Protoceltic - etymology: kolin, konin > coin

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M

Margrave

Senior Member
Portuguese
Hi!

I am stuck in the possible etymology of the proto-Celtic root:

koligno: holly tree (a sacred plant for the Celts), from which Matasovic points out a possible evolution to konigno (kol- into kon-). Is this evolution from n into l common in Celtic words?

Also, according to accepted rules, the evolution kolign>koin would be feasible?

Any advice or additional examples are welcome :)

MG
 
    • M

    MarceloVC

    Member
    Portuguese - Brazil
    As far as I'm concerned, though I'm neither a philologist nor an etymologist, coin derives from Latin, through French.
    Coin: From Middle English coyn, from Old French coigne (“wedge, cornerstone, die for stamping”), from Latin cuneus (“wedge”). Doublet of cuneus. See also quoin (“cornerstone”). Source: Wikipedia.
    I believe that proto-Celtic had this characteristic, because Portuguese (and to a lesser extent, Spanish) was influenced by a proto-Celtic language as well. Before the arrival of the Romans, the Iberic region was inhabited by Celtics. For example, the word for orange in Portuguese is laranja, whereas it is naranja in Spanish. Same happens with soul, which is alma in Portuguese and Spanish, but anima in Italian.
    I hope this has been of help.
     
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