In this list, I propose a different origin, or a more elaborate etymology for the names of mythological beings, than that usually found in common sources. There would otherwise not be any reason to publish such a list.
Most legends arise from the confusion caused by a phonological convergence; such convergence is often the result of the overlaying of two strata. The original signification of the word having become incomprehensible, a clearer meaning is attributed to it; the result is a “folk etymology”. To arrive at this explanation, one must often give himself over to those excesses of imagination characteristic of Greek mythology.
It is always the animal or the thing into which the mythical being has been transformed, who first bore its name. Thus it is through the name of the object or the animal that the name of the divinity must be clarified. In the same manner, it is the name of the country that gave the name to the mythical being, not vice versa.
References:
KLEIN, ERNEST, 1966-1967. A comprehensive dictionary of the English language. One-volume unabridged edition, 1971. Amsterdam, Oxford, New York.
PARISOT, V., 1855. Petit dictionnaire classique de mythologie comparée. Hachette,Paris.
The following are mostly extracts from M. Desfayes, 1998. A thesaurus of bird names – Etymology through paradigms. 2 vol., 2570 pages, illustrated CD-rom. Cahiers du Musée No. 2. Museum of Natural History, Sion, Switzerland. CD corrected and augmented, 2008.
Acoran (Guanche). God. See Goren.
Ačamon, Ažamon (Guanche). Deification of the sky. See Ammon.
Abellio (Gaulish). Probably identical to Belenos. See Belenos.
Acherōn (Greek). One of the rivers of Hades. From Gr. áchos “woe” is the only logical explanation. The other etymologies (i.e. “marshes”) are unsatisfactory.
Achilleus (Greek). Son of Thetis and Peleus, caracterized by a small wing on his heels :
Catalan
axella
shoulder articulation, armpit, bird
Italian: Naples
ascella
wing
Greek
Achilleus
(< Romance) a mythological figure caracterised by a small wing on his heels
Italian: Naples
ascielletta
bird
Italian: Tirol
ocela
bird
Italian
uccello
bird (winged being)
Ader (Persian). Genie of the fire. See Aidonē.
Adōnis (Greek). Name of a Greek youth, renowned for its beauty; he was changed into a plant. Also a Syrian and Phoenician god worshipped in Greece (Bailly). Related to Adonai, a Hebrew name of God (Klein), from adhon “lord”.
Aedōn (Greek). Sister of Chelidōn, changed into a nightingale. From an acoustic base -d :
audē
noise, voice
Italian
audire, udire
to hear: to perceive a sound
Greek
ōdē
song
Greek
aeidō, adō
to sing
Greek
aēdōn
Nightingale
Aegle (Roman, borrowed from Greek). Daughter of the sun; sister of Phaethon (Hyginius); one of the Naïades (Virgile). See Aglaia.
Aellō. Name of a Harpy. See Aiálos.
Aeropē, see Meropē.
Aesar (Icelandic). Scandinavian gods, the most powerful and the best of the supernatural beings. See Asia.
Agamemnon (Greek). King of Mycenae. From Gr. ágan “very much” and médōn “ruler” , thus “the great ruler” (Klein).
Aglaia (Greek). One of the Graces. From a base g-l shining:
Breton
glavu
glowing coal
Albanian
gjevëz
purple red
Welsh
gloyw
shining
English
glow
incandescence
German
glühen
to glow red
Gaelic Ireland
glé
shiny, pure
Ancient Greek
aglē
glitter, light
Ancient Greek
agly
swan
Latin
daughter of the sun; sister of Phaethon (Hyginius); une des Naïades (Virgile)
Gaelic Ireland
glinne
clarté
Gaelic Ireland
glaine
purity; glas
Welsh
glain
to shine
Ancient Greek
glēnē
pupil of the eye
Ancient Greek
glainoi, glēnos
ornament, jewel
Aiálos (Eolian Greek). God of the wind. From áella tempest, whirlwind, aiólos moving, quick moving, Welsh awel breeze.
Aiās (Greek). Hero known for his speed and strength. See preceding word.
Aidonē (Greek). A god of the lower world : the fire. From a base -d fire :
Sanskrit
aidhā
flame; édhas fuel, kindling; indháte to kindle
Old Persian
Ader
genius of fire
Hebrew
Adarniel
angel presiding over fire
Basque
uda
summer
Basque
eder
beautiful
Gaelic Ireland
aed
fire
Greek
Aidonē
god of hell
Welsh
aidd
ardour
Gaelic Scotland
odhar
pale yellow
Gaelic Scotland
oida
white
Welsh
ôd
snow
Basque
edur, elur
snow
Aigaiōn (Greek). Son of Poseidon, allied to Thetis. See next word.
Aigaia (Greek). Queen of the Amazons, eponym of the Egean Sea. Origin: Gr. aiges “the waves” (Carnoy) in which one recognizes the Romance aigue “water”.
Aigestes (Greek). Son of fluvial god. See Aigaia.
Aigeus (Greek). Son of Pandion. Threw himself in the sea that bear his name (Aigaiōn, Egean). Same root as preceding word.
Aigypios (Greek). Was changed into a vulture. A name of Illyrian origin. Ancient Greek gyps. aigipios, Albanian gyipë “vulture”, from Albanian gup “dishevelled (hair)”, equivalent to Italian grifone “Griffon Vulture”, a shaggy looking bird.
Aineias (Greek). A Trojan hero, mythical ancestor of the Romans. From Gr. ainós terrible, dreaded.
Ainias (Greek). Nickname of Aphrodite. From aínos tale, praise. From a base s-n, h-n to sound :
Basque
honen
bell sound
Latin
honor
honour, reputation
Greek
aínos
(borrowing) tale, praise
French
sonner
to sound
Ais (Armenian). Devil. From a base -s dark :
Arabic
`āšā
to be dark
Sanskrit
ásita
black
Sanskrit
asu
devil
Armenian
ais
devil
Greek
ásis
mud
Tokharian
āsar
dry
Greek
azein
to dry
Sanskrit
ásah
ash
English
ashen
grey; ash grey residue that remains after burning.
German
asche
ash
French: Mons
achéré
very dirty
French (dialectal)
ačioun
ash
Old French and dialectal
achon
“azure”
Ais (Etruscan). God. See Asia.
Aisōn (Greek). Leader of the Argonauts.
Aisákos (Greek). Son of Priam; threw himself into the sea and was transformed into a diving bird. From a base s-k, s-nk to sink, to dive :
Basque
dzanga
to dive
Basque
sanga
Gannet, a bird remarkable by its impressive vertical dives
Spanish
sangual
Osprey (catches fish by diving form a height)
Latin
sanqualis
(borrowing) Osprey
Breton
sanka
enfoncer
German
sinken
English to sink
Aisklēpios (Greek). God of medicine, usually associated with snakes. From skolýptesthai to wind here and there, skoliós tortuous (like a snake), skoliótēs winding (like snakes), skōlyx worm, kyllós hooked, and Latin coluber snake.
Aith (Etruscan). God of hell. A name having the notion of fire and heat. From a base -t fire:
Persian
ēteš
fire
Persian
Atešgagh
a god (Pyrrhos of the Greek)
Talysh
otoš
fire, otöša colour of fire
Kurde
teišin
to burn
Old High German
eit
fire
Gaelic Scotland
te
hot
Welsh
tes
heat
Romance
été, està, estio
the season of heat
Albanian
ethë
fever
Greek
eithos
fire; aitho to light
Etruscan
Aith
god of hell
Gaelic Ireland
athas
joy
Greek
aithein
to shine
Phoenician
attunà
oven
Greek
Aitnè
the Etna
Vedic
Atharvan
a fire priest
Vedic
àtarsh
fire
Greek
aithra
clear sky
Greek
aithr, aèr
air
French
air
English air
Sanskrit
ayara
day
Gothic
air
early
English
early
originally: at daybreak
Ajax, see Aiàs.
Akastē (Greek). One of the Oceanides. See Kassiopē.
Alāha (Syriac), see Allah.
Alektōr (Greek). King of Elide, or son of Pelops. See next word.
Alektryōn (Greek). Daughter of Eole and wife of Ceyx, was caught by the sun near Venus and changed into a cock. From a base -lk, l-k to crow, to sing :
Swedish
elak
goose
Middle Low German
alcke
goose
Italian: Badia
alca, alcûn
goose
English
elk
swan
Greek
alkyōn
a sea bird
Italian: Calabria
alcuni
gull
Italian: Abruzze
álăkă
gull
Basque
alkoi
tern
Catalan
alció, alcina
tern
Provençal
alcyon
tern
Italian (dialectal)
alcione
tern
Persian: Pahlavi
alka
cock
Lezgian
alkuz, alek
cock
Greek
alektor
cock
Greek
Alektryōn
a goddess changed into a cock
Modern Greek
alechtóras
cock
Greek
lakázō
to cry
Greek
lakétas
cicada
Latin
oblecto
to play
Greek
lexis
word, elocution
Basque
elakatu
bavarder
German
lachen
rire
German
schlackergans
Grey Lag-Goose
French (dialectal)
sliaqueter
chabauder, FEW 22: 8
Greek
lakeryza
bawler
Lettish
lakštēt
to sound
Alfr (Old Norse). A sprite. See elf.
Allah (Semitic). God. From a base –l shining. It is probable the today’s prostration towards Mecca was originally directed towards the rising sun.
Dravidian
ullu
daylight
Mongol
ulaan
red
Sumerian
‘el
light
Copt
al
daylight, splendor
Ancient Egyptian
āāl
flame
Phoenician
Al
God (the deified light)
Hittite
alis
white
Welsh
aeled
fire
Gaelic Ireland
àille
beauty
Gaelic Ireland
aol
to whiten; lime; ael “bright colour”
Gaelic Scotland
eala, aoi
swan
Welsh
alarch
swan
Latin (poetic)
olor
swan
Welsh
elfydd
world
Ancient Greek
eílè, alèa
heat of the sun
Basque
il, ileski, ilazky
moon
Basque
talil, illebete
month
Akkadian
Ilu
God
Akkadian
ellu
shining
Assyrian
élàlu, hàlu
to shine
Hebrew
hàlal
to shine
Arabic
halla
to shine
Persian
`ālam
world
Arabic
allāq
to light
Albanian
llap
(from Semitic via Turkish and with k > p) to shine
Arabic
halla
to shine
Arabic
Allah
God
Arabic
a’ali
powerful (change of category)
Basque
al
power
Amata (Roman). Wife of Latinus, who had many suitors. From Latin amare to love.
Amazōn (Greek). A member of female warriors in Scythia. This mysterious name may be explained by the Pahlevi am mother, woman, thus “woman of the Asons or Ases” = Ossets. The Caucasus has been called “mountain of the Ases” where the Ossets are still found this day.
Amiran (Persian). Guardian spirit of the light:
Hebrew
mer
to shine
Bulgarian
mir
world
Guez
amir
day
Old Persian
Amiran
genius of light
Persian
mihr
sun
Dravidian
miru
shining
Canarese
mirugu
to shine
Greek
amarygès
shining
Basque
margo
shining
German
morgen
morgen
Lithuanian
mirgu
to shine
Ammon (Egyptian). God of the sky. From a base s-m blue :
Kurdish
asman
sky
Old Persian
Asman
the sky personified
Egyptian
Imn
Ammon
Phoenician
Eshmun
the sky personified
Guanche
Achaman, Azaman
god; sky
Persian
yāsimin
jasmin, blue flower
Persian
yašm
jaspe, a precious stone
Old French
jasme
jaspe
Turkish
yeshem, yesem
(pre-Osman substr.) white jaspe
Romanian
iezm
(viaTurkish) white jaspe
Spanish Andalusia
jazmín
an entirely white pigeon
Amykos (Greek). Giant who preyed on travellers. From a base m-k big:
Sumerian
makka
greatness
Berber: Hoggar
makkoren
big
Guanche
makoran
the gods
Tokharian
mak
much
Italian
macca
abundance
German
macht
power
Dravidian
mikkili
big
Tamil
mikka
big
Old German
mikila
big
Phoenician
Mikal
a god identified with Heraklēs,
Greek
Amykos
a giant who preyed on travellers
Greek
mikos
length
Hittite
mekki
much; mekis big
Etruscan
mex
much
Spanish
mucho
much
English
much
a lot
Serbocroatian
moç
power, influence etc.
Czech
moc
power
Russian
mozno
possible
Anchisēs (Greek). Father of Eneas, was maimed by Zeus. From a base -nk angular :
Greek
ankyra
anchor
Greek
Anchisēs
a god (allusion to his aspect after he was maimed)
Latin
uncus
hook
Italian: ReggioE.
ancon
elbow
Latin
inguen
groin: anatomical angle, French aine
English
angle
Andarta (Breton). A goddess. From a base dr-t “shining”:
Albanian
dritë, ndriçim
light
Albanian
ndruj
illuminate
Albanian
ndrit
to shine
Albanian
ndritur
clear, resplendent, illustrious
Breton
Andarta
a goddess
Mod.Greek
andrakis
glowing fire
Mod.Greek
andrax
coal, carbuncle
Anc.Greek
anthrax
id.
Mod.Greek
andrakotós
zinc white
Spanish
andrina, endrina
sloe (a light blue fruit)
Andromachē (Greek). Wife of Hector. Name interpreted as “she who fights like a strong man” (Carnoy).
Andromedē (Greek). Daughter of Cepheus, king of Ethiopia and of Cassiope. Name interpreted as “she who reigns over humanity” (Carnoy).
Angel (English). From Greek angelos “messenger”.
Angelo (Roman). Daughter of Jupiter and Junon (the Messenger).
Antigonē (Greek). Daughter of Oedipus. Also daughter of Laomèdon (Greek). From anti opposite and gonè giving birth; interpretation of this etymology is conjectural.
Aphrodítē (Greek). Goddess of love; see Hermaphrodítē.
Apóllōn (Roman) (Greek). God of the sun, the round celestial body. From a morphologic base p-l round (Cf. Korè) :
Spanish
avellana
hazelnut
Lithuanian
apvalus
round
Greek
Apóllōn
Greek and Gaulish god identified with Helios, the sun, the only celestial body appearing constantly round
English
apple
roundish fruit
German
apfel
apple
Aponius (Greek). God of the thermal waters. From Romanian apă water. See Epidius.
Ara (Hittite). A divinity of the fields. From a root ar-, English earth.
Arēs (Greek). God of war, identified by the Roman with Mars. From a root ar- to ask, curse:
Greek
areiē
a cursing, menacing
Greek
Arès
god of war
Greek
arētēr
the one who addresses prayer to the gods
Hittite
arya-
to ask the oracle
Aréthousa (Greek). Nymph of a fountain near Syracuse. A collateral form of ardousa waterer (Klein).
Argeia (Greek). Daughter of Okeanos. See Argos.
Argonautēs (Greek). Heroes led by Jason to fetch the golden fleece. See next word.
Argos (Greek). Giant with a hundred eyes, personification of the starry sky. From a base -rg shining :
Basque
argi
shining
Basque
argia
light
Greek
argēs
white, shining
Greek
Argō
ship of the Argonauts: the sun
Greek
Argos
giant with a hundred eyes
Greek
Argeia, Argyra etc.
divinities
Breton
argant
silver
French
argent
shining metal
Arinna (Hittite). Goddess of the sun. See Horai.
Arktos (Greek). Name of Centaure and of two constellations; arktos bear.
Artemis. Greek name of the Roman Diana. From a base r-t shining, yellow :
Basque
iratzi
to set fire
Basque
aratz
shiny, pure,beautiful
Greek
Artemis
goddess of the moon
Greek
artemísia
a whitish plant (absinth)
Asar (Egypte). The same as Osiris. See Asia.
Ases, see Aesar and next word.
Aštóreth. A Canaanitish goddess; see Astarte.
Asia (Greek). Daughter of Okeanus. From a base -s- fire, light :
Caucasus: Abkhaz
ša
dawn
Hittite
siwat
day
Oubykh
s’a
white
Basque
su
fire
Sanskrit
sus
devil
Akkadian
isu
fire
Old Norse
ysja
fire
Albanian
iskër
spark
Etruscan
usil
sun
Albanian
jezull
hot coal
Turkish
yezil
(I.-E substratum, prob. from Albanian) yellow-green
Kurdish: Sorani
Yezdan
god, personification of the sun
Persian
Ized
personification of the sun
Greek
Osiris
an Egyptian god, personification of the sun
Hebrew
esu
day
Hittite
assu
good
Sanskrit
su
good (Greek eu- has been related)
Syriac
Aziz
assessor of the sun
Arbic
aziz
charming
Berber
ass
day
Basque
oz
sky
Assyrian
Zu
god
Ethiopia: Hamar
zo
dark red
Persian
àzar
fire
Greek
azo
to burn
France: H.Savoie
si, assi
fire
French (dialectal)
aisir
to burn
French: Béarnais
ajèy
glowing fire
Lithuanian
aiškéti
become clearer (figurative)
Etruscan
Ais
God
Icelandic
Aesar
Scandinavian gods
Ombrian
Esuna
god
Osque
aasai
burnt
Greek
Eos
dawn, personificatin of dawn
Greek
iosis
rust
Basque
izokin
salmon (pink flesh)
Latin
isox
id.
