Cognate Set 9776 – Meaning: red

IE-CoR reference form:
*u̯r̥mi-
IE-CoR reference language:
Proto-Indo-European
Ideophonic:
no
Parallel derivation:
no
Justification:
Baltic (and Italic, in late parallel derivations) lexemes in the meaning 'red' are derived from IE *u̯r̥mi- 'snake, worm' adopted from the use of insects to produce red dye (von Wartburg 1922–2002 14:288-291, de Vaan 2008:665, Derksen 2015:567), cf. also cognate set 1163. See 'worm' in cognate set 348 for further etymological discussion.
Found in clades:
Baltic
Found in 1 clade by 1 lexeme.
Language Lexeme Native script Phonetic Phonemic Notes
77   Old Prussian wormyan EV n.
References
  • Derksen, Rick: 567
    S.v. Old Prussian wormyan 'red' < PIE *urmi- (cf. Lat. vermis 'worm', Goth. waurms 'snake', OEng. wyrm 'snake, worm'). Other colour adjectives derived from *urmi- 'worm' are Ukr. vermjáty 'red', OHG wormo 'purple', MoFr. vermeil 'scarlet' < *vermiculus.