vessel 341 Turk. kalpak high-crowned cap headgear P.C.Turk. *qalpāq; *qalfāq Wiktionary 342 Turk. kambur hump of the back swelling Ottoman Turkish kanbur [30] Wiktionary 343 Turk. kap vessel vessel P.Turk. *kāp Wiktionary 344 Turk. kubbe dome dome Ottoman Turkish kubbe [30] Wiktionary 345 Ukr. каблук curve, bend of a road bending [28] Vasmer
I should note that this list can only serve as a list of candidates. In no way do I claim that all of the words have been formed sound-symbolically (many are in fact attested loans). The latter is of course a thing which is almost impossible to prove most of the time. A sufficiently long list is, however, a first prerequisite to demonstrate that the correlation between kup/korb and convexity is not a coincidence that just works with any sound-shape and any meaning.
To round things up, one can show how the various fields interact using the semantic map technique. For this specific case one could do it in the following way: Filtering out all words which are attested in different fields, one can put them on a graph and draw a line between two vertices whenever a semantic field is shared. This leads to the following picture:
We can see that vessel, lump and hook have the most connections, with the other areas being connected peripherally.
It is interesting to note at this point that in a letter discussing the pitfalls of historical semantics, Tolkien mentions Latin corbis as the formal equivalent of English harp (that is, they look like cognates). He goes on to say that “the poor philologist will have to call on some archaeological expert before he can decide whether any relationship between ‘harps’ and ‘baskets’ is possible – supposing Gmc. harpō always meant ‘harp’ or corbi-s always meant ‘wicker basket’! corbīta means a fat-bellied ship” (Let#209). Klein explains harp as literally meaning ‘an instrument plucked with crooked fingers’ [14], comparing ON herpask ‘to contract (one’s fingers)’ and Russian коробить ‘to bend, warp’.
We can now finally turn to Tolkien’s languages and apply the same procedure, looking for words satisfying the kup/korb phonetic shape while also belonging in the outlined semantic categories. The following, still quite sizeable set can be found:
lg. gloss translation root sem. dictionary links 1 G. cam bent, bowed; submissive, humble KAVA- bending GL:25 Eldamo 2 G. cam(m)a- to stoop, bend, bow, cower KAVA- bending GL:25 Eldamo 3 G. caug humpback KAẆA- ’stoop’ swelling GL:25 Eldamo 4 G. caug humped, bulging KAVA- swelling GL:25 Eldamo 5 G. caug bent KAVA- bending GL:25 Eldamo 6 G. cav- to bend, make stoop KAVA- bending GL:25 Eldamo 7 G. corm globe, a ring or circle, a disc *KORO- ring GL:26 Eldamo 8 G. corob skull *KORO- head GL:26 Eldamo 9 G. cub hollow *KUPU- cavity GL:27 Eldamo 10 G. cûf hollow *KUPU- cavity GL:27 Eldamo 11 G. cûm mound, especially grave, burial mound KUMU- ’heap up’ lump GL:27 Eldamo 12 G. cuptha- to bend (tr.) *KUVU- bending GL:27 Eldamo 13 G. cuvon bowed, bent, concave *KUVU- bending GL:27 Eldamo 14 G. gob hollow of hand *KOPO- cavity GL:40 Eldamo 15 N. calf water-vessel KALPA- vessel LR:362 Eldamo 16 N. crib- to bend krikw- bending PE13:141 Eldamo 17 N. cumb, cum mound, heap KUB- lump LR:365 Eldamo 18 N. gamp hook, claw GAP- hook LR:357 Eldamo 19 Q. carva womb ?KAR-/?KARAB- swelling VT43:31 Wiktionary
Eldamo20 Q. colba womb ?KOL-/?KOLOB- swelling NM:91,120 Eldamo 21 Q. kalpa water-vessel KALPA- vessel LR:362 Wiktionary
Eldamo22 Q. kalpa- to draw water, scoop out, bale out KALPA- cavity LR:362 Eldamo 23 Q. kamba bend [sic], crooked KAVA- < *KABA- bending GL:25 24 Q. kambe hollow (of hand) KAB- ’hollow’ cavity LR:361 Eldamo 25 Q. kambo cellar, cave, vault KAVA- < *KABA- dome QL:45 Eldamo 26 Q. kauka crooked, bent, bowed KAẆA- ’stoop’ bending QL:45, GL:25 Wiktionary
Eldamo27 Q. kauka humped KAẆA- ’stoop’ swelling QL:45 Wiktionary
Eldamo28 Q. kauko (-u) humpback KAẆA- ’stoop’ swelling GL:25 Wiktionary
Eldamo29 Q. kauta- to bend *KAW- bending PE16:100 Eldamo 30 Q. kava- to dig KAVA- < *KABA- cavity QL:45 Eldamo 31 Q. kawin I bow, make obeisance KAẆA- ’stoop’ bending QL:45 Eldamo 32 Q. kolma ring KOL- ring VT45:23 Eldamo 33 Q. kōma ball KOMO- ring QL:47 Eldamo 34 Q. kōmea globe-shaped, round KOMO- ring QL:47 Eldamo 35 Q. kop- hollow of hand *KOPO- cavity GL:40 36 Q. korma ring *KOR- ring LotR Wiktionary
Eldamo37 Q. -kumba bellied *KUB- swelling SD:68,72 Eldamo 38 Q. kumbe mound, heap KUB- lump LR:365 Eldamo 39 Q. kumbe pile, heap, load, burden KUMU- ’heap up’ lump QL:49 Eldamo 40 Q. kúme pile, heap, load, burden KUMU- ’heap up’ lump QL:49 Eldamo 41 Q. kumpo pile KUMU- ’heap up’ lump QL:49 Eldamo 42 Q. kūne crescent, bow KUVU- ’bend, bow’ bending QL:49 Eldamo 43 Q. kupta- to hump up, look humpy, etc. KUPU- ’hump’ swelling QL:49 Eldamo 44 Q. kuptulo camel KUPU- ’hump’ swelling QL:49 Eldamo 45 Q. kuve bow KUB- bending PE22:102 Eldamo 46 S. carab hat *KARAP- headgear WJ:426 Eldamo 47 S. haudh funeral mound KHAB- ’heap up, pile up’ lump PE19:91 Eldamo 48 T. hamna funeral mound KHAB- ’heap up, pile up’ lump PE19:91 Eldamo