Cornish
ehoc
id.
Breton
eok
id.
Sanskrit
usis
copper
Sanskrit
usàs
dawn
Lithuanian
aušra
dawn
Greek
Auson
son of Italos and Leucaria
Old Prussian
ausis
gold
Lithuanian
auksas
gold
Tokharian
wäs
gold
Sanskrit
ustáh
burning
Italian
ustione
combustion
French
combustion
burning
Old H. German
ostar
the East
English
east
the East
Georgian
Osi
name of a tribe related to the Alans, people of the East, the Ossets, cf. Asioi,below
Russian
osetin
Osset
Russian
vostók
the East
German
gestern
yesterday (Latin hesternus “of yesterday” is evidently a borrowing)
English
yesterday
Old English
Eastre
a Teutonic goddess of spring
English
Easter
a spring festival
Italian
ostro
purple colour
Italian
ostro, austro
Latin auster “south wind ” (?)
Old Norse
austr
the East
Greek
Asia
Anatolia, region of dawn
Greek
Asiai, Asiaioi
Ossetes, people of the East
Greek
Aísa
Thrace
Assyrian
açu
the East
Hebrew
Aššur
Assyria
Latin (borrowing)
aser
blood
Hittite
išar
blood
Tokharian
ysar
blood
Greek
ichor
blood of the gods
Etruscan
es’i
blood
Afghan
asai
hoarfrost
Ossetish
ix
ice
English
ice
ice
German
eis
ice
Askálaphos (Greek). Son of Acheron, changed into an “owl”. However askálaphos appears to be the same word as askalopas, the Woodcock, a crepuscular bird with large eyes, somewhat like an owl.
Asōpos, Aspa (Greek), Asopus (Roman). Beotian fluvial god, son of the Ocean and Thetys changed into a river by Jupiter. From Romanian apâ water.**asp ?
Astarte (Phoenician). Goddess who presided over the destinies of all stars. From a base s-t shining :
Hebrew
esther
the star Venus
Akkadian
istar
the star Venus
Tokharian
àstär
clear, clean
Assyrian
Ištar
chief goddess of Assyrians and Babylonians
Phoenician
Astarté
goddess presiding over all heavenly bodies
Hebrw
Aštóreth
a goddess
Dravidian
istar
star
Greek
astēr
star
Greek
astéria
daughter of the moon
Modern Greek
xásteros
clear sky (with prosth. x, cf. xaspizo, aspizo)
Greek
stérops
shining
Modern Greek
asterátos
having a white spot on the forehead
Greek
astērias
a kind of heron
Greek
astraia
starry
Greek
Astraea
goddess of justice, the personification of innocence and purity.
Modern Greek
astari
lightning
English
star
a shining celestial body
French: Savoie
stârâ
to clean
Gaelic Scotland
tuar
to blanch, whiten
Astéria (Greek). Daughter of the Moon, thrown into the sea by Zeus. Appears to represent a meteorite. See Astarté.
Asthoreth. Canaanitish goddess, identical with Astarté, q.v.
Astraea (Greek). Daughter of Jupiter and Themis, goddess of justice. See Astarte.
Asu (Sanskrit). Devil. See Ais.
Atešgagh (Persian). A god identified with the Greek Pyrrhos. See Aith.
Athēnē (Greek). Goddess of wisdom, identified with the Roman Minerva. See Aith.
Athamas, Athamant (Greek). Husband of Nephelē, father of the rising sun (i.e. he comes before sunrise). From a base t-m dark :
Gaelic Ireland
temen
darkness
Russian
temnyj
dark
Russian
potemki
dark;dusk
Czech
temnê
dark
French: North
estaminet
tavern
Albanian
tym
smoke
Greek
thymíama
incense
Greek
Athamas, Athamant
husband of Nephélē
Bulgarian
tima
darkness
English
stymie
inability to see clearly; not to see a styme
Serbocroatian
tama
darkness
Sanskrit
támā
darkness
Tokharian
tamasse
dark
Kurdish
temiri
to go out (fire)
Kurdish
tamāi
darkness
Lithuanian
tamsā
darkness
Lettish
tumsa
darkness
Atharvan (Vedic). Name of a fire priest ātarsh fire. See Aith.
Atlas (Greek). He was condemned to support the Earth on his shoulders, and identified with the Atlas mountains, a high range in northwestern Africa. Atlas appears to be a borrowing, with metathesis, from Ibero-Romance altas (montañas); one cannot deny that the Ibero-Romance alto is at least as old as Ancient Greek; several Romance words have been borrowed by the Greek writers, i.e. south Italian ascilla “little wing” > Achilleus etc.); Atlas is not a Greek word, therefore the meaning a-tlas “the one that supports” is a Greek etymology given to a foreign word, a folk etym. that gave rise to the legend of Titan supporting the sky.
Attis (Phrygian), in Greek Papos, Zeus Papos : god, the father of male power, favorite of Cybele, the female power. From a word meaning father, grand-father :
Chaldean
et
father
Elamite
atta
grand-father
Phrygian
atta
father
Phrygian
Attis
a god
Hittite
attaš
grand-father
Akkadian
atein
grand-father
Greek
atta
grand-father
Tokharian
atäl
grand-father
Augē (Greek). Daughter of a king. See next word.
Augeias (Greek). Son of the sun. From a bas -g sunlight, daylight :
Touareg
eg
to burn
Sumerian
ug
day
Cushitic: Nubia
ug, ugu
day
Basque
egun
day
Basque
eguantz
dawn
Basque
goiz
morning
Basque
ego
the South
Albanian
jug
the South (Slavic id.)
Albanian
agim
dawn
Etruscan
aukēlōs
(in Hesychius) dawn
Greek
augē
dawn, sunlight
Greek
Aegyptos
Egypt, country to the South
Basque
eguztu
sun
Greek
aygoustos
August
English
august
the hot month (“month of emperor August” by folk etymology; the word preceded the emperor)
Spanish
agosto
August
Breton
eost
August
Aura (Greek). Was changed into a fountain. From Gr. aurà breeze.
Ausōn (Greek). Son of Ulysses and Circe, or son of Italos and Leucaria (Greek). See Asia.
Autumnus (Greek). Roman personification of autumn From a base t-n yellow, reddish, the colours of autumn :
French
tan
reddish-brown
English
tan
reddish-brown
French
tanin
tannin
Breton
tann
oak, for its foliage colour in winter
Breton
tane
red colour
French: Val d’Aoste
tanet
light brown
Italian
tanè
tawny
German: Val d’Aoste
tèni
globeflower (Trollius) a yellow buttercup
French (dialectal)
tanée
tansy
French
tanaisie
tansy
English
tansy
a yellow flower
Albanian
thanë,
cornouiller sanguin
Italian
tanacéto
tansy
Italian: Otranto
tanacéa
Great Tit
French (dialectal)
toné
yellowish
French (dialectal)
toni
brownish-yellow
French (dialectal)
tôni
Bombinator igneus, a toad with yellow belly
English
tony-hoop
Bullfinch
English
tawny
a reddish colour; Bullfinch
English
tone
tint
French: Aoste
aoutonner
to turn yellow (leaves)
French
automne
the golden season
Spanish
sanantonio
Robin redbreast
Portuguese: Azores
santo antonio
Robin redbreast
Galicia
ataia
Red Kite
Sardinian: Alguer
santaïni
october, the golden month
Galicia
autono
october
Spanish
otoño
autumn
English
autumn
the golden season
Aziz (Syriac). Assessor of the sun. See Asia.
Baal (Chaldean). Name of many deities of the Semitic peoples; also “the supreme god”. See Belenos.
Babaktēs (Greek). Nickname of Bacchus. From a base b-b rounded :
Slavic
baba
various round objects; nanny
Czech
bábovka
a kind of pastry, German kugelhof
French
baba
a kind of pastry
Romanian
babiţă
belly
Greek
Babaktēs
Bacchus, for his pot-belly
Ukrainian
babik
Wren (roundish little bird)
Russian
babica
a kind of mushroom
Russian
baba, babuška
old woman, grand-mother
Romanian
babă
old woman, grand-mother
Bacchus.See Bakchos.
Baga (Persian). God. See Bog.
Bagaios (Phrygian). Name of Zeus in Phrygia. See Bog.
Bakchos (Greek). God of wine. From a base b-k rounded, for his pot-belly. Cf. his nickname Babaktès:
Albanian
bakanjar
pot-bellied
Greek
Bakchos
Bacchus, pot-bellied god of wine, cf. Buddha and Babaktēs (above)
Ukrainian
bakša
melon
Ukrainian
baklazán
egg-plant
Ukrainian
baklága
tub
Russian
baklága
bottle
Bielorussian
bakasik
plover (roundish shorebird)
Serbocroatian
bakva
Wren (roundish bird)
English
back
part of body
French
bac, baquet
large recipients
Balor (Gaulish). Mythical giant. From a base b-l big, very large :
Romanian
bal
large animal, monster
Albanian
belaur
large animal, monster
Catalan
baluern
large animal, monster
Gaelic Ireland
Balor
mythical giant
Galician
ballena
whale, enormous animal
French
baleine
whale
Batōn (Greek). Coachman of Amphiraos. His other names Schoinikos rush and Elatonos (from Elatè fir) indicate that a coachman used a whipping, swinging object. From a kinetic base b-t indicating a certain movement:
English: Lancs.
bat
beat the wings
English
bate
beat the wings, flutter
English
bat
a night flying mammal, a moth; wattle, swinging stick; (verb) blink the eyes
English
grassbat
grasshopper
English: N.Yorks.
bats
dark specks which appear floating before the eye when the sight is impaired; (slang) insane
French
bâton
bat: a swinging stick
French
batifoler
to romp
French
battre
English to beat, trash
French: Bray
battemare
wagtail
German (dialectal)
battervogel
butterfly
English
butterfly
an insect flying with a light movement. No kin to “butter”
Bel (Assyrian). Lord of the world, personification of the sun. See next word.
Belenos (Gaulish). A beneficent god. From a base b-l white :
Dravidian South
bel, vel
day, white
Dravidian
vela
sun
Canarese
belatu
to shine
Canarese
bel, vëlli
silver
Hebrew
bālagh
to shine
Arabic
balaga
to shine; bdaliga to be happy
Syriac North
balbis
to gleam
Berber
bellar
clear, glass
Assyrian
Bel
lord of the world: the sun personnified
Chaldean
Baal
the god par excellence
Welsh
Beli
god of the sun
Gaulish
Belinos, Abellio
god of the sun
French North
belle (la)
the moon
French (dialectal)
bélé
clear, bright
French (dialectal)
béléja
lightning
Italian: Canavese
bagliore
blinding light
Old Norse
bāl
big fire
English
balefire
bonfire
French: Valais
beaux (les)
fires lit on the mountains at St.Jean
Aromanian
bel
white
Beletrus cadrus (Gaulish). See Kadha.
Beli (Welsh). God of the Sun. See Belenos.
Bellōna (Greek). Goddess of the war. From a widespread base b-l to roar etc., war or battles being a noisy conflict:
English
bawl
to howl, roar
Danish
bolen
to roar
Old Norse
baula
to low; cow
Sardinian
baulai
to bark
Italian: Piedmont
baolé
to bark
French: Poitou
bouler
to cry
French
bwéler
to cry
French: H.Pyrénées
boueylacujan
Green Sandpiper
English
bull (to)
to chatter; lie, exageration (bullshit by folk etym., the original meaning of bull being lost)
English
bull
French bulle, edit of the pope
French
bulletin
a publication
German
bellen
to bark
German
widerbellen
gobbling (turkey)
English
bell, bellow
to roar
English: Scotland
bellum
noise, din
Welsh
bel
war: a noisy operation
Latin
bellum
id.
English: Orkneys
katabella
Buzzard
Bendis (Thracian). Artemis. See Venus.
Berham (Persian). Guardian spirit of fire. From a root b-r reddish:
Basque
bero
hot
Old Persian
berham
guardian spirit of fire
Breton
brut
hot
Spanish: Léon
aburar
to burn; Bercia aborar id.
Persian
bur
fire
Persian, Wakhi
būr, pūr
red-brown, honey colour
Persian
bur
Pheasant
Pamirs
vūr
red-brown
Ossetic
bor
yellow
Welsh
bore
morning
Serbo-Croatian
borast
reddish
French: Gascogne
bourret
light red; b.lim. bourés id.
French: B.Limousin
bourés
light red
Latin
burrus
bright red; red-haired
French
bordeaux, rouge-bord
maroon
Hebrew
burdgani
orange, brown (prob. an I.E. influx)
English
bread
German brot (position in paradigms uncertain)
French: occitan
bouire
rufous cow
French: Gascogne
aubourejà
to glow red
French: Languedoc
aubour
Laburnum
French: B.Pyr.
abor
id.
French reg.
auburon, aburon, hamburon
lactaire, a rosy yellow mushroom
Old French
auborne
auburn
English
auburn
dark reddish brown
Bog (Russian). God. From a base b-g big :
English
big
large
Persian
Baga
god
Greek
Bagaios
nickname of Zeus
Russian
Bog
god
Russian
bogac
wealthy man
Czech
bohatě
abundantly
Albanian
bugat
much
Boreas (Greek). The Northwind. From a base b-r dark :
Georgian
bori
fog
Modern Greek
vorras
North wind
Italian (dialectal)
bora
North wind
Albanian
borë
snow
Catalan
bora
mist
Portuguese
borra
mist
Spanish
borrar
to get dark
Greek
bóreas
North wind
French
bure
brown, grey, dark, blackish brown frock worn by members of a religious order; Dunnock (a dark bird)
Galician
aburado
blackened
Bormone (Gaulish). Goddess of thermal waters, eponym of Borbonne-les-Bains.
Boudha (Hindi). Nickname of Sidaharta Gantana, founder of Buddhism. Boudha, like Bacchus, is always represented as a pot-bellied figure. From a base b-d rounded :
Gaelic Scotland
budhag
bale of straw
Gaelic Scotland
budhaigir
Puffin
Middle Low German
buddich
swollen
Hindi
Buddha
nickname of Sidaharta Gantana, characterized, like Bacchus, by his pot-belly
Provençal
bouda
belly
Old French
bod, bodie, boudine
belly
English
body
the largest part of the anatomy
Burias (Kassite). The same of Greek Boreas.
Brigit (Gaelic Ireland). Daughter of Dagda, mother of poets, doctors and smiths. From a base br-g spotted :
Welsh
brych
spotted
Breton
brec’h
small pox
English Scotland
brichtie
Chaffinch
Gaelic Scotland
grille-brìghde
Oystercatcher
English Scotland
saint bridget’s bird
Oystercatcher
Gaelic Ireland
Brigit
a mythological being; a woman’s name
English: Isle of Man
bridgin
Oystercatcher
Gaelic Scotland
brid et var.
Oystercatcher
Breton
brizh
spotted
French: Cantal
bridjica
colour of jasper
Byblis (Greek). Nymph changed into a fountain. Name cognate to bubbling.
Cabires, see Kabeiroi.
Calliope, see Kalliop.
Catha, Cautha (Etruscan). A solar god. From a root k-d, k-t light-coloured, shining :
Dravidian
kādi
light
Ethiopia: Galla
hado
light
Egyptian
khad
white, shining
Arabic
hāga
to kindle, ignite
Greek
kádaros
clean, pure
Breton
sked
glitter, gloss
Lithuanian
skaidrus, gjedras
clear
Lettish
dzidrs
clear, clear sky
Persian
xadir
beauty
Gaelic: Ireland
cadhla
beautiful
Breton
kadr
beautiful; a component in Beletus cadrus Gaulish nickname of Mars by folk etym., beletus being understood “beautiful” instead “bellicous”
Gaulish
Beletus cadrus
nickname of Mars, by folk etymology, beletus being understood as “beautiful” instead of “bellicous”
Anc.Greek
Kadmos
father of Illyrius
Etruscan
cath
sun
Etruscan
Catha, Cautha
solar god
Sanskrit
katūh
glitter
Lithuanian
kaita
glitter
Lithuanian
kaitrus
warm
Greek
katreūs
an Indian bird, the Monal, a pheasant with magnificent colours
Cel, Cilens (Etruscan). God of Hell. See saoghal (in appendix).
Celadon (Roman). Shepherd clad with pale cloth. From a root s-l pale green:
Spanish
celadura
enamel
Romanian
ceadăriu
pale green
Turkish
çadir
(< substr. balk.) pale green
French
celadon
a pale green powdery colour
Polish
seledyn
celadon green
Latin
chelidonia
a powdery green plant
Italian: Calabria
helica
yarrow (a powdery green plant)
Ancient Greek
achilleios
yarrow
Cera (Gaulish). Beneficent god of the Celts. The same as Cerès, q.v.
Cerēs. Roman goddess of agriculture. She is represented with corn ears in her hands. From a base k-r yellow :
Greek
kirros
orange-yellow
Latin
cereus
yellowish
Latin
cerealis
cereal (not from ker- “to
grow”; to grow is not a characteristic of cereals but their yellow color is)
Latin
Cerès
“goddess of the harvest” (secondary, like Saturn from sator “the sower”)
Latin
cerumen
earwax
French: Savoie
cerougne
celandine (a plant with orange-yellow latex)
French
cire
yellowish matter
Albanian
shqeri
the Slavs
Greek
kèrtès
yellow (wax)
Spanish
cártamo
safflower (cannot relate to Arabic qurtum to prune)
Cerberus. See Kerberos.
