Cognate Set 6342 – Meaning: white

IE-CoR reference form:
gaylis
IE-CoR reference language:
Old Prussian
Ideophonic:
no
Parallel derivation:
no
Justification:
Etymology outside of Baltic uncertain. Sometimes compared to Lithuanian gaĩla 'painful, unfortunate, pitiable', although the connection is uncertain due to the diverging semantics (ALEW 280-281, cf. Derksen 2015:161, accepting the etymology).
Found in clades:
Balto-Slavic
Revised by:
Matthew Scarborough
Found in 1 clade by 1 lexeme.
Language Lexeme Native script Phonetic Phonemic Notes
75   Old Prussian gaylis EV
References
  • Derksen, Rick: 161
    S.v. Lith. gailùs 'sharp, bitter, cold, lamentable, cold, angry', Proto-Balto-Slavic *goilos (cf. Latv. gails 'voluptous, slender, without branches, glowing', OPruss. gaylis 'white', OCS dzělъ, Russ. zeló); perhaps to PIE *gʰoi-lo- if comparable with OHG geil 'reckless, frolic, strong'.
  • Hock, Wolfgang and Fecht, Rainer and Feulner, Anna Helene and Hill, Eugen and Wodtko, Dagmar S.: 280-281
    Cf. s.v. OLith. gaĩla 'schmerzlich, bedauerlich, schade'; Latv. gaîlêt, gàilêt 'glimmen, glühen' gàile 'Glimmen, Glut', and OPr. gaylis 'weiß' are probably not root-cognate on the basis of the divergent semantics.