Before proceeding, let us look at some statistics and compare the Elvish data with the natural languages (excluding Cohen’s data). For the first consonant, one finds the following distributions:
For the vowel:
Finally, for the second consonant:
I do not think that much can be said about the distributions of the consonants: The commonness of K probably just reflects its relative commonness compared to G or H in the languages involved. The high frequency of V in Elvish is clearly due to the Quenya shift of [b] > [v], and so on. However, looking at the distribution of vowels, one finds the same pattern as in Cohen’s data: While A is the most common vowel, E almost does not appear at all and I only very little. Here, one can make a quantitative comparison to the rank-frequencies of Elvish vowels. For Sindarin (including the Noldorin of the “Etymologies”), I have calculated them directly [4]; for Quenya only in initial and final position in conjuncture with consonants [6] (using a list of words from the “Etymologies” only). The latter two actually give similar results and thus should be a reasonable approximation:
So while the commonness of A in the kup/korb shape clearly reflects its commonness in Elvish overall, a striking deviation is the near-absence of E, I on the one hand, and the highly increased frequency of O, U on the other (especially U). It is not difficult to see that the vowels O and U, which involve lip rounding, are particularly iconic in their reference to rounded or convex shapes, so that the preference given to them over E and I ties in well with the semantics. This appears to be true for Elvish and natural languages alike (and can be also seen in Cohen’s data above).
Finally, we can also compare the distribution of the words among the semantic fields:
Here we can see a lot of differences. While vessel is the most common semantic field in natural languages, it is almost not represented in Elvish, occurring only in the words Q. kalpa, N. calf ‘water-vessel’. The two most common fields in Elvish are bending and lump, which are also common in natural languages. On the other hand, cavity and swelling are noticeably more common in Elvish. It would appear that all of this simply reflects Tolkien’s taste, his own association with the kup/korb sound shape.
We can now formulate the following hypothesis: The word hobbit is related to a universal sound-symbolic shape kup, defined by velar – rounded vowel – labial (or korb with an optional liquid) which independently occurs in many languages and is semantically centered around the idea of convexity or concavity1. In natural languages it occurs most frequently in names for vessels of various kind, followed by words for ‘lump’ and words related to bending. Tolkien places it most commonly among ‘bending’, ‘lump’, ‘cavity’ and ‘swelling’. And hobbit has been conceived not just on its own, but along with its hole in the ground.
Following the creation of the word, Tolkien has always explained it as ‘hole-dweller’, sometimes as ‘hole-maker’ (see below). At the end of The Lord of the Rings, the true Westron word rendered by English hobbit is said to be kuduk, related to a Rohan word kûd-dûkan (LotR App. F, note 1). In an earlier conception, however, the endonym used in the Shire was cūbuc (with final vowel loss and devoicing of cūbug(u)), pl. cūbugin, a reflex of an Old Westron word cūg-bagu ‘hole-dweller’, preserved in Rohan (PE:49). Other earlier variants include:
In the preparatory conceptions of Westron, we also find:
Obviously, we have that kūg or kūd is ‘hole’, while -bagu(l), -badul or -dūka is ‘dweller’, but in the usage of the Shire, the word does not seem to be analyzable any longer, the two elements fuse into a kup shape (except for kuduk, of course). On the other hand, glōba and kubu, kubal confirm to the shape right from the start.
So it would appear that hobbit simply reflects Tolkien’s preference of kup to denote hollow cavities rather than vessels. The seeds were already laid in his languages by G. cub, cûf ‘hollow’, gob ‘hollow of hand’, Q. kop- hollow (of hand)’ and kava- ‘dig’ appearing in the Gnomish and Qenya Lexicons long before the Hobbit. Finally, one may speculate that his choice of [h] as the initial sound was influenced by the English word ‘hole’, while the ending -it shows a high front vowel typical of diminutives [6].
I would like to thank Lőrinczi Gábor and Valeria Barouch for helpful discussions.
This document was translated from LATEX by HEVEA.