Cernunnos (Gaulish). A god with red-deer antlers. Being a hapax (attested only once), the name is evidently a misreading for Cervunnos, derived from the Latin Cervus red deer.
Chalyps (Greek). Son of Arēs, eponym of the Chalybes, the metal workers. From a base kh-lk copper-coloured :
Greek
chalkidikós
a variety of domestic hen (the ancestral races are often coppery)
Greek
chalkís
Glossy Ibis (coppery colour)
Mod. Greek
chalkokotta
id.
Mod. Greek
chalkókorone
Roller
Greek
halkyón
Kingfisher
Greek
chalyps
steel
Greek
Chalybes
metal workers
Latin
chalybeus
steel-colour (borrowed from Greek)
Cháris (Greek). A Grace, one of the thre attendants of Aphrodite. See next word.
Charites (Greek). The Graces, companion of Venus and Helios, personification of charm. See next word.
Chárōn (Greek). Son of Erebus, who ferried the souls of the dead across the rivers Acheron and Styx. Sojourn of sinners after death, hell: a blazing place. Certainly not from chairō “the lovable one”! Most beings or things pertaining to hell derive their name from heat or a black colour. From a base k-r fire, heat :
kārāru
fire, heat
Greek
karýstios
an insect that fire does not consume
Arabic
kari
to roast
Dravidian
kāri
to grill
Dravidian South
karun
crimson
Persian
xar
heat
Kurdish
kēruz
glowing coal
Persian
xariq
burnt
Persian: Sivand
xorg
glowing coal
Greek
Charon
son of Erebus
Ancient Greek
char
to shine
Ancient Greek
charra
joy; chaíro to rejoice
Ancient Greek
chárisma
grace
Ancient Greek
Cháris
one of the Graces; Charites the Graces
Ancient Greek
charmē
joy
French
charme
charm, attraction (from Greek, not from Latin carmen “song, magical words”)
Basque
kar
flame
Basque
kara
colour
Basque
kaer
beautiful
Chárybdis. A whirlpool between Italy and Sicily that swallowed ships. It was facing Skylla. A derivation from Gr. charopós “bright look” is certainly not descriptive. See Horai.
Chelidōn (Greek). Wife of Polytechnē, changed into a swallow. From a base kh-l bicoloured, mostly black above, white below.
English
kell-bird
Guillemot (a black and white sea bird)
English
helligoog et var.
id.
Modern Greek
chelido
mottled
Italian: Bova (Calabria)
khelido
variegated
Modern Greek: Karpathos
chilios
bicoloured goat with a white belly (Rhodos chelios)
Modern Greek: Imbros
chilidos
goat with a longitudinal band on forehead
Modern Greek
cheliá (katsika)
goat with a white belly
Modern Greek
chelidi (ēga)
goat with a black back and white belly
Modern Greek
chelidóna
Swallow (black back, white belly)
Ancient Greek
Chelidōn
Wife of Polytechnē, changed into a swallow
Italian: Calabria
hilidona
Swallow; harvested maize cobs
Chinōē (Greek). Personification of snow. From a base k-n white, beautiful :
Gothic
skauns
beautiful
Finnish
kaunis
beautiful
Lithuanian
šaunus
splendid
Breton
kened
beauty
English
kindle
stir up a fire
Old Norse
kynda
id.
Swedish
skina
to shine
Swedish
sken
light
Greek
chion
snow
Armenian
jiun
snow
Chimaira (Greek). Monster half goat, half lion, spitting fire. From a base k-m light colour, day :
Egyptian
skm
grey haired
Greek
Kymē
a town in Chalcique
Greek
Kymōlos
one of the Cyclades islands known for its chalky soil
Modern Greek
kymolía
chalk
Modern Greek
kiméri,
kimourdzias
swan
Greek
Chimaira
a mythical monster
Czech
kmit
glimmer
Kurdish
xum
painted
Kurdish
xum-arreže
magpie
Hebrew
jōm
day
Arabic
jaum
day
Chlōris (Greek). Personification of spring. From a root chlor- green:
Ancient Greek
chloros
light yellow
Ancient Greek
chloeros
light green
Ancient Greek
chloris
Greenfinch,
Modern Greek
chlorida
Greenfinch
Modern Greek
chloros
pale
Chloē (Greek). Surnom de Dēmētēr, guardian of the green corn. From Gr. chloē green grass. See Ceres and Chlōris.
Chrónos (Greek). Personification of time, perpetually recurring in a circular movement. From a root k-r round:
Welsh
cor
round
Gaelic Ireland
cor
circular
Kurdish, Ossetish
xor
sun
Persian
hur
sun
Kurdish
xir
round
Polish
korowaj
wedding cake
Ancient Greek
chrónos
the time (cf. heure, hereunder)
Modern Greek
kora
city, cf. gorod chori village
Modern Greek
korós, khorós
a dance; choir, assembly
Bulgarian
horo
a dance
Romanian
hórâ
a dance; town; choir
Romanian
horáni
Swift (flies in circles)
French
heure
Spanish ora, hour: around the dial. Also Avesta yara, German Jahr, English year: notion of revolution
Cil, Cilens (Etruscan). God of hell. From a root s-l shining (See also saoghal (names for “world”), below.
Guanche
zelo
sky
Guanche
cel
to light
Etruscan
Cel, Cilens
god of hell
Ancient Greek
sélas
dawn, glare, light
Cimbres. See Kímbroi.
Circé, see Kirkē.
Cleopatra, see Kleopatra.
Clio, see Kleiō.
Cupido (Roman). Personification of desire. From Latin cupere to desire, cognate to Italian covidare, and French convoiter, English covet. The etymology of the Latin should looked for in the Romance words and not vice versa.
Daidalos (Greek). A mythical artist : One who is skillful with his fingers. A borrowing from Romance (Ibero-Romance dedo). Cf. Daktyloi “the fingers” a name given to some small spirits known for their skillfulness at manual work.
Daimōn (Greek). Subordinate gods, identified with the jinnee. See Demon.
Danaides (Greek). Daughters of Danaós. They were condemned to draw water perpetually with vessels that had no bottom. See Danaós.
Dan (Dorian Greek). Name of Jupiter among the Cretans. From a base d-n din :
Old English
dune
sound of bells
Danish
don
din
Old Norse
done
thunder
English
din
great noise
Greek (Dorian)
Dan
Jupiter in Crete
Lettish
dunēt
to drone
Czech
duněni
rumble, roar
Sanskrit
duni
din
Danaē (Greek). Daughter of Acrisius. See Danaós.
Danaides (Greek). The fifty daughters of Danaós (q.v.) who were condemned to draw water perpetually with vessels that had no bottoms.
Danaós (Greek). A descendant of Poseidōn. Provided water to the city of Argos. Plurial Danaoi the Danaāns, descendants of Danaós, whence the Greeks in general (Klein). Danaós appear to be identical with Tanaus, king of the Scythians who came to Argos and became blended with the Greeks. The name appears to be cognate to Don, Dniepr and Dniestr and the mythical river Tanais the Danube. Possibly cognate to Danaē, daughter of Acrisius, who appeared to be a mass of clouds, and to Hindi Danavas the clouds pierced by arrows which caused their blood to gush out of their wounds, thus being likened with water-filled clouds (see Parisot). Don is also the name of two rivers in France (Orne) and two in England, Donne a river in France (Puy-de-Dôme), Donnette (Orne), Dinan a small river affluent of the Loir (Sarthe), Dyenne (13e s. Dina) affluent of the Ource (Côte d’Or). Breton don “deep”.
Dānū, Danavas (Hindi), malicious spirits. See Danaós.
Dárdanos (Greek). Eponym of Dardania. Cf. the Dardanelles and the sea of Marmara, both having the sens of “scintillating” (Gr. mamairein to shine). From a root dard- “to tremble”:
Basque
dardara
trembling; Swift (trembling flight)
Basque
durdurikatu
to sway
Romanian
dârdâi, dârdâesc
to tremble, vibrer, etc.
French
darder
to hurl, to flash a glance of; darder ses rayons the sun shot its beams (in fact: to shine strongly, sparkle)
Basque
dirdiratu
sparkle
French: Berry
darder
to tremble
French: Vendée
darder
oscillate, etc.
Italian nord
darder et var.
Sand Martin; Swift; Bee-eater (from their way of flying)
Daunus (Illyrian). See Faunus.
Deamha (Irish Gaelic). Devil, q.v.
Deiōn (Greek). Son of Eole, father of Nisos and other children.
Dēmētēr (Greek). Goddess of the fertile earth. From mètèr “mother”, mētris “the native land”, and dè akin to Albanian dhe “earth, soil, country”, Illyrian dha “earth”.
Demon (English, borrowed from Greek). From a base d-m to burn, black, red :
Assyrian
da’amu
black
Assyrian
dahāmi
to burn
Hebrew
adom
black
Arabic: Tunisia
dahma, adham
grey
Arabic
dāma
darkness
Akkadian
damu
blood
Berber
idamen
blood
Lithuanian
dėmė
blotch
Albanian
thimë
also: përthimë, perhimë, himtë grey
Albanian
dimër
winter
English
dim
dark
Serbocroatian
dim
smoke
Slovene
dimast
smoked
Lettish
dumai
smoked
Modern Greek
demonas
devil (certainly without relation with dais “banquet”)
English
demon
devil, black monster in the traditions
French
démon
devil
German
dämmerung
twilight
Demonas (Greek). Demon. See preceding word.
Deuce (English). See Devil.
Dev (Persian). Devil. See Devil.
Devil (English). The deuce. Most devils are black monsters in the traditions. From a base d-v black :
Gaelic Ireland
dubh
black
Welsh
ddu
black
English
deuce
devil
Persian
dev
(Hindi id.) devil
Kurdish: Sorani
dew
demon
Persian: Sivand
dīf
demon
Gaelic Ireland
deamhan
devil
Gaelic Ireland
domhnall dubh
Rook
English
devil
devil, also Black Swift (cf. Italian diavolo, below)
English: Som.
devil’s bird
Rook
Old English
diwell
“a bird called Coute and because of its blackness is called a Diwell” (liter. 1580).
English
devilfish
manta (all black above)
Gaelic Ireland
diabhal
devil
Spanish
diavolín
a petrel
Italian
diavolo
devil
Italian: Viterbo
uccello del diavolo
Martinet noir
Italian: Bagolino
cassa-diáol
Black Swift
French: Walloon
neur-diâl
Black Swift
Bulgarian
diavolica
Cormorant
Spanish
diablo
devil, also petrel
Spanish
pájaro diablo
Coot
Spanish
garza diablo
Glossy Ibis
French (dialectal)
diablo
Reed Bunting
Provençal
diablé de mar
Cormorant
French: Haïti
merle diable
a grackle
Dew (Kurdish). Devil, q.v.
Dezao (Kalasha). The god of creation. See Dios.
Di (Italian: Val Verzasca). God, also day. See Dios
Dia (Gaelic Ireland). God. See Dios.
Diabhal (Gaelic Ireland – loan-word). Devil, q.v.
Diable (French). Devil, q.v.
Diablo (Spanish). Devil, q.v.
Diafol (Welsh). Devil, q.v.
Diana (Roman). Goddess of the moon and hunting. From a base d-n, t-n daylight :
Tamil
tinam
day
Etruscan
tin
day
Etruscan
Tinia
a god
Etruscan
Thana
a mountain fairy
Albanian
Zana
a mountain fairy (probably identical to Diana
Hittite
zana
day
Sanskrit
dinam
day
Lettish
diena
day
Latin
Diana
goddess of the moon and hunting
Kurdish: Sorani
dinya
the world
Russian
den
day, polish dzien’
Serbocroatian
dān
day, daylight
English
dawn
daybreak
Albanian
ndajnate
at twilight
Diavolo (Italian). Devil, q.v.
Dof (Persian: Sivand). Devil, q.v.
Dio (Italian). God. See Dios.
Diomēdēs (Greek). Son of Mars or Atlas; he fed his horses with human flesh. From Gr. mēdomai inventive.
Dionysos (Greek). God of wine. Perhaps formed with Di- (Italian Dio “God”) and oínos “wine”.
Dios (Spanish). God. Beneficient gods are associated with daylight, and were originally the daylight or the sun itself (we are all sunworshippers), contrarily to the devils, who are associated with black colour:
Persian: Sivand
jezeyl
polar star
Kalasha
Dezao
god the creator (the Kalashas are a non-Moslem people of northern Pakistan)
Lithuanian
dažai
dye, colour
Albanian
ndez
I light
Breton
dez
day
Latin
dies
day
Spanish
Dios
god
Greek
Dioskouroi
the sons of god (Castor et Pollux)
Sanskrit
Dyaus
(borrowing) god
Greek
thoós
shining
Greek
Theos
god
Phrygian
Tios
god
Etruscan
Thesan
dawn; a goddess
Etruscan
tešamit
the East
Gaelic Ireland
theas
the South
Gaelic Scotland
deas
the South; the right hand
English
dazzle
to glare
English
daze
stupefy
English
daisy
marvel; various flowers (not “from daeges ège “day’s eye” because it opens its flower in the morning” (it does not, and “day’s eye” is devoid of meaning)
Welsh
daio
combustion
French: Landes
ayoù
glimmer of fire, reverberation
French: Drôme
aio
joy
Albanian
diell
sun
Albanian
djelli (lule), lule
sunflower
Gaelic Scotland
dealradh
glitter, splendor
Gaelic Ireland
dealfa
beautiful
Lettish (poetic)
daile
beauty
French: Paris
dalleux
very elegant
Welsh
dieo
beautiful
Italian
Dío
God
Gaelic Ireland
die
day
Spanish
día
day; Dios God
English
day
day
Gaelic Ireland
Día
day
Greek
eudía
clear weather
Italian:
Val Verzasca
Di
day; god
Romanian
zi
day, daylight, life
Romanian
Zeu
God
Greek
Zeus
god (borrowed from Daco-Romance Z.eus with influence of Latin Deus; the Greek word is Theos)
Breton
deviñ
to burn
Breton
devez
day
Sanskrit
dava, diva
fire
Sanskrit
dhavală
white, to shine
Sanskrit
Dyava
personification of the sky
Latin
Diva
a goddess
Italian
diva
a famous singer (not “goddess” but “admired, dazzling woman”, cf. the following)
Czech
dive
marvel, miracle
Czech
dívti
to admire
Polish
dziw
marvel
Polish
dziwer
damascening
Sanskrit
dipti
glimmer of fire
Sanskrit
dipyami
to shine
Welsh
Duw
god
Gaelic Ireland
domhan
world
French: Limousin
tuvo
spark
French (dialectal)
atuber
to light a fire
Albanian
tiv
day
Old German
Tiw
god
Diva (Roman). A goddess. See Dios
Divone (Gaulish). Like Bormone, goddess of thermal waters, eponym of Divona (Cahors, France).
Diws (Welsh). Devil, q.v.
Djinn (French) see Jinn.
Dōris (Greek). Daughter of the ocean, mother of the Nereids. From a root dor- river, Breton dur water, Portuguese Douro, Italian Dora, France Dore etc. river names.
Drōttin (Old Norse), Dryhten (Anglo-Saxon). The Lord. Cf. Swedish drottning queen.
Duw (Welsh). God. See Dios.
Dyaus (Sanskrit). Same as Deus.
Dyava (Sanskrit). Personification of the sky. See Dios.
Easta (Old English). A Teutonic goddess. See Asia.
Eastre (Old English). A Teutonic goddess of Spring. See Asia.
Echō. A nymph, personification of echo; Gr. ēchō sound, noise, see Jynx.
Egeria (Etruscan). A fountain nymph. See Aigaia.
El (Hebrew). God. See Allah.
Elah (Aramaic), see Allah.
Eléktra (Greek). An Oceanid, an Atlantid, or another name for Laodice, daughter of Agamemnon. From a base l-k light, glimmer :
Greek
leukos
shining, clear
Greek
Leukē
the White Isles, see Elysion
Latin
lux
(borrowing) light
Greek
ēlektror
bright sun
Greek
ēlektron
amber
Greek
Elektryōn
son of Perseus
Greek
Elektryōnē
daughter of the sun
Greek
lukaugēs
dawn, twilight
Greek
lynkourion
(with nasalisation) a kind of amber
Latin
langurium
id. (calque of Greek)
Greek
lykábas
light
Elektryōnē (Greek). A daughter of the sun. See Eléktra.
Elektryōn (Greek). Son of Perseus. See Eléktra.
Elf (English). A little sprite. From a root l-f, -lf having a notion of lightness:
Mod.Greek
lafrys
light
Old Norse
alfr
elf
English
elf
small preternatural beings given to capricious interference in human affairs
English
elfin
small and spritely
Anc.Greek
elaphrós
quick, agile
Anc.Greek
élaphos
deer
Anc.Greek
laphazō
to pant
German
laufen
to run
Elysion (Greek). Abode of the happy souls, land ofeternal spring, located West of the earth. From a base l-s shining :
lśniać
to shine
Czech
luzný
charming
Armenian
lusawor
shiny
Greek
Elysiōn (peíōn)
abode of the happy souls (champs Élysées). Also called Leukē. See Elektra.
