Interesting and Random Stuff

**Duke** · 07-20-2019, 05:27 PM

you guys know indnoeuropean language is made up language by collecting similar words from European, Iranic and indian languages and combining them. There is no written sources of IE language.

So if Slavs call honey mead, it obviously came into PIE reconstruction from Slavic, all Germanic languages have version that is similar to honey.

Meadow is grass, flowers and dear shit, it doesn't have anything with honey, except its just similar to a slavic word for honey

**Duke** · 07-20-2019, 05:33 PM

Originally Posted by Ford

It doesn't have to mean that. Mead is medu in old English which was influenced by old Norse's mjǫðr. It's just the Indo-European connection. Slavs and Balts have the most PIE words out of all modern European languages, so that might just create a false impression of its origin.

that could be true, but since Norse lived near Slavs, old word for honey in old norse could come as loanword from Slavs in first place.

Also interesting fact, Bear in Slavic is Medvjed which in literal translation means honeyeater

**~~Ford~~** · 07-20-2019, 05:42 PM

Originally Posted by Duke

that could be true, but since Norse lived near Slavs, old word for honey in old norse could come as loanword from Slavs in first place.

Also interesting fact, Bear in Slavic is Medvjed which in literal translation means honneyeater

Yes but at this point it's merely speculation. Also, the drink itself might have even older origins as Lily suggested and the modern word may have come later. Kinda like Rakija being similar to Turkish Raki in name but in reality the two drinks are nothing alike. The former is a brandy while the latter is more like French Pastis. Or maybe Sarma is a better example since it means to wrap in Turkish (Sarmak) but is more similar to Eastern European cabbage rolls than the Turkish ones, especially when made by Serbs and Croats.

Another fun fact: From earlier *medu-ēdis, equivalent to *medъ (“honey”) +‎ *(j)ěsti (“to eat”), hence literally the epithet "honey-eater". Cognate with Sanskrit मध्वद् (madhuv-ád-, “eating sweetness”)

**Duke** · 07-20-2019, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by Ford

Yes but at this point it's merely speculation. Also, the drink itself might have even older origins as Lily suggested and the modern word may have come later. Kinda like Rakija being similar to Turkish Raki in name but in reality the two drinks are nothing alike. The former is a brandy while the latter is more like French Pastis. Or maybe Sarma is a better example since it means to wrap in Turkish (Sarmak) but is more similar to Eastern European cabbage rolls than the Turkish ones, especially when made by Serbs and Croats.

Another fun fact: From earlier *medu-ēdis, equivalent to *medъ (“honey”) +‎ *(j)ěsti (“to eat”), hence literally the epithet "honey-eater". Cognate with Sanskrit मध्वद् (madhuv-ád-, “eating sweetness”)

Icelandic is closest Germanic language to old Norse, right, and honey in Icelandic is hunang, so most evidence suggest if it was used by old norse it came as a loan word from Slavic, maybe even from mead trade itself.

Today you drink Vodka, and you know its from Russia, but only because recent history is more documented and well, recent, if for some reason wasn't such case, i bet you would claim Vodka as old English as well

Vodka in Slavic means little water, at least that would be translation in Croatian, and as name suggest lots of alcohol an little water goes in there

It could also mean watery/waterlike when i think about it, because its clear and looks like water

**Dick** · 07-20-2019, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by Duke

Icelandic is closest Germanic language to old Norse, right, and honey in Icelandic is hunang, so most evidence suggest if it was used by old norse it came as a loan word from Slavic, maybe even from mead trade itself.

Today you drink Vodka, and you know its from Russia, but only because recent history is more documented and well, recent, if for some reason wasn't such case, i bet you would claim Vodka as old English as well

Vodka in Slavic means little water, at least that would be translation in Croatian, and as name suggest lots of alcohol an little water goes in there

Hunang must be pre-ie then? French miel Italian miele Greek meli etc

**Dick** · 07-20-2019, 06:08 PM

Originally Posted by Ford

Yes but at this point it's merely speculation. Also, the drink itself might have even older origins as Lily suggested and the modern word may have come later. Kinda like Rakija being similar to Turkish Raki in name but in reality the two drinks are nothing alike. The former is a brandy while the latter is more like French Pastis. Or maybe Sarma is a better example since it means to wrap in Turkish (Sarmak) but is more similar to Eastern European cabbage rolls than the Turkish ones, especially when made by Serbs and Croats.

Another fun fact: From earlier *medu-ēdis, equivalent to *medъ (“honey”) +‎ *(j)ěsti (“to eat”), hence literally the epithet "honey-eater". Cognate with Sanskrit मध्वद् (madhuv-ád-, “eating sweetness”)

Honey In basque is ezti apparently

**~~Ford~~** · 07-20-2019, 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by Duke

Icelandic is closest Germanic language to old Norse, right, and honey in Icelandic is hunang, so most evidence suggest if it was used by old norse it came as a loan word from Slavic, maybe even from mead trade itself.

Today you drink Vodka, and you know its from Russia, but only because recent history is more documented and well, recent, if for some reason wasn't such case, i bet you would claim Vodka as old English as well

Vodka in Slavic means little water, at least that would be translation in Croatian, and as name suggest lots of alcohol an little water goes in there

I'm saying that just because the word has survived in a few languages and not in others doesn't mean that it's the origin of the word. It is suggested that medus entered Latin through a Germanic language and a similar word can even be found in Ancient Greek. As for vodka we can at least trace the origin of the product and etymology of the word.