Cognate Set 2648 – Meaning: river

IE-CoR reference form:
*dānu-
IE-CoR reference language:
Proto-Iranic
Ideophonic:
no
Parallel derivation:
no
Justification:
Iranic lexemes from Proto-Iranic *dānu-, probably to be further connected with Vedic dā́nu- 'dropping flow, dripping; drops, dew'(?); the possibility of a contamination with Proto-Iranic *dan- < Proto-Indo-Iranic *dʰan- 'to run, flow' (< PIE *dʰenh₂- 'to set in motion; to move off', cf. LIV² 144-145) is not to be excluded (ESIJa II:450-451, cf. EWAia I:719-720, Abaev 1959–1995 I:366-367).
Found in clades:
Iranic
Revised by:
Matthew Scarborough
Found in 1 clade by 3 lexemes.
Language Lexeme Native script Phonetic Phonemic Notes
72   Ossetic: Iron don дон don don
73   Ossetic: Digor don дон don don
46   Avestan: Younger dānuš 𐬛𐬁𐬥𐬎𐬱 daːnuʃ Probably the best candidate for the Swadesh term, since it is attested twice (as simplex and in a compound) and not just once.
References
  • Abaev, Vasilij Ivanovič: I:366-367
  • Mayrhofer, Manfred: I:719-720
    Cf. s.v. Ved. dā́nu-, a Rigvedic word designating rain and by many interpreted as 'träufelend, träufelnde Flüssigkeit', by others as 'Gabe', if the former possibly with YAv. dānu- 'Fluß', Oss. don 'Fluß, Wasser', and further to European river names.
  • Rastorgueva, V. S. and Edelman, D. I.: II:450-451
    S.v. Proto-Iranic *dānu- 'вода, река', from Proto-Indo-Iranic *dānu-, cf. Ved. dānu- 'каплющее течение, капающий; капель, роса' (cf. [EWAia](src-172) I:719-720). Not to be excluded is the possibility of a contamination with Proto-Indo-Iranic *dhan- 'бежать, течь' < PIE *dʰen- 'бежать, течь' (cf. [IEW](src-49) 249, [EWAia](src-172) I:772).