Enō (Greek). Goddess of war. From ainós terrible (cf. Aineias).
Endymiōn (Greek). Son of Jupiter, lover of Phoebe, condemned to eternal rest. A borrowing from Romance (cf. French endormir).
Eneas, see Aineias.
Eole, see Aialos.
Eos (Greek). Personification of dawn. See Asia.
Ephialtēs (Greek). Pernicious giant, malicious spirit. From a kinetic base fl-t, f-lt :
English
flutter, flitter
to flap, fly about
English
fluttermouse
bat
German
fledermaus
bat
German
flattern
to flutter
German (dialectal)
nachtfalter
moth
German (dialectal)
falter, folter
butterfly
OLd High German
fifalter
butterfly
Greek
epiáltēs
butterfly, phantom
Greek
Ephialtēs
pernicious giant, malicious spirit
Gaelic Ireland
fáltóg
swallow
English
to flatter
to compliment
French (dialectal)
flatin
flame
Epidius (Greek). Fluvial god. From Romanian apâ water
Epionē (Greek). Companion od Asklēpios. From Gr. ēpios benevolent.
Epona (Greek). Goddess protector of horses. Gaulish epos horse, borrowed from Greek hippos, Romanian iapâ horse.
Erōs (Greek). God of love. From erōs, gen. erōtos sexual desire, evidently cognate to, and certainly a borrowing from Latin erectio elevation, swelling, erectus erect.
Erebos (Greek). The darkness surrounding the world. From a base r-b dark :
Hebrew
`erebh
twilight
Latin
creper
(borrowing) dark (> French crépuscule)
Semitic
ereb
twilight
Chaldean
Ereb
Europe: region of the twilight
Greek
Europē
(borrowing) Europe, the region to the west, region of sunset
Greek
erebus
dark; hell
Greek
Erebos
darkness surrounding the world
Eridanos (Greek). Mythical river. Identified with the Rhône, Italian Ródano, German Swiss Rotten.
Erynys (Greek). Vengeful goddesses. From orino to pursue.
Esculape (French), Aesculapius (Latin), see Aisklèpios.
Eshmun (Phoenician). Personification of the sky. See Ammon.
Esuna (Ombrian). A god. See Asia.
Esus (Gaulish). God of wealth and arts, favourable to commerce and money (Caesar), equivalent of the Roman Mercury. From Gallo-Romance aise ease, comfort, aisé to be well off.
Eurōpē (Greek). Daughter of Agenor or of Phoenix, or various divinities representing the earth. See Erebos.
Euros (Greek). Son of dawn of of Typhōn; the southwest wind. Most names of the wind indicated their provenance: Thracia, Iapyx, Boreos, Libonotos, Euronotos (south Europe), Euros (from Europe).
Fatum (Roman). Destiny decided by the gods, fate.
Fairy (English). Enchantress nymphs. The fairies are always charming and associated with beauty. A fairy tale is a marvelous tale. Fairies are gracious and beneficent. No kin to Fātum fate, a quite different being, but from a base v-r, f-r light-coloured, pretty :
Old French
vair
grey-blue, variegated
Romanian
var
chalk
English
vare-wigeon
Smew (a dainty, mostly white diving duck)
French: Normandy
vier, viar
Smew; weasel
Italian
vájo
vair, variegated; weasel
English
fairy
weasel; a dainty imaginary being
English
fairy-bird
Least Tern
English
fairy-tern
Gygis alba, a tropical white tern, particularly pretty
English
fair
beautiful
French: Périgord
vaour
beautiful, green
Basque
berri
new, fresh
Albanian
verzullim
shining, sparkling
Albanian
verë
Summer
Spanish
verano
Summer
Faunus (Roman). God of the countryside. Like the Grrek Pan it is represented with horns and goat’s feet. Cf. Greek thaunos wildbeast.
Favonius (Roman). Personification of the west wind. See Phoebē.
Februus (Roman). God who presided over the “februa”, purifications of the month of February (what are these “purifications” ?). From a kinetic base f-b to shiver :
French
fébrile
feverish
English
February
month of fevers and shivers
Latin
febris
fever. Latin februa is secondary to febris “fever “)
English
fever
a state of illness characterized by shivers
Fée (French). See Fairy.
Feretrius (Roman). Nickname of Jupiter. See Feronia.
Ferōnia (Greek). Goddess of the earth and the deads. Latin ferus wild. For t> f, cf. Greek thaunos – Latin faunus, Greek thermos – Spanish enfermo.
Gaelic Scotland
farrach
violence
Portuguese
fero
ferocious
Greek
Phēres
nickname of the Centaure
Greek
thēríon
wild animal, monster
German
tier
animal
French
farouche
savage
Italian
ferire
to hurt, Spanish herir
English
fear
danger etc.
Roman
Feretrius
nickname of Jupiter
Roman
Feronia
goddess of the deads
Spanish
ferre, alforrocho etc.
Goshawk
Arabic
horr (tair el-)
hawk
Egyptian
Horus
hawk-headed god
Catalan
furro
savage
French
furie
rage
Italian: Sardinia
ferrere
to hit
Find (Gaelic Ireland). Another name for Lug. From a base f-n light-coloured :
Gaelic Ireland
find
white, shining
Gaelic Ireland
Find
a divinity, see Lug
Gaelic Ireland
finne
whiteness
Gaelic Ireland
fionn
beautiful, blond (hair), clear
Gaelic Scotland
fionnag
Hooded Crow
Gaelic Ireland
finngeinte
Norwegian, Finn
English
Finn
the people of Finland (obviously named by Gaelic people)
Flora (Roman equivalent of Greek Chloris). Goddess of flowers. From a base fl-r white:
Aromanian
flor
white
Romanian
flore
blond; white goat
Romanian
Flore
blond-hair goddess
Spanish: Mexico
pascua florida
a white buzzard (Leucopternis)
Spanish
Florida
a peninsula with extensive white sand beaches
Furiae (Roman). The three avending spirits. Personification of the fury.
Gabia (Old German). The “giver”, German geben to give.
Galatēs (Greek). Eponym of the Galates. From a base g-l tall, great, power, brave :
Assyrian
galla
tall, high
Amharic
Galla
a tall, black people
Bulgarian
goljam
tall
Hebrew
Goliáth
mythical giant
Kurdish: Sorani
gelē
many
Persian
galah
majestuous
Lithuanian
galia
power
Gaelic Ireland (o.liter.)
gally
to be empowered
Gaelic Scotland
Gael
Gaulish, Kelts: the braves, valiants
Gaelic Scotland
gall
(English id.) bravery
English
gallant
brave
Galáteia (Greek). Name of a Nereid. From a base g-l sunlight, shiny, white :
Sanskrit
gālā
(sun)light
Lettish
gailēt
to shine
Greek
Galáteia
a Nereid
Greek
galaxías
Milky Way
Greek
gala
lait
Greek (poetic)
glágos
lait
Welsh
gawl, gol
splendor, light, dawn
Welsh
gâl
shiny, beautiful
French (dialectal)
gaule
quality of what is charming
Old Provençal
galaubia
magnificence
Gaelic Ireland
gile
whiteness
Gaelic Scotland
geal
white, clear, beautiful, shiny
Gaelic Scotland
gealach
moon
Old Irish
gall
swan
Albanian
zgal
to clear up
Albanian
zgalem
tern (a white bird)
Ganyktor (Greek). Name of a singer in Dionysos’ cortège going to India. From an acoustic base g-n to cry, sing etc. :
Latin
gannire
to bark
Frenchdialectal)
hanâkh
noise
French
hennir
to neigh
French(dialectal)
hañi
to complain, whine
French(dialectal)
déganner
to laugh at
Italian (dialectal)
gaín (far)
to whine (dogs)
Old French
gaïn
the warbling of birds
English Scotland
gan
make a fuss
English Scotland
gun
to gossip
Ganymēdēs (Greek). Young cup-bearer of the gods. See Ganyktor.
Gauanis (Greek). Ancestor of the Macedonians, brother of Perdikka (a bird). From a base g-v to call, especially of certain birds :
Spanish
gavia
Black-headed Gull
Catalan
gavina
Black-headed Gull
French(dialectal)
gaviner
to cry, whine
Provençal
gavanh
Kestrel
Italian, North
gavinèl
Kestrel
French(dialectal)
gabian
Black-headed Gull
Genie, see next word.
Genius, plur. Genii (Roman). The Genii of the Etruscans and the Romans were the fathers of the gods, thus more ancient. Some authors identified them with the Semitic Jinnee. The Romans Genii, however were auspicious spirits, preserving men of their misfortune, presiding over their birth and destinies. The word may well be cognate to Jinn. The guardian angel of christianism wer inspired from the Geniia. From Latin gens founder, family, race.
Geryoneus (Greek). Three-headed monster defending his cow herd. From Gr. geryō to shout. From a base g-r to shout, call :
Arabic
garida
to sing, warble
Hebrew
gàron
sound
Sanskrit
garal
praise
Sanskrit
garjami
to sound
Russian
garkat’
to shout
Lithuanian
išgarbinti
to sing someone’s praise
Lithuanian
garsumas
tone
Breton
garsmen
cackling
Greek
gerys
voice
Albanian
gërje
rattle
Albanian
gërthas
I shout
German (dialectal)
gēret, gäred
goose
German (dialectal)
gerschwalbe
Swift
German
gerren
to shout
Gígās (Greek). Sons of the earth see next word.
Gígantos (Greek). Giants rival of the gods. sons of the earth. From gígās giant; cf. Lettish gāgans “giant”.
God (English). God is something good, like daylight, spring, and the sun. From a root k-d, g-d good :
Kyrghyz
Kuda
god
Kurdish
Xuda
god
Old Slavic
Pagoda (with the Slavic prefix pa-)
the deified spring and the god of fine days. His wife was Simzerla, goddess of flowers
Old Slavic
godinu
pleasing
Old Slavic
godú
pleasing moment
Swedish
Gud
English God, German Gott
German
gut
English good
Lettish
gods
honour
Greek
agathós
good
Greek
gythos
joy
Greek
getheō
to rejoice
Greek
hēdō
to rejoice, to charm
Goren (Basque). God. From a base g-r high:
Hindi
giri
montain
Basque
gora, gorai
high
Basque
goren
the highest, God
Guanche
acoran
the sublime, God
Berber
ager
to be bigger than
Welsh
goreu
the best
Ukrainian
gúra
hill
Gott (German). See God.
Graces. Romance translation of Greek Chárites.
Graikos (Greek). Eponym of the Graikoi of Epeiros. Borrowed from Latin Graecus Greek.
Gud (Swedish). See God.
Gygēs (Greek). Sea giants with a hundred arms, brothers of Aigaiōn. They are always associated with the sea. See Ogygēs and Gígantos.
Hadēs (Greek). Hell: a dark place. From a base -d dark :
Gaelic Scotland
udlachd
gloom
Gaelic Scotland
oidhche
night
Gaelic Ireland
odhar
dark
Gaelic Scotland
odharag, odhrag
Cormorant
Welsh
huddygl
soot
Berber
ehad, ifad
night
Bulgarian
ad
(Serbocroatian, Russian id.) hell
Greek
iodēs
violet
Lithuanian
juodas
black
Romanian
iad
hell
Greek
hadēs
hell
Latin
ianthina
purple-blue
French: Valais
antziane
gentian
French
gentiane
a dark blue flower
Romanian
ginţură
gentian
Harbe (Kassite). A god. Cf. Lithuanian garbė glory.
Harpē, Harpasos, Harpyai (Greek). The Harpies, rapacious monsters. From Gr. arpazto ravish:
Spanish
raptar
to rob
French
rapt
abduction
French reg.
rapia
dérober, FEW 10:63
English
rap
to strike; (arch.) transport with rapture
Romanian
răpi
ravir
Spanish
rapino
bird of prey
Spanish: Asturias
rapuñar
to snatch with hands
Catalan
rapinya
action of snatching
Aroumanian
arăpeáre
to carry off
Italian
arrapare
to grab
Anc.Greek
arakos
(p>k) a bird of prey
Etruscan
harog
a bird of prey
Anc.Greek (Macedonia)
arakit
ravish (seize)
Italian: Calabria
arrapa
to seize by the hair
Provençal
arapa
to grab
Spanish: Navarra
arrapa-pájaros
bird of prey
Spanish: Navarra
garrapiña
bird of prey
Basque
arrapari
bird of prey (< Romance)
French: Gascony
arpadoū
ravisher
Italian
arpa, arpía, arpella
bird of prey
Catalan
arpella
bird of prey
French
harpaye
bird of prey
French: Dauphiné
harpens
Eagle Owl (probably in tales intended to frighten)
Provençal
arpo
claw
French: Gascony
arpàd
handful
Provençal
arpi
seized
Provençal
arpian
bird of prey
French: Anjou
arpion
ergot
Provençal
artioun
claws
French (a term in hunting)
arpe, harpe
claw
French
harpe
musical instrument (from its shape, not “because it is played with crooked fingers” as in Klein)
German
arpel, erpel
male Mallard (from its curved feathers)
Catalan
arpelles, árpies, arpiot
hoe
Italian: Lucania
arpai
an implement with long iron teeth
Anc.Greek
harpē
sickle, hook
Anc.Greek
harpazto
to ravish
Anc.Greek
harpē, harpasos
a predatory winged monster, harpy
Mod.Greek
arpi
bird of prey.
Helénē (Greek). Luminous goddess, sister of the Dioscouroi. From a root hel- “shine”:
Arabic
halla
to shine
Hebrew
halal
id.
Akkadian
elèlu
to be shiny
Anc.Greek
hēlios
sun; heilē heat of the sun
German
hell
clear
English
hell
a blazing place (the explanation “that which hides” is unsuitable)
Latvian
elle
hell
Albanian
hüll, yll
star
Anc.Greek
Hellás
city in Thessaly (the white one) whence Hellènes a Thessalian tribe and, thereafter, the Greeks
Anc.Greek
Helénē
daughter of Zeus
Hēmera (Greek). Goddess of daylight. See Merops.
Hèphaistos (Greek). God of fire. From a base f-s fire, light, red :
Greek
phaos
light
Greek
phōs
flame, light etc.
French
face
figure, aspect, face;
English
face
the pale part of the body; without possible connection with Latin facere “to make do” (as in Klein)
Greek
Hēphaistos
god of fire
Greek
Phaethon
Hèlios or the sun
Modern Greek
fotia
outbreak of fire
Greek
phepsalos
hot coal, spark (ts>ps, cf. phassa –> phaps pigeon)
Modern Greek
papoufos
Robin redbreast (pap- “breast”)
Albanian
fis
blood
Hēra (Greek). Sister and wife of Zeus, queen of the gods; identified with the Roman Juno. Related to Greek hērōs “defender, protector, hero”.
Hēraklēs (Greek). Old Latin forctus, dial. horctus, horctis “good” (Klein), cognate to force.
Hercules. Roman name of Hēraklēs.
Hermēs (Greek). Son of Zeus and Maia, god of commerce and messenger of the gods. see Hermaphroditos.
Hermaphróditos (Greek). The root of this word may be maphr- related to the Alpine dialect mahlè (lateral fricative pronounced like Welsh ll “hl”) an animal that is neither male nor female. By folk etymology, the word has been divided in Hermēs “god of commerce” and Aphródítē “goddess of love”.
Hipparis, Hippurios (Greek). Fluvial spirits. From Romanian apâ water. Cf. Epidius.
Horai (Greek). God of the seasons. See Chrónos. Symbolizes the perpetual return of the season in a circular movement. From a base -r-, k-r round :
Kurdish, Ossetish
xor
sun
Persian
hūr
sun
Kurdish
xir
round
Greek
Chárybdes
a whirlpool between Italy and Sicily
Modern Greek
kora
town
Greek
Kora
a name for Persephonē
Modern Greek
korós, khorós
dance, choir, assembly
Bulgarian
horo
a dance
Greek
hōros
time of day, hour, year (revolving time)
Latin
hora
hour
Romanian
horă
round: a kind of dance; town
Dravidian
irru
round
Welsh
eirinen
pupil of the eye
Hittite
Arinna
the sun (the round celestial body, cf. Apollōn and Kirkē)
Bengali
arun
the sun; Arunachal Pradesh: land of the rising sun
Berber
aru
egg
Basque
erru
egg
Basque
aro
circle
Hittite
arinna
goddess of the sun
Horus (Egyptian). Hawk-headed god. See Ferōnia.
Hudha (Kassite). A god. Cf. Kirgiz Kuda.
Hy, Hyj (Albanian). God, personification of the blue sky. See Jupiter.
Hyákinthos (Greek). A mythical being. He was killed by Apollo, or by Boreas, or Zephyros. He probably was a personification of the sky. From his blood was born a blue flower (an iris).
