Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/-níd-

This Proto-Indo-European entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Indo-European

Alternative reconstructions

*ḱh₃nid-, *ḱ(o)nid-, *k(o)nid-, *gʰ(o)nid-, *knid-, *ḱnid-, *sknid-, *snid-, *onid-.

Etymology

Believed by Kroonen to be a non-Indo-European substrate word related to Latin lēns (“id.”),[1] though the latter may also be a direct, nasally dissimilated reflex of this root. Words for 'louse' and 'nit' are frequently subject to irregular tabooistic changes.

Noun

*-níd-

nit, louse egg

Descendants

Proto-Albanian: *tsanidā
- Albanian: thëri
Proto-Armenian: *anic
- Old Armenian: անիծ (anic) (see there for further descendants)
Proto-Balto-Slavic: *gnī́ˀdāˀ (see there for further descendants)
Proto-Celtic: *snidā
- Old Irish: sned
  - Irish: sniodh
  - Manx: sneig
  - Scottish Gaelic: sneadh
- Welsh: nedd
- Cornish: nedh
- Breton: nez
Proto-Germanic: *hnits (see there for further descendants)
Proto-Hellenic:
- Ancient Greek: κονίς (konís)

References

Guus Kroonen (2012) “Non-Indo-European root nouns in Germanic: Evidence in support of the Agricultural Substrate Hypothesis”, in Riho Grünthal, Petri Kallio, editors, A Linguistic History of Prehistoric Northern Europe, Helsinki: Société Finno-Ougrienne, pages 239-260

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[1] Guus Kroonen (2012) “Non-Indo-European root nouns in Germanic: Evidence in support of the Agricultural Substrate Hypothesis”, in Riho Grünthal, Petri Kallio, editors, A Linguistic History of Prehistoric Northern Europe, Helsinki: Société Finno-Ougrienne, pages 239-260