Akkadian
uknū
blue
Greek
knéphas
twilight, darkness
Greek
kyanos
dark blue; Blue Rock Thrush
Greek
kynaigynthos
Blue Titmouse
Greek
hyákynthos
a blue precious stone and various blue flowers
Hymenaios (Greek). Goddess of marriage. From hymēnai, gmēn refrain sung at marriages. From a base h-m, g-m clamour :
Russian
gam
clamour
Russian
gom
noise, cry, barking
Swedish
gamman
jubilation
Greek
gmēn
a wedding song
Greek
hymnos
song of glory, > latin hymen
Iapetos. Greek name of Japheth, q.v.
Ichor (Greek). Blood of the gods. See Asia.
Ifrit (Arabic). A spirit, a djinn. From a base fr-t indicating a mouvement or something immaterial:
Italian
frotta
crowd
French
frotter
to rub
English
fret
ornament, cf. frill, above
French
fretin
multitude of small fish
French
frétiller
to wiggle
Gaelic: Ireland
friotáil
fluttering
Arabic
Ifrit
a spirit
Ikaros (Greek). Son Daedalos. He swayed in the air. From a kinetic base (s)k-r indicating certain mouvements :
English
scurry
to hurry
Swedish
skura
to rush
Greek
skairein
to skip, dance, bound
Greek
Ikaros
a mythical being who swayed in the air
Italian
scuriata
whip
English
scourge
whip, plague
English
scour
to pass over quickly; récurer
Illyris (Greek). Eponym of the Illyrians whose name derives from the river Ill, the region they inhabited.
Ilu (Akkadian). God, see Allah.
Imm (Egyptian). Ammon, god of the sky. See Ammon.
In. Eponym of the Ionians
Gaelic Ireland
uaine
green
Breton
yen
cold, sad
Ancient Greek
ios
verdigris
Ancient Greek
íōn
violet-colour; violet (the flower)
Ancient Greek
ionís
a shore bird: Kingfisher
Ancient Greek
oenas
pigeon
Hebrew
yon, yonah
(borrowed from Greek) pigeon
Lettish
ēna
shade
Ancient Greek
Iōnion Pélagos
the Ionan Sea (dark blue)
Albanian
Jon
the Adriatic Sea
Ancient Greek
Iōnía,
a region bordering the Ionan Sea
Hindi
Yūnān
Greece: region to the setting sun
Old Persian
Yaunā
id.
Sanskrit
Yavanah
id.
Hebrew
Yāwán
Egypt
Akkadian
Yāwamu
Egypt
Iris (Greek). The rainbow personified. From a chromatic base –r green, yellow:
Gaelic Ireland
ur
green
Welsh
ir
green, blooming
Ancient Greek
iris
rainbow, a precious stone, a flower
Armenian
awr
day, arot dawn
French
aurore
dawn
Berber: Kabyle
arura
dawn
Galice
aureal
Oriole
Catalan
oriol
Oriole Agaricus aurantius (a mushroom)
Italian north
oriöl
Oriole
French
oriol et var
Oriole
Romanian reg.
oriular
Oriole
Ishtar. Chief goddesss of the Assyrians and Babylonians, counterpart of Astartē, q.v.
Itys (Greek). Daughter of Aedōn, changed into a goldfinch. Probably an imitative name.
Iu (Etruscan). God.
Romanian
havaiu
sky-blue
Turkish
havaya
(pre-Osman substratum) blue
Kurdish: Sorani
hawīn
summer
Welsh
hâf
summer
Old English
haewen
blue
English
heaven
sky
English: Scotland
hyaw, haw
bluish
Old English
hīew, hīw
colour, appearance, form
English
hue
dye
Swedish
hy
complexion
Albanian
Hy, Hyj
God, divinity (deified blue sky)
Etruscan
Iu
God
Latin
Jupiter
god of thunder; for the second element see Jupiter
.
Iupiter, see Jupiter.
Iynx (Greek). Daughter of Pan, changed into a bird. From a base y-k to call, to neigh etc. :
French (dialectal)
hiper
to call from afar
English
hip hip
call of sportsmen
Spanish
hipido
call
Spanish
hipar, jipar
tumult, noisy playing
Greek
hyperionís
a hawk, probably the Black Kite (has a neighing call)
Greek
hypotriórchēs
a hawk
Greek
hippē, sippē, sittē
Green Woodpecker (has a neighing call)
Greek
hippos
horse
Greek (Eolian)
hikkos
horse
Latin
equus
(borrowing) horse
Etruscan
ikkas
horse
English(dialectal)
hickymouse
Blue Tit
English(dialectal)
equah, hickwaw
Green Woodpecker
Englishdialectal)
equal and var.
id.
French (dialectal)
yégass
id.
Greek
Pēgasos
(borrowing, with prosthetic /p/, or misreading Y for P) winged horse
Catalan
yegua
mare
Tokharian
yuk, yakwe
horse
Gaelic Ireland
each
horse (OE “eoh” horse is a misreading for O.Irish ech)
English
yuckfit
Common Snipe
German (dialectal)
yokkein
Wood Owl
German (dialectal)
juchzen
to call, rejoice
Greek
yachē
call
Greek
ianchos
“call of the Bacchantes ”
Gaelic Scotland
éigh
call
Greek
iygē, iygma
call
Greek
iynx
daughter of Pan, changed into a bird, the Green Woodpecker
Modern Greek
ixos
sound, noise
Greek
ēchō
sound, noise, whence English echo
Ized (Persian). Deification of the sun. See Asia.
Janus (Roman). God of the beginnings, personification of the beginning of the year. The root of this name, like January, the first month of the year, is nothing else than the latin unus and the Indo-European uno, ein etc. i.e. the number one, the first. Figuratively janus door: the opening of, the entrance to, since Janus is the opening of the year.
Indo-European
un, uno, ein
one
Greek
neo
new
Lettish
jauns
young
Lithuanian
jaun
young
English
young
Gaelic Scotland
òg
young
Gaelic Scotland
ògmhios
June
French
jeune
young
Italian
giovanno
young
Latin
Jovis
brother of Juno (see below)
Latin
Janus
god of the beginnings
English
January
the first month
German
Juni
June: the beginning of summer, the fine season
Latin
Juno
a beautiful goddess (deification of June)
Catalan
xunyo, san xoan
June
French
Saint-Jean (feux de)
bonfires lit at Saint-Jean in June
Japheth (Hebrew). The youngest of the three sons of Noah, brother of Shēm and Kham, q.v. Giant of the first ages, eldest son of the sky and earth, father of the peoples of the Occident. A relation with Hebrew yépheth “enlargement” (Klein) does not explain the name. Owing to the evident relation of Shām and Kham to colours, Japheth could also relate to a colour, his blond hair. From a Semitic root s-f yellow:
Arabic
safar
yellow
Arabic: Liban
asfar
yellow
Arabic
saffāra et var.
Oriole
Pers.: Sivand
šafaq
dawn
Kurdish: Sorani
šefeq
twilight
Tajik
isparaki
a yellow colour
Hebrew
Jafeth
the the blond-haired one
Kurdish
safra
bile
Kurdish
sufrah, sifyr
copper
Jason. Son of Aisōn, q.v.
Jehovah. See Yahweh.
Jinn, plural jinnee (Semitic). Malicious spirits. From Arabic jinni spirit. See also Genius.
Jovis, Diovis (Roman). Brother of Juno (wrongly assimilated with Jupiter). From a root juv- young. See Janus.
Jupiter (Roman, probably of Etruscan origin). God of thunder. Formed with piter (see below) and Iu god, from a base h-v blue, the heaven (see Iu and Hy). And piter from a base p-t noisy, very common in Romance languages :
French
péter
detonate etc.
Latin
Jupiter
(borrowing) god of thunder
French
pétard
noise
Galician
petar
to make noise
French: Languedoc
pétaret
noisy
Jynx, see Iynx.
Káberioi, Káberios. Greek name for the Semitic gods of fertility and wealth, also called the great gods. Beryt was a Phoenician god, father of Sydyk (the sky) and Esmoun (the fire); the Egyptian Kabirs were the sons of Fta and Hathor. From Semitic kabir great.
Kadha, Kaudha (Etruscan). See Catha.
Kadmos (Greek). Father of Illyrius. See Catha.
Kalliopē (Greek). Muse of eloquence. Literally “beautiful voice”. From a base k-l to call :
Amharic
kal
voice
Hebrew
kol
voice
Gaelic Ireland
cal
voice
English
call
cry, shout
Greek
kaléō
to call
Greek
Kalliopē
muse of eloquence
Flemish
kallen
to speak
Kalu (Etruscan). God of hell. From a base k-l to burn :
Dravidian South
kālu
to burn
Akkadian
qalu
to burn
Hebrew
qālā
to burn
Arabic
kha’al
to light
Etruscan
Kalu
god of hell
Albanian
kall
I light
Kalypsō (Greek). Nymph who attracted and concealed the castaways. From kalypto, to hide.
Kamulla (Kassite). A goddess, protector of horses. Cf. Lithuanian kumelé horse.
Kándaios (Greek). Nickname of Ares. See next word.
Kándalos (Greek). Son of the sun. From a base k-nd white :
Sanskrit
kandrá
shining
Baluchi
kand
Shelduck
Persian: Sangesari
kandus
yellow
Sanskrit
kancana
golden
Albanian
shkendej
to shine
Anc.Greek
kándaros
live coal
Anc.Greek
Kandaios
nickname of Ares
Welsh
cant
shiny
Spanish
candela
candle
French
chandelle
candle
French: Aude
chandoulo
spark
Breton
skendilig
House Martin, a swallow with white rump
Spanish (dialectal)
rabicandil
Wheatear (striking white rump)
Arabic: Morocco
kandil
(from Romance) light
Arabic: Morocco
kandil el-behar
Kinfisher (“light of the water”)
Greek
Kándalos
(borrowing) son of the sun
Gaelic Ireland
caindeal
candle
Breton
kantol
candle
English
candle
candle
Kapys (Greek). Ancestor of Eneas (see Aineias) who was a dreaded hero; Kapys is the catcher or hunter; from an Etruscan word meaning “falcon”, root kap- to catch:
French
capturer
to catch
Romanian
copoiu
hunting
English
cop
to catch
Serbocroatian
kupiti
to catch
Czech
chopiti
to seize; pochop Goshawk
Swiss German: Valais
käpfy
Goshawk
Russian
kapiv
hunting
Ukrainian
xapati
to catch
Persian
xapak
hawk
lappon
hapak, hapke
hawk
Basque
kapelari
hawk, kabidoi hawk, hook
Kassandra (Greek). The most beautiful daughter of Priam. See Kassiopē.
Kassiopē (Greek). Mother of Andromeda, a superb woman changed into a constellation. Literally “beautiful face”. From a base k-s to shine, beautiful :
Kurdish
koz
hot coal
Aramean
kaysa
to shine
Aramean
kasū
glitter
Khinalug
xaš
moon
Greek
Kassandra
the most beautiful daughter of Priam
French (dialectal)
cassanèl
pretty
French (dialectal)
acassà
pretty
Kurdish
kasīl
beautiful
Persian: Sivand
xās
beautiful
Kurdish: Sorani
xoš
beautiful, good
Lithuanian
kaistu
to heat
Lettish
skaistums
beauty
Greek
Akastē
one of the Oceanides
Albanian
kajstë
white clay
Lithuanian
kaistra
heat, kaitrus hot
Sanskrit
kastrala
carbuncle worn by Vishnu
Greek
kaustós
burnt, > caustic
Greek
kautēr
cauterizing iron
Greek
kaïein
to burn
Arabic
kaii
to burn
Arabic
kasdir
tin
Greek
kassiteros
tin
Greek
Kassiopē
mother of Andromeda, superb woman changed into a constellation
Arabic
kazed, kazir
Purple Swamphen
Greek
Kastōr
a star; one of the Dioskouroi, often associated to white colour
Greek
Kastalía
a nymphe; the fountain of the Muses
Portuguese
casto
pure
French
chaste
pure
Kastalía (Greek). Nymph changed into a fountain, or the fountain of the Muses. See Kassandra (enter). See Kassiopē.
Kastor (Greek). One of the Dioskouroi, often associated to the white colour, the shining twins of the sky. See Kassiopē.
Katreus (Greek). An Indian bird, perhaps mythical, identified as a kind of pheasant by later commentator. See Kadha.
Kaudha, Katha (Etruscan), see Kadha.
Kelainō (Greek). Name of a Harpy, contributing to thunderstorms. From a base k-l dark :
Sanskrit
kalah
dark blue
Greek
kalaïnas
blue-green
Greek
Kelainō
name of a Harpy
Modern Greek
kalaïs
turquoise
Modern Greek
kalaï
tin
Greek
kalijá
indigo
Albanian
kaltër
dark blue
Kenchreios (Greek). “A fluvial god” is none other than the teal (a duck) kenchrítès.
Kentauroi (Greek). Monsters half man half horse; they were wild, violent, powerful brutes. Neither tauros bull, nor kenteo to prick are descriptive of them. They should rather be regarded as big, powerful beings, from a base k-nt convexe etc. :
Welsh
cant
band, group
French
canton
an administrative division
French
chante (merle etc.)
component in oronymic names
French (dialectal)
chanton
a rounded hill
Albanian
kandóre
angular stone
Spanish
cantero
large stone
Kérberos (Greek). A many-headed dog, born to Typhon and Echidna. Cf. Sanskrit karbarāh a mythical dog watching over the black empire of hell at the mouth of the Acheron. Like most infernal beings, they should be black. From a base k-rb black :
Greek
kórbu, korbiko
black
Greek
korba
black mule
Greek
korbo
black billy-goat
Albanian
korb
crow, shadow
Albanian
korbë
unhappy
Albanian
korbec
black dog
Romanian
corbos
black
Aromanian
corbu, gorbu
noir
Romanian
corbeascâ
a variety of grape
Romanian
corb
crow; a black fish Corvina nigra;black horses or dogs
Keyx (Greek). Son of Lucifer and the nympha Philonis, changed into an aquatic bird.
Khām (Hebrew). One of Noah’s sons, after whom the Chamitic or Hamitic peoples were named. See Kimmérioi.
Khuda (Kurdish). God, q.v.
Kímbroi (Greek). Kymry, people of the West or the North. See Kimmérioi.
Kimmérioi (Greek). The Cimmerians People of the Chersonese peninsula. From a base k-m dark:
Icelandic
skum
darkness
Swedish
skum
dusk, dim
Danish
skummel
dark
Lettish
skumjas
sadness
Hebrew
Kemet
ancient Egypt (land of the blacks)
Greek
(al) Kimitē
Egypt according to Herodote
Egyptian
km
black
Hebrew
Ham, Kham
son of Noah: the black one (see Sem)
Greek
Kimmerios Bósporos
the Bosphorus
Greek
Kimmerioi
people of Sarmatia, a northern country; > russian Krim Crimea
Greek
Kímbroi
Cimbres and Cymru, peoples of the North; does not imply relationship (cf. Skýthos Scyths and Scots)
Italian
cimerio
dark
Spanish.: America
cimarrón
wild; also: a fugitive slave (original meaning: the dark coloured one; later the term took the adjectival sense of “wild”).
Romanian
cimru
a legendary bird
Persian
kamar
mythical bird that hides the sun and create darkness (the darkness personified)
Kurdish
qamar
grey
Latin
cymatilis
navy-blue
Kirkē (Greek). Daughter of the sun. From a base k-rk round (see also Horai) :
Sumerian
kurkur
circle
Basque
kürkürü
circle
Anc.Greek
Kirkē
daughter of the sun
Old Gaelic: Ireland
cercenn
circle
French
carcan
necklace, etc.
Welsh
cwrc
roundness
Welsh
cyrch
circle
Gaelic: Ireland
curca
crest, chignon
Kirnis (Lithuanian). God of the cherry trees. From a base k-rn red :
Albanian
koranik
a dish made with blood
Modern Greek
koróno
to catch fire
Lithuanian
Kirnis
god of the cherry trees
Gaelic Ireland
carnaid
red
Spanish
encarnado
flesh-coloured
English
carnation
flesh coloured; pink (a flower)
Klēdōn (Greek). Goddess of omens. From a base l-d, kl-d, l-t to sing, speak etc.
Gaelic Ireland
liudan
to sing
Breton
lud
luth
Swedish
ljud
son
English Scotland
leed
language
Old English
loden
language
German
lied
sound
English
lute
a string instrument
French
luth
lute
Greek
liuthon
to sing
Greek
Klēdōn
goddess of omens
Greek
Kleiō
muse who invented the cithara
Greek
kleien
to glorifiy, celebrate, make famous
Kleiō (Greek). Muse of history, the glorious, invented the cithara. See preceding word.
Kleopatra (Greek). One of the daughters of Boreas. Literally “famous through her ancestors”. See Kleiō.
Klitoria (Greek). Daughter of a river. Cf. Klitumnus, an Ombrian river.
Kokalos (Greek). King of Icane in Sicily. He burned Minos in hot water. A borrowed word, cf. German kochen to cook. cf. also the French surname Coquoz cook.
Kōkytos (Greek). An infernal river. From kōkyein to weep. From a base k-k to cry :
Lithuanian
kaukiūti, kiauksiu
howl
Lithuanian
šiaukiu
shout
Lettish
kaukt, saukt, čaukstu
howl
Greek
kúo
to lament
Gaelic Scotland
ciùcharan
complaint
Old Norse
kjökra
moaning
Albanian
skuhrani
plaintive call
Sanskrit
kočāmi
cry
Armenian
kawšem
cry
Czech
skučeni
mooing
Lettish
kūkot
to call
Albanian
kukas
I call
Sanskrit
kókaH
wolf
Modern Greek
skoúximon
shrill call
Kombē (Greek). Daughter of the fluvial god Asopos. Was metamorphosed into a dove. A borrowing from Genovese cûmbo, coombo, cömbo, cumbu “dove”.
Kora, Korē (Greek). Another name for Persephonē (the sun). See Horai.
Ktō (Greek). Daughter of the sea. From a base k-t convex :
kētos
any enormous animal
Ukrainian
kyt
whale
Ukrainian
kytka
tuft, crest
Serbocroatian
kita
tuft, crest
Breton
kitern
top of head
Kuberos (Sanskrit). See Káberioi.
Kuda (Kirgiz). God, q.v.
Kybelē (Greek). Great goddess in Phrygia, goddess of fertility, honored in caves (kybelē).
Kyknos (Greek). Son of Poseidon, turned into a swan. See Kōkytos.
Lakshmi (Hindi). Personification of beauty. She was born in a sea of milk. From a base l-k white, white-spotted :
Albanian
lacan
white (billy-goat)
Hindi
Lakshmi
personification of beauty
Latin
lac, lactis
milk
Persian
lakkah-dār
spotted
Arabic
lākh
spot
Lithuanian
slākas
spot
Welsh
lle, llecyn
spot
German
lege
spot
Romanian
alac
blond
Romanian
alaci
variegated
Romanian
lapte
milk
Italian
latte
milk
French
laiton
brass
Greek
Lēto
daughter of Phoebe
Lampētia (Greek). Daughter of the sun, sister of Phaèthusa. From a base l-mp shining :
Modern Greek
lampros
shining
Modern Greek
lampri
Easter
Greek
lampē
light
Greek
Olympos
the white mountain
Italian
lampa
lamp
Galician
lampo
pure
Spanish
relámpago
lightning
Sardinian
lampadas
June (season of lightnings)
Sardinian.: Nuoro
lampare
to shine
Lara (Roman). A garrulous goddess. From root lar- “garrulous”:
Albanian
loroj
howler
Breton
lorc’h
fright
Talysh
louroun
Tawny Owl
Kurdish
lurin
to howl
Armenian
lor
Quail
Persian
lāruh
Quail
Hindi
lahura
Quail
Albnian
laurë
an imaginary animal the comes of the water at night, utters a cry, and dives again
Albanian
laureshë
Skylark
Albanian
laurohem
to win a prize (i.e. acclamation)
Latin
laurea
glory (hereunder)
Franç.
laureat
laureate (the one who is applauded). From Lat. laureatus the explanation of which “adorned with laurel” is a folk etym.
Old Spanish: Navarra
aplaurar
to speak
English
lore
learning, knowledge
German
lehre
teaching, doctrine
Latin
Lara
a garrulous goddess
Albanian
lorza (flet si)
he speaks like a parrot
Old French
lori, louri
parrot
English
lory
parrot (said to be of Malay origin; however, no such word has been recorded in Malay languages except for an obscure noury which is probably a corruption of English lory)
Spanish
loro
parrot
Italian: Liguria
loro
parrot
English: Scotland
sclore
chat, gossip
Spanish
llorar
to cry
Lares, Lar (Roman, of Etruscan origin). Sons of Lara; tutelary spirits of households, towns, streets, roads and sea, identified in part with the Manes. From Etruscan laris “pleasant”. Probably not connected to Larva q.v.
Larunda (Roman). Sabine goddess of the dead. Cf. Larva.
Larvae (Roman). Malicious spirits, spectres, phantoms. From larva mask.
Lasa (Etruscan). Nymph-like deity, goddess of love. Cognate to lascivus playful, lewd, dissolute. From a kinetic base l-s :
English
loose
lax, flimsy; promiscuous
Breton
laosk
lax
French
lâche
flabby, soft; coward
Latin
lascivus
playful
French (Aoste)
leusse
woman of easy virtue
English
lust
sexual desire
Lases (Roman). An ancient form of Lares (Parisot). Little gods known for the rapacity at receiving gifts of grease at road crossings, this perhaps by folk etymology after lardus lard.
Laverna (Roman). Goddess of the thieves. From a kinetic base l-b, l-p:
Greek
labē
action of seizing
Akkadian
lābu
lion
Assyrrian
labbu
lion
Hebrew
labi
lion
Ugaritic
lb’
lion
Gaelic Scotland
lamh
attack
Gaelic Scotland
lamhraig
skua (robs other birds of their prey)
Latin
Laverna
goddess of the thieves
Greek
lobē
a hawk
Bulgarian
lobec
hunter
Spanish
lobo
wolf
Russian
lovit’
to catch
Czech
lev
lion
Albanian
luan
lion
Greek
léōn
lion (formerly occured in the Balkans)
German
löwe
lion
Basque
lapur
thief
Czech
lapati
to catch
Czech
loupež
plundering
French
loup
wolf
Lēda (Greek). Wife of Zeus, mother of the Dioscouroi. Cf. Lycian lada “wife, mother” and English lady. From a base l-d white. White skin was seen (and still is today, especially in Spain) as a mark of refined or aristocratic women. If lady is not the equivalent of lad anymore, it is due to a shift of the semantic value of the latter.
Welsh
llawd
delight
Ukrainian
lad
harmony
Czech
ladný
graceful
Old Czech
lada
virgin
Bulgarian
lada
fairy
Ancient Greek: Egean
lada
woman, Lycian lèda
Ancient Greek
Lēda
mother of Castor and Pollux, changed into a swan (notion of whiteness)
Caucase: Avar
ladi
woman
English
lady
woman (of a certain distinction), Fr. dame, madame; not from Gaelic ledir (a doubtful word) “with God” or from OE hlaefdige “loaf maker” (!); lad (“of unknown origin”) is the masculine counterpart of lady (though not its equivalent)
Lemures (Roman). Wandering spirits, phantoms. From Gr. lamyrós greedy, Sanskrit lama vampire.
Lēto (Greek). Daughter of Phoebē (the moon), sister of Asteria (the stars). See Lakshmi.
Leukē (Greek). The White Isles or Elysion pedion q.v. See Eléktra.
Leukippē (Greek). Water spirits. From Romanian apă water. See Melanippos.
Libentina, Lubentea (Roman). “goddess of sensuous enjoyment”. Borrowed from German lieben and Slavic lubit’ to love as are also lubet “it is agreeable”, libido “sexual instinct”, allubentia “liking for”. See next word.
Liber (Roman). God of fecundity. See preceding word.
Lilith (Hebrew). First wife of Adam; an evil spirit, one of the four mothers of the demons. Lilit is also the name of an owl. Being associated with the demons, her name also refer to darkness. From Semitic lil night, root lil- dark, blue, purple:
Arabic
lil
night
Hebrew
Lilith
evil spirit of the night
Aramaic
lelja
night
Sumerian
islal
obscurity, shade
Lettish
lila kerre
Tufted Duck (mostly black)
Hindil
līl, lilā
indigo, blue
Arabic: Liban
lailaki
purple
English
lilac
(< Greek) light blue colour; lilac (flower)
Modern Greek
louláki
indigo; lilac
Albanian
lullak
dark blue
Logi, Loke (Scandinavian). The fire deified. See Lug.
Lougos (Gaulish). A divinity. See Lug.
Lovna. A “Celtic”, benevolent goddess. Evidently from “love”.
Lug (Keltish). A Keltish deity, not attested in Gaul. Its name has been translated as “raven” because of the convergence with Old Irish lug lynx, a ravenous animal. Its other name is Find “the bright one”. The element lug- in toponyms (like Lugdunum Lyon), probably has nothing to do with the god. From a base l-g shining :
Scandinavian
Logi
the fire deified
Welsh
log
fire
Welsh
llug
glimmer
Breton
lugern
glimmer
Provençal
lugor
glimmer
Welsh
llwgwm
English lugworm glow-worm
Welsh
llwg
shiny
Keltish
Lug
a divinity, see Find
Gaulish
Lougos
a divinity
French: centre
lugue
lightning
French: West
lugat
lighting
Italian: Cortina
slùge
to shine
Luna (Roman). Personification of the moon, the round satellite. From a root lun- round:
Spanish
luna
moon
lunó
having a spot on the forehead (animal)
Italianreg.
lunea
sandpipers (roundish birds)
Italianreg.
luneta
Firecrest (roundish bird)
French
lunette
eye glasses, small round window
French
lentille
lentil (round and flat seed)
English
lens
lentil, magnifying glass
Germanreg.
lüning et var.
House Sparrow, linchpin
German
lun, lune, lüner, lünse
linchpin
Polish
lon
id.
Lutin (French). Sprite. From a base l-t light :
Swedish
lätt
light, easy
Lithuanian
litéti
lette làiti to touch lightly
Russian
letat’
to fly
Slovak
letačka
butterfly
Greek
eleútheros
free
French
lutin
elfish spirit
Makoran (Guanche). The gods. See Amykos.
Malvala (“Celtic”). Son of Maluta. Personification of dawn. From malva mauve (colour).
Mana (Etruscan). See Manā.
Mana (Melanesia). Supernaturel power. See Manā.
Manā. A Hindu god who was, it is said, the first man. See Manes.
Manā (Persian: Zend). God. From Mana, their Etruscan name. Cognate to Sanskrit mánas, English mind, German meinen, English to mean, Roman Minerva goddess of thought. Cf. Basque man power, faculty, Amerind Manitou the Great Spirit. See also Manes and Minerva.
Sardinian
manno
big
Spanish
tamaño
size
Romanian
mánină
giant, colossus
Russian
mammot
enormous animal
English
man
the tall sex
Hindi
Manà
Hindu god who was, it is said, the first man
Armenian
Manuk
id.
Gypsy
manuk
man
Asia Minor
Manire
a god that the Greeks likened to Zeus
Latin
Manes
souls of the dead
Algonquin
Manitou
the great spirit
Persian: Zend
Manā
god
Arabic
Manah
a superior intelligence
Arabic
al-Manat
Semitic goddess of fortune and destiny
Melanesia
Mana
supernatural power
Greek
menēs
titan
Tamil
man
king
Basque
manu
autority
English
many
a lot of
Manah (Semitic). In Arabia, a superior intelligence venerated by certain tribes. See Manā.
Manes (Roman). Souls of the dead, protector spirits. See Manā.
Mangala (Hindi). A god associated with red colour. From a base m-ng, m-nd light-coloured :
Hindi
Mangala
a god represented with red flesh, a red collar and red clothes
Serbo-croatian
mangal
glowing fire
Albanian
mangall
glowing fire
Albanian
krye-mangës
Goldfinch (has a red head)
Basque
mandal
phoenix
Arabic
samandal
phoenix
Tamil
manjal
yellow
Manire. An Asia Minor god assimilated to Zeus by the Greeks. See Manes.
Manitou (Amerind). The great spirit or supreme being of some Indian peoples of North America. See Manes.
Manuk (Armenian). The same as Manā.
Mara (Slavic). Goddess of death. See Mars.
Mars. God of war. Cf. Armenian mart combat. From a base m-r, m-rt signifying something bad, found in the following terms: Armenian marh death, Ossetic māryn to kill, English martyr (from church Latin martyrium), Sanskrit mrtah dead, Greek emorten died, maraino I destroy, Moira goddess of death, French mort death, merde excrement, German mörder, English murder, Punjabi merna to die, Gypsy merav id., Lahnda meren id., Nepali marnu id., Kashmiri marun id. Singalese marenawa id., Gujarati merwu id., Hindi merna id., Bengali mora id., Marathi merne id., Pushtu mrel id., Baluchi murtha, miragh id., Wakhi meri- id., Tadjik murdan id., Persian mordan id., Armenian meranim I die, Ukrainian mereti, mru id., Belorussian mertsi id., Bulgarian mra id., Slovene mreti, Slovak mret’, mrem id., Macedonian umram id., Serbo-Croatian mrijeti to die, Upper Czech umírati id., Russian umeret’ id. English to mar injure, French marri grieved, Irish marbh to die, Latin morbus disease, Hittite mer putrefy, Zend mar to die, Dravidian, mara death, marru enemy, Lithuanian mirti death, Latvian mirt id., Sanskrit marati dies, Avestan miryeite id., Greek máransis decaying, Dravidian, Telugu mragu to decay, Arabic maradu sickness, Akkadian maràsu to be sick, Italian marasmo a kind of fever, Italian marasso viper, Lithuanian maras plague, Lydian mru-, mruvaa (a stele) “was put on burial stones”, etc.
Marut (Kassite). God of the plague. Cf. Lithuanian maras plague. See Mars, preceding word.
Mazan (Hittite). God, perhaps a personification of the moon. See next word.
Mazda (Persian). God of light. From a base m-s light coloured :
Chechen
mése
day
Old Slavic
měseci
moon, month
Sanskrit
masah
moon, month
Abkhasian
mza
moon
Oubykh
a-mdza
lamp
Hittite
Masan
god (deified moon ?)
Old Persian
Mazda
god of light
Tajik
maysai
colour of green corn
Galician
macio
pale, discoloured
French
émacié
skinny (secondary, like Latin macer)
Lettish
misinš
brass
Welsh
mis
month
Spanish
mes
Italian mese (duration of a lunation)
English
mas
“time of …” (in Michaelmas, Martinmas, Christmas etc., no kin to mass “religious celebration”)
Mēdeia. A sorceress. Cf. mēdos counsel, device, cunning.
Medousa (Medusa). One of the Gorgons, a daughter of Priam. Her gaze turned to stone everyone that looked at her. Klein derives the name from Gr. médein to protect, rule over; this, however does not agree with her history. See Mēdeia.
Megistos. Nickname of Zeus. From a base m-g convex, great, high :
French: Languedoc
maghêla
hill
Georgian
magal
great
Akkadian
magal
many
Lithuanian
magulos
many
Greek
méga, megálos
large
English
mogul
important figure (unrelated to the Mogols)
Berber: Menasser
moger
to grow up
Berber: Demnat
imgur
to be tall
Berber: Snus
amokran
chief of a town
Hebrew
meghedh
excellent
Arabic
magada
to be illustrious etc.
Sanskrit
mahánt-
great, powerful, venerable
Meleagrís (Greek). Aetolian hunter turned into a Guinea Fowl, a strikingly spotted fowl. From a root mal- “spotted):
Persian
mulawwan
multicoloured
Persian
malīħ
beautiful
Lithuanian
malu
to paint
Welsh
malu
to paint, breton maluf id., Old Gaelic Ireland melim id.
Latin
malo
(borrowing) to paind
German
malen
to paint
Russian
malëvka
paint
Ukrainian
malyjka
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Slovakian
malóvaný d’atel’
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Anc.Greek
meleagris
Guineafowl
Norman English
maluer
to soil, FEW 23: 193
Gaelic Scotland
smal
spot
Gaelic Ireland
smolach, smiolach
Song Thrush
Gaelic Ireland
smál
spot, cloud, darkness, disgrace
English
dismal
sinister, dreary, melancholy (with prefix dis-; certainly not from Lat. dies mali “evil days”)
Memnōn. An Ethiopian king slain by Achilles during the Trojan war. A foreign word, probably Egyptian.
Melanippos, Leukippè. Water spirits. From Romanian apă water. See Meníppe.
Mendēs. A kind of Egyptian billy-goat and another name for Pan.
Menélas. King of Sparte, brother of Agamemnon, husband of Helen. Apparently from ménos soul, hart, courage, strength. See Manes.
Menēs. Titan. See Manes.
Melanippos, Meníppe, Leukippē. Water spirits. literally “blackwater, white water (melanos, leukos) and Romanian apâ water. Cf. also Hipparis, Hippurios.
Mercurius (Roman). Mercury, god of commerce and wealth. From merces merchandise, mercatus trade, business, marketplace.
Meropē (Aeropē is another reading) . 1. Oceanide. 2. Heliade. 3. Daughter of Kypselos. See Merops.
Meropis (Greek). Sister of Agron; was changed into a bird, see Merops.
Merops. King of Kos, father of Meropis; was placed among the stars and was change by Junon into a bird (an “eagle” according to some authors). Merops is the name of a beautiful bird, the Bee-eater. Also said to be a solar god, and a Ethiopian king who lived near the place where the sun rises. From a base m-r clear, pure :
Greek
ēmera
day
Greek
Hēmera
Goddess of daylight
French (dialectal)
emero
pale
Greek
Meropē
one of the Heliades
Greek
merops
Bee-eater, from its fine colours
Spanish
mero
pure
English
mere
pure, unique
Mídas (Greek). A Phrygian king who was endowed with the faculty of turning into gold everything he touched. Perhaps from Greek mēdos counsel, device, cunning. See Mēdeia.
Mikal (Phoenician). See Amykos.
Milda (Lithuanian). Goddess of love. From mileti to love.
Milita (Kassite). See preceding word.
Minerva (Roman), Menerva (Etruscan). Personification of thought or wisdom. From a root m-n “mind, knowledge, rason”. See Manā.
Basque
man, mende
power, faculty
Guanche
mene, men
faculty
Aramaic
mandá
knowledge
Hebrew
madda
knowledge
Hebrew
yādhá
he knew (cf. Klein sub mind and Mandaean)
Anc.Greek
mandánō
to learn
Anc.Greek
manthaō
to learn, study
Latin
mentio
mention; mens mind, reason, memory etc.
Albanian
mendoj
think
English
mind
process that thinks, feels etc. (that gives faculties). For cognates see Klein
Latin
Minerva
goddess of wisdom
Lithuanian
minéti
to remind; miñti to think; menù to mention
French
mention
mention, reminder
Basque
mintzatu
speak
Sanskrit
mányate
to think; manati to mention
Minōs (Greek). King of Knossos. Not satisfactorily explained.
Mithra (Persian), Mitra (Vedic). God of light. He gave fruit, flowers and vegetation to the world. Later, in Asia Minor, Greece and in the Roman Empire, he became no more than the cut-throat of a bull. From a base m-tr master, leader, mother :
Greek
mētrópolis
principal city
Greek
mētra
belly or womb of a woman: the main part of the feminine function, whence mètèr mother, French mère
Greek: Dorian
maēèr
mother
Greek
ortygomētra
leader of the quails (Corn Crake)
Greek
métron
measure
Greek
mitra
mitre, a pointed headdress
Moira (Greek). Goddess of death. Cf. Latin mors, Gallo-Romance mort. See Mars.
Molóssos (Greek). Dog from Molossía, a region in Epire; a big dog. From a base m-l convex, tall, quantity :
Spanish
mola
large quantity
Italian
mole
stack
Latin
molossus
mastiff
Gaelic Scotland
mullach
top, summit, eminence
Gaelic Ireland
moll
stack, large quantity
Persian
mollah
religious dignitary
Hebrew
mélekh
king
English
mall
central place
Albanian
mal
mountain
Greek
mála
a lot
Greek
mallón
more
Greek
málista
above all
Mormō. A bogey-woman who attacked children. From a base m-rm to moan, from mormýro to scold :
Greek
mormyrō
to scold
Lithuanian
mirmeti
to moan
Sanskrit
marmarami
to murmur
Basque
marmuta
murmur
Catalan
maramiota
Barn Owl
Morpheus (Greek). God of sleep, son of Hypnos. From morphnós obscur, base m-r-f dark :
Greek
mórphnos, orphnós
dark coloured; a large black bird
Greek
orphnē
obscurity
Greek
Morpheus
A relation between mórphnos and orphnós “dark ” and Morpheus and Orpheus seems evident
Italian
morféa
leprosy; spot on a horse coat
Portuguese
murifela
Blue Rock-Thrush
French: Walloon
mourfèlo
Dunnock
Bulgarian
moravo
dark, > Morave, a dinaric type people, with dark hair
Munthu (Etruscan). Goddess of finery. From a base m-n clear, moon :
Gaelic Scotland
meann
clear, famous
Persian: Sivand
mā
moon, month
Kurdish, Sorani
mang
month
Greek
mēnē
moon, mèn month
Sumerian
Nanna
god of the moon
English
moon
a shining heavenly body; month; duration of a moon
Lettish
menes
moon, mēnenis month
German
mond
moon, monat month
French
monde
universe
Spanish
mondo
Latin mundus pure
Etruscan
Munthu
goddess of finery
Romanian
pămănt
the earth (with the Slavic particule pa, and not from Latin pavimentum, the earth is not made of paving stones !)
Romanian
măndru
superb
French:
Toulouse
mannad
superb
Spanish
mañana
morning, tomorrow : at dawn
Italian
domani
tomorrow, French demain
Myrmex (Greek). Young girl changed into an ant. From a base m-r to move, stir :
French: Guernsey
mourion
restless
French: Valais
démworâ (se)
to play
French: Queyras
demers
restless child
Greek
myrmex
ant
Greek
marmarō
scintillate
Greek
Marmaras
Marmara Sea, cf. Dardanía, Modern Greek Dardanéllia, from a base d-rd tremble, Basque dardal trembling.
Muses (Greek). The personified arts. From Greek moúsa art, science, root mus- think etc.:
Anc.Greek
mousóô
learned
Anc.Greek
moúsa
science, art; the Muses are the personified arts
Anc.Greek
mousikós
learned, skilled, practicing music
Italian
muso
thoughtful, pensive
French: Valais
môzâ
to think
English
muse
to reflect (certainement not from “muzzle”)
French
muser
to idle
French
amuser (s’)
to play; or from “muzzle”).
Nanna (Sumerian). God of the moon. See Munthu.
Nasr (Arabic). Eagle-headed idol. A Semitic name designating some large birds of prey. The may derive from a root nat- “to fly”:
Hebrew
natash
to fly
Arabic
nātsā
to fly
Hebrew
netz
a hawk; Syriac nitso
Arabic
nisr
Griffon Vulture
Assyrian
Nisroch
eagle-headed god
Coptic
nchire
a hawk
Berber
enisser
Griffon Vulture
Ancient Greek
nisos
(from Semitic) a hawk
Latin (from Greek)
nisus
a hawk
Nephelēè (Greek). The morning mist. See Nymphē.
Neptunus. Roman god of the sea. (Cf. Pokorny, p. 971).
Greek
nexis, nēchō
to swim
English
Nixi
a water sprite
Greek
nēktos
swimming, aquatic
Old Norse
nykr
a water monster
Sanskrit
niktá
washed
Sanskrit
snāpáyati
swim
Latin
Neptunus
(k->p) god of the sea.
Etruscan
Nethunus
Neptune
Greek
nētta, nēssa
duck
Nērēís (Greek). A sea nymph. Modern Greek néro water, from narós flowing, liquid.
Nisos (Greek). Son of Pandion, changed into a sea eagle. See Nasr.
Nisroch (Assyrian). An eagle-headed god. See Nasr.
Nix, Nixie (English). A water sprite. Old High German nihhus water sprite, Old Norse nykr a water monster. See Neptunus.
Nymphē (Greek). Deities inhabiting the sea, springs, woods etc. From a base n-v, n-f white :
German
schnee
snow
Italian
neve
snow
Romanian West
nea
snow
Sardinian
néa
dawn
Old Irish
niam
beauty
Persian
nēw
beauty
Bulgarian
nevesta
fiancée
Slavic
neveštuka
fiancée; weasel
Greek
nephélē
morning
Greek
néphos
cloud
Albanian
nafele
white throat spot of the marten
English (slang)
nifty
handsome, elegant
Welsh
nyf
snow
Greek
niphas
snow flake
Greek
nymphitza
weasel (white in winter)
Greek
nymphē
fiancée; nymph, white lady
Greek
nymphaia
water lily (white flower)
Egyptian
nfr
beauty
Egyptian
Nefertete
a beautiful queen
Odin. The supreme God in the Scandinavian mythology is the personified od or good fortune. Cf. Swedish öde “fate, fortune”, Gothic, English odds “balance of advantage”, and Low German od “well-being”, auda-hafts “beglückt” (Pokorny: p. 76).
The Dutch and Low German names for the Stork odebor (and many variants) consist of the root bor, ber “to bear” (Pok.: p. 128), and od “good fortune”. The stork’s names therefore mean “fortune bearing (bird)”, because it arrives with the good season. The Swedish odensvala (Gothland) is the swallow that brings spring.
How a legend is born. Most legends arise from the confusion caused by a phonological convergence; such convergence is often the result of the overlaying of two strata. The original signification of the word having become incomprehensible, a clearer meaning is attributed to it; the result is a “folk etymology”. To arrive at this explanation, one must often give himself over to those excesses of imagination characteristic of Greek mythology. The phonological convergence which is at the origin of the legend of the stork bringing children appears to be od “good fortune” with the AS ōdan “child”. This etymology has been proposed by Grimm.
Odysseus (Greek). Hero of the Odyssey, an epic poem describing the wanderings and adventures of Odysseus. A word of Illyrian origin. Cf. Romanian uditză small road, Albanian udë road, and with the change d>l, Russian ulica (ulitsa) street, whence Ulysses the Latin name for Odysseus.
Oedipus (Greek). King of Thebes, son of Laius and Jocaste. He was hanged by the feet from a tree : his feet swelled, whence his name “swollen foot”, from oidán to swell and poús foot.
Ogygēs (Greek). Son of Beots or Neptune, king of the Hectenes, the first people of Beotia and Attique. The name indicates less a king than a period when Beotia and Attique, if not the whole earth, were under water (Parisot). Both Gygēs and Ogygēs are thus associated with water and their names may be cognate with Aigaia q.v.
Oiōnos. Companion of Heraklēs. A fabulous bird. The name means simply “omen”.
Okeanós. Mythical river that circles the globe. From a root ok- round:
Serbocroatian
oko
region
Russian
oko
eye
Czech
oko
globe flower (Trollius)
Czech
okov
pail
Czech
okolek
circle, round
Ancient Greek
ōkeanós
ocean
Sumerian
oginos
ocean
Ancient Greek
okeanos
“River that surrounds the earth”; evident notion of rotundity
German
ochs
bull (compare with the etym. I.-E. *ukw son which would mean “the besprinkler” or “the one that makes grow” (!)
German: Asiago (South Tirol)
ochsenvögele
Wren
English
ox
bull
English
oxeye
various small birds
English
oxbird
Ringed Plover
Latin
occiput
the rounded part of the head; not from “*ob caput” which would mean “behind the head” (Klein); the permutation ob > oc is impossible, the change caput to ciput unexplainable, and besides ob means “in front”
Okypetē (Greek). Name of a Harpy. A reference to the swift flight of hawks. From ōkypteros “rapide”, Modern Greek xyptére fast, Ancient Greek oxypetēs that flies rapidly, Modern Greek xeftéri hawk.
Olēn (Greek). Mythical singer. From a base -l-l to utter a certain song :
Spanish:Aragon
uludá
to howl
Italian
alocco
Wood Owl
Sanskrit
ulūka
an owl
Bengali
uluk
an owl
Hindi
ulāgh
an owl
Greek
ōlēn
mythical song
Greek
ololýzō
to call with a lout voice
Greek
ololygōn
various birds, frog, cicada
Ukrainian
lulukaty
to howl
Lithuanian
lulutë
an owl
Ukrainian
uljulja
Wood Owl
Serbocroatian
ualjka
Wood Owl
Bulgarian
ululića
Wood Owl
Georgian
óloli
Wood Owl
Olympos (Greek). Mountain of Greece, abode of the gods. From a base l-mp shining :
Modern Greek
lampros
brillant
Greek
lampē
lumière
Greek
Olympos
mountain of Greece: shining when snow-covered or lit by the sun
Italian
lampa
lamp
Galician
lampo
pure
Spanish
relámpago
lightning
Oriōn (Greek). Personification of the constellation of Orion. From Gr. orinō to push; it is the constellation that seems to push the other stars.
Orpheus (Greek). Famous singer. See Morpheus.
Osiris (Ancient Egyptian). An Egyptian god, the Persian sun. See Asia.
Ōtos (Greek). Brother of Ephialtēs (see this word). An owl, “the eared one”, either the Long-eared or the Scops Owl.
Ouranía (Greek). Muse of astronomy. See next word.
Ouranós. The sky and the abode of gods.
Armenian
or
day
Ossetish
ar’v
sky
Anc.Greek
ouranós
sky, Latin Uranus god of heaven
Mod.Greek
ōraios
beautiful
Gaelic: Ireland
ór
gold
French: Lens (VS)
ouroche
Yellow Gentian
Serbo-Croatian
uroš
Oriole
Gaelic: Ireland
ur
green
Welsh
ir
green, blooming
Anc.Greek
iris
rainbow, a precious stone, a flower
Armenian
awr
day, arot dawn
French
aurore
dawn
Pagoda (Slavic). The Spring deified, and god of the fine days. See God.
Pan (Greek). Identical with Faunus, same root.
Pandiōn (Greek). King of Attica, whose tragic daughters, Philomela and Procne, were metamorphosed into a nightingale and a swallow respectively. Father of Augeus (see this word) and Nisos who was changed into a sea eagle. Nisos was also said to be the son of Deiōn. This may explain the etymology of Pandiōn.
Pandora (Greek). The first mortal woman on whom all the gods and goddesses bestowed gifts. From pan- all, and dōron gift.
Papas (Phrygian). God or half-god also called Atys or Attis, the father of male power :
Sumerian
pab
father
Palaic
papa
father
Phrygian
Papas
a divinity, see Attis
Etruscan
papa
grand-father
French etc.
papa
father
Patrimpas (Old Prussian). God of the sun and spring.
Pegasos (Greek). Perseus’ horse. See Iynx.
Pēnélopē (Greek). Daughter of Ikarios. She assumed this name after she was saved by ducks called pēnélops (She had been throwned into the floods by Nauplius). The ducks have been identified tentatively as Pintails. Numerous terms derive from the root pin- “pointed”:
English
pin
needle; pintail a species of ducks
French
épingle
needle
English
pinwing
Auk
English
pen
writing pen (same word as following)
French
penne
rectrices or remiges (pointed shaft)
French (regional)
pennard
Pintail
Italian: Romagna
panard
id.
French
pinne
a pointed shell
Welsh
yspin
thorny bush
French
épine
prickle
Italian
pinnuliše
Hoopoe
Romanian
penel
(paint) brush
Italian: Venezia
pignol
Pintail (cf. pennard, above)
Anc.Greek
pēnelops
(borrow. from Italo-Romance) a duck, prob. the Pintail
English
pinnacle
rocher pointu
Galician
pinica
pine needle
Italian
pennachio
pointed crest
Span.
peña
pointed rock, pinnacle
Italian (dialectal)
pennino
Little Egret (pointed crest)
Italian
Pennine (Alpi)
an oronym
Ancient Greek
Pindos
an oronym; myth.: son of
Breton
penn
head
French: Haute-Ubaye
penn
montain
French: Valais
pigne
pointed mountain
Perkunas (Lithuanian). God of thunderstorms. Lithuanian perkuna sky, from a base p-rk spotted (the sky studded with stars), Lith. pirksnys ashes dotted with blowing coal, Modern Greek perknada freckling.
Persē (Greek). Wife of Hēlios. See Perseus.
Persephonē (Greek). Wife of Hadēs, goddess of hell.
Persēs (Greek). Son of Hēlios. See Perseus.
Perseus (Greek). Son of Zeus, hero personifying the rising sun. From a base p-rs, pr-s shining, sun :
Greek
Persē
wife of Hèlios (The mythological attributions to Persē point to a foreign origin of the name)
Greek
Persēs
son of Hēlios
Greek
Perseus
hero personifying the rising sun
Greek
Persephonē
wife of Hadēs, thus: she is the darkness that kills the light
Lithuanian
prushvas
sun
Albanian
prush
hot coal
Phaētusa (Greek). Sister of Phaethōn, q.v.
Phaea (Greek). The sow of Crommyon. From a base f-s dark :
Greek
phaiós
dark
Spanish
feo
ugly
Italian: Aquila
foss
dark
Phaethōn (Greek). Son of Hēlios. From phaein to shine, phaos light. See Hephaistos.
Phainō (Greek). Name of an Oceanid. See Phoebē.
Phōres (Greek). Nickname of the Centaure. See Ferōnia.
Philomēla (Greek). Daughter of Pandiōn changed into a nightingale. From a base f-l-m (apparently Illyrian) to sing (of birds), warble :
Gaelic Ireland
filoméol, filiméala
Song Thrush
Basque
txilimala
chattering
Greek
Philomēla
woman changed into a Nightingale
Romanian
filomelă, filomil
Nightingale
Hungarian
fülemüle, filmile
(pre-magyar substratum) Nightingale
Rheto-Romansh
filomela
Song Thrush
Sardinian
filomena
Nightingale
Corsican
filumêna
Nightingale
Italian (dialectal)
firumema, vilomena
Song Lark
German (dialectal)
filomele
Nightingale
Phoebē (Greek). Artemis, daughter of Ouranos and Gē, goddess of the moon. From a base f-n fire, light, clear :
Greek
phaō
glimmer
Greek
phaínō
gleaming, whitness; a nymph
Greek
phainein
to shine, to appear
Greek
phaeinos
beautiful
Greek
phaidrōs
joyfully
Greek
phanós
shiny, clear
Modern Greek
fanaós
clear, patent
Greek
phoïbos
pure, shiny
Greek
Phoebus
Apollon
Greek
Phoebe
Artemis, goddess of the moon
Modern Greek
fengós
glimmer, light
Welsh
faw
glimmer
Italian: Ticino
favögn
a warm South wind
Italian
favonio
a warm South wind
Latin
Favonius
personification of the West wind
Spanish: Aragon
fabueño
zephyr, balmy breeze
Spanish: Navarra
fagoño
zephyr, balmy breeze
Group cognate to the following :
Gothic
fōn
fire
German Swiss
föhn
warm South wind
Old Norse
funi
fire
Old Prussian
panno
fire
Greek
phoinós
red
Greek
phoenix
crimson; the Phoenicians (red-skinned people)
Greek
Phoenix
a “fabulous bird” = the rising sun
Phoenix, see Phoinix.
Phoibos (Greek). Epithet of Apollon. See Phoebē.
Phoinix (Greek). A fabulous bird. See Phoebē.
Piktolis (Lithuanian). God of hell. From piktas vicious.
Pindos (Greek). “Son of Makedon”, simply: a mountain in Macedonia. (Makedon = “high land”. From a root pin- pointed, see Pēnélopē.
Pleiádes (Greek). The seven daughters of Atlas. From a base pl- several :
Greek
pleiōn
more numerous
Greek
Plēiades
a group of several stars (certainly not the plural of peleias”dove”, and not cognate to OE fealo “brown”; a group of stars is not characterized by its brown color)
Greek
pleistor
the most
Greek
Ploútos
personification of wealth
Latin
plures
more numerous
French
plus, plusieurs
more, several
Ploútos (Greek). Personification of wealth. See Plēiádes.
Podargē (Greek). Name of a Harpye. See next word.
Podargos (Greek). Name of Hektor’s horse. Literally “swift-foot”.
Poseidōn (Greek). God of the earthquakes and of the sea. From a base s-t, s-d to shake:
Ancient Greek
seiō
to shake; sēta sieve
Ancient Greek
Poseidon
(with Slavic prefic pa-, indicating it is a borrowing) god of earthquake and of the sea
Provençal
sedo, seio
sieve
Ancien Egyptian
sda
(a loan-word) tremble; attributed to “Little Egret of Cattle Egret” but presumably a name for the Wagtail
Persian
seido
White Wagtail
Italian (dialectal)
codisaija
White Wagtail
Ukrainian
prysïdačka
White Wagtail
Sanskrit
sadanarta
White Wagtail
Gaelic Scotland
sùd
to swing
English
shudder
a convulsive movement, German schauder
Proknē (Greek). Daughter of Pandiōn changed into a swallow. From a base p-rk spotted :
Greek
perkos, perknos
dark, blackish
Greek
perē
perch, a fish with dark stripes
Sanskrit
pcnih
spotted
Lithuanian
piršnys
ashes with spots of hot coal
Lithuanian
perkunas
sky (dotted with stars)
Czech
šperk
ornament, jewel
Proserpine (Greek). Latin form of Persephonē.
Psychē (Greek). Personification of the soul which is something immaterial. From a base s-k indicating a movement:
Ancient Greek
síkinnis
a kind of dance
Ancient Greek
psychē
butterfly, soul
Ancient Greek
psyktēr
a container on a high foot: unstable
Ancient Greek
psychein
to breathe
Old English
sīcan
sigh
English
sigh
to let out one’s breath audibly (with a perceptible movement)
Czech
cukati
palpitation
Pyrrhos. Son of Achilleus. “Fiery red”. Phoenix was his governor.
Rešeph (Phoenician). A god. From a base r-g shining :
Assyrian
ra-ag
shining
Assyrian
ràjè
to shine
Assyrian
ravi
sun
Egyptian
re-e, ra
sun
Phoenician
Rešeph
a god
Caucasus: Lezgian
ragh
sun
Caucasus Northeast
rigu, reü, ray
sun
Berber
erēg
to blaze
Berber: Kabyle
reg
to burn
Breton
regez
glowing coal
Rhea (Greek). Wife of Chronos, the time. From rhéō to flow, like the time.
Sēm. Greek for Shēm q.v.
Šaro (Hittite). A god. From a base s-r variegated :
India: Pahari
s’āro
variegated
Sanskrit
sārāh
variegated
Sanskrit
sárvaras
spotted
Persian
šar
Starling
Greek
psar
Starling
Greek
psáros
grey
Aromanian
psar
grey
Ukrainian,
Bulgarian,
Slovenian
šar
variegated
Armenian
šar
variegated
Saturnus (Roman). Good of agriculture. From sator sower, borrowed from Germanic saat seed. No relation to saturnus gloomy, which is linked to a base s-d dark :
French (dialectal)
sadot
dirty woman
English
sad
in a dark mood
Italian
saturnino
sad
Latin
saturnus
lead, a dark metal
Romanian
sajă
soot
French: Viriat
šayó
hearth
Old French
essoydo
gloomy
Sethlans (Etruscan). Goddess of the fire. From a base s-d fire, red :
Dravidian
suda
fire
Egyptian
sdt
fire, flame
Phoenician
Sydyk
personification of fire
Akkadian
sudu
to redden
Akkadian
sutu
south wind
Ougaritic
stj
to burn
Copt
sath
flame
Etruscan
Sethlans
god of fire
Kurdish
sotin, sūtandin
to burn
English
south
region of the light
Old High German
suedan
to burn
Latin
sidonius
red
Old Norse
suidel
torch
Shēm (Hebrew). One of Noah sons, after whom the Semitic peoples were named. From a base s-m dark:
Sanskrit
syāma
blackish-grey
Arabic
šam
the North
Persian
šām
evening; Syria
Assyrian
šim
darkness
Assyrian
simtu
black
Assyrian
simētan
twilight
Persian
simurgh
a fabulous bird
Persian
siyāh
black
Simurgh (Persian). A mythical bird. See Shèm.
Simzerla (Slavic). Goddess of the flowers. From a base s-m warm :
Slavic
Simzerla
goddess of flowers, wife of Pagoda, the god of fine days
Gaelic Ireland
samhrad
summer
English
sommer
German Sommer été
Egyptian
šm
to be hot; šmw summer
Assyrian
Sumeru
Sumer, an ancient region in the Levant
Baluchi
samir
flame-coloured
Sísyphos (Greek). A crafty king of ancient Corinth, condemned in the netherworld to roll forever up a hill a rock, which constantly rolled down again.
Ancient Greek
Sísyphos
figure. Indicates the movement of the stone that keeps rolling down
Ancient Greek
seisō
to shake
Ancient Greek
seisopygis
White Wagtail
Ancient Greek
seistron
rattle, instrument used by agitating
Stentōr (Greek). Greek herald with a powerful voice. From a base (s)t-n to produce a sound :
Sanskrit
stanami
to sound, to grunt
Greek
sténein
to grunt, to call loud
Lithuanian
steneti
sigh
Russian
stenati
to groan
Greek
stónos
groan, noise
Russian
ston
groan
German
stöhnen
to groan
Greek
stombós
sounding
Greek
Stentōr
mythical figure with a powerful voice
Italian
tenore
high-toned man’s voice (no kin to French tenir to hold)
Sul (Gaulish). Solar goddess. Spanish sol, French soleil sun.
Sus (Sanskrit). Demon. From a base s-s black, dirty, soiled with black :
Albanian
xëc
darkness
Italian
sozzo
dirty
French: Valais
sötse
soot
Lettish
cūciba
filthy
Spanish
sucio
dirty
Italian
sucido
dirty
Gaulish
Sus
demon
Latin
suasus
dirty with soot
Greek
sus, suós
pig
Latin
sus
pig
Suzanna (Roman). Daughter of Elcias remarkable by her beauty (she was presumably blond). Root s-s yellow:
Greek
souchion, soúkinos
made of ambre
Latin
sucinus
(empr. au gr.) ambre yellow, French succin
French
souci et var.
Firecrest, (cf. Italian fiorrancino and English marigold, both designating the flower and the bird)
French reg.
suissard
wallflower (yellow)
French
souci
also suçou, souzane, suzanne various yellow flowers
French: Loire
suzane, suzette
yellow primrose
Galician
suzon
ragwort, heath groundsel (yellow flower)
English (America)
suzan (blackeyed)
various yellow composite flowers
Latin
Susanna
daughter of Elcias remarkable by her beauty (she was presumably blond)
Sydyk (Phoenician). Personification of fire. See Sethlans.
Syros (Greek). An Anatolian solar god, probably eponym of Syria, land of the Levant. From a base s-r red :
Sanskrit
surgas
sun
Akkadian
sur
splendor
Persian: Sangesari
sur
red
Persian
suranj
red
Greek
Syría
Assyria, land of the Levant
Greek
Sýros
Anatolian solar god
Greek
Sēres
people of eastern Asia identified with the Chinese
Armenian
sirani
purple-red
Arabic: Morocco
surendem
Flamingo
Persian: Sivand
sīr
red
Baluchi
sor
reddish
India: Marw
sor
red; gold (metal)
Taranis (Gaulish). God of thunder, equivalent of Jupiter. From a base t-r-n to sound :
French, South
terena
bumble-bee
Breton
taran
thunder
Gaulish
Taranis
god of thunder
Provençal
terin
voice
French: Vendôme
tariner
to chat
French
train
noise etc.
Tecum (Etruscan). A celestial god. From a base t-g, t-k daylight, reddish, yellow :
Old Irish
tēg
beautiful
Breton
tekenn
pretty girl, graceful woman
Gaelic Ireland
téigh
hot
Breton
tez
heat that taint
Kurdish:Sorani
taw
heat
German
tag
day
Etruscan
Tecum
a celestial god
Spanish
taheno
having a red beard
Italian: Cortina
tagin
reddish colour
Armenian
teghin, dèłn,
yellow
Armenian
teghmuts
yolk
Armenian
tukh
brown
Modern Greek
stachteros
ashy, grey
Arabic
degah, degnah
darkness
Berber
tadugguat
evening
Tereus (Greek). A Thracian prince, husband of Procne, changed into a hoopoe. The name alludes to the conspicuous crest of this bird. From Greek tiara, Persian tara a Persian headwear.
Teufel (German). Devil. See Typhōn.
Teutates (Gaulish). A cruel god. Personification of their ennemy, the Teutons.
Thana (Etruscan). A mountain fairy. See Diana.
Theos (Greek). Same as Zeus. See Dios.
Thesan (Etruscan). Goddess of dawn. See Dios.
Thetis (Greek). God of the sea. From Albanian deti “sea” (probably an Illyrian word).
Tinia (Etruscan). A goddess. See Diana.
Tios (Phrygian). God. See Zeus.
Titō Personification of daylight. See Toth .
Titān, see next word.
Titānes (Greek). Giants, sons of Ouranos (the sky) and Gaea (the earth), whose eldest was Titan. From a base t-t, d-d tall :
Lithuanian
didis
tall
Lithuanian
didutis
Stork (tall on legs)
Greek
Titan
a giant god
Tithōnos (Greek). Wife of dawn. See Toth.
Tiw (Old High German). God. See Dios.
Toth (Ancient Egyptian). The supreme god, probably the sun. From a base t-t, d-d sun, daylight:
Gaelic Scotland
tiotan
sun
Egyptian
Toth
supreme god, probably the sun
Tokharian
tuta
dirty yellow
Greek
titō
daylight
Greek
Tithōnos
the wife of dawn
Greek
titanos
chalk
Welsh
dydd
day
Albanian
ditë
day
Sanskrit
ditis
light
Sanskrit
didēti
to shine
Sanskrit
dedol
dawn
Tritōn (Greek). A sea god, son of Neptune, personification of the roar of the waves. Cf. Gaelic Ireland treathan uproar, tumult, and secondarily, ocean. From a base tr-t indicating a mouvement :
French (dialectal)
tretlà
to jive
Italian: Lucca
cultrettola
wagtail
Italian: Marche
trettecà
to tremble
French: Saunis
tratši
to jive
French: Vendée
trüten (être en)
to be busy
German
streiten
to fight
French
triturer
to to mash, to knead
Greek
tritō
flow
Greek
Tritōn
a sea god
Gaelic Ireland
treathan
ocean (ceaseless wave movement)
German
treten
to walk
English
street
German strasse
Modern Greek
stratí
way, road
Italian
trottola
spinning top
French
trotter
English to trot
Typhōn (Greek). Demon of thunderstorms, a dark phenomenon. From a base t-f dark :
Greek
téphos
dark
Greek
téphros
ashy
Greek
psephos
darkness
Greek
typhō
to smoke
Greek
typhōn
demon of thunderstorm, whence modern typhon, not from Chinese tai fung)
Greek
typhlos
blind
Greek
typhlopóndikos
mole
French: Rignac
estuflàyré
Blackbird
German
teufel
devil
German (dialectal)
seeteufel
Cormorant, cf. diable,sub devil
German (dialectal)
möhrenteufel
Coot cf. diavolo, sub devil
German
teufelente, “tafelente”
collective for black diving ducks
Breton (old literature)
teffal
dark
Ulysses (Roman). See Odysseus.
Uranus (Roman). God of heaven. See Ouranós.
Valhöll (Norwegian). See Walhalla.
Vampir (Serbocroatian). Vampire, imaginary being having the aspect of a bat. From a kinetic base p-mp, b-mp, v-mp, v-p indicating a light movement :
Modern Greek
pampori
vapor
Italian: Veneto
sbampolar
to agitate
Italian: Veneto
bampa
flame
Italian: Veneto
sbampire
to evaporate
Serbo-croatian
vampir
imaginary being having the aspect of a bat (upyri), a fluttering animal
Bulgarian
vapir
vampire
Albanian
vapir
phantom
Sardinian
vampa
flame
Albanian
vapë
flame
Vanđ (Etruscan). Goddess of the earth. See Venus.
Vapir (Albanian). Phantom. See Vampir.
Varāna (Hindi). A god associated with water. From vàr water.
Venus (Roman) Goddess of the beauty. From a base v-n, v-nd white, light coloured :
Italian
venere
beauty, grace
Latin
venustas
beauty
Latin
Venus
goddess of beauty; the brightest star
Lithuanian
venuška
Waxwing, a particularly beautiful bird
Sanskrit
vana
joy
German
wonne
rapture, delight
English
wonder
German wunder
Talysh
va
snowy
Sanskrit
svindati
to be white
Gaulish
vindo
white, Vindobona Vienna
French (dialectal)
vindèse
dace (a white fish)
French
vandoise
dace, a white fish of the genus Leuciscus
Etruscan
Vanđ
goddess of the earth
Greek
Vendon
city of the Iapudes
Greek
Vendus
city of the Venetes: Venezia (see veneto,below)
Thracian
Bendis
Artemis
German
Winnile
the Lombards (Historia Langobadorum of Paul Diacre, 880, Lombard historian)
Latin
Vindelici
ancient people near the Bodensee
German
Wend
the Sorabes
Russian
ven
the Letts
Albanian
end
(loss of the initial) pollen
Albanian
ëndë
flour (fleur de farine)
Albanian
venitem
I get pale
Italian: Cosenza
vénetru
greenish-yellow
Italian: Cassano
vénotu
livid
French
blond vénétien
reddish-blond
Slavic
vint
the Slovenes
Finnish
Venät
the Russians
Italian
Veneto
the Venetia (a region anciently inhabited by a blond people, probably Slavic, cf. Vendus, above)
Vertumnus (Etruscan). A god appearing to be associated with vegetation. From a base v-rd, v-rt green :
Romanian
vărd
green
Etruscan
Vertumnus
a god
French
vert
green
French (dialectal)
verquet
mistletoe
Spanish
verde
green
Italian: Naples
zevardiello
Serin (a green bird)
Welsh
gwyrdd
green
Breton
gwér
green
Vesta (Roman). Goddess of the hearth. From Sanskrit vásati stays, dwells, Greek estía hearth, home, Hestia goddess of the hearth.
Vishnu (Sanskrit). The supreme god, fire horse. From a base v-sh red :
Romanian
višiniu
red
Romanian
višin
maraschino cherry
Romanian
višinţă
red bean
Greek
vyssinys
crimson
Albanian
vishnje
maraschino cherry
Serbocroatian
višnja
maraschino cherry
Turkish
visne
(from the Balkan substratum) maraschino cherry
Serbocroatian
višnjev
cherry colour
Sanskrit
Vishnu
supreme god; fire horse
Walhalla (German). Paradise of the dead warriers.
Wodan (Old German). See Odin.
Yahweh (Hebrew), Jehovah. “The one who is, he who calls into existence, the eternal” (Klein).
Yezdan (Kurdish: Sorani). God, deification of the sun. See Asia.
Zana (Albanian). A mountain fairy. See Diana.
Zemélē (Greek). A goddess of the earth. From a base z-m, h-m white :
Albanian
himazi
clearly, brightly
German
himmel
sky
Hindi
himal
snow
Latin
hyemalis
of winter (non-Romance, evidently a borrowing)
Latin
hiems
(non-Romance) winter
Greek
dyschimos
hivernal
Greek
cheima
winter, cold
Sanskrit
hima
snow, winter
Lettish
ziemeli
winter
Russian
zemlja
earth
Greek
Zemélē
a goddess of the earth
Slavic
zima
cold
Italian: Moena
dzima
cold
Persian: Zend
zyam
winter
Zermagla (Slavic). The god of winter; he flees from Pagoda. From a base s-rm cold :
Persian
sarmā
the cold weather
Lettish
sarma
hoarfrost
Greek
Sarmatioi
(a Persian word) the Sarmates (people of the cold region)
Slavic
Zermagla
deified winter; see Simzerla
Zeus (Greek). The supreme god. Borrowed from Latin Deus, probably via Daco-Romanian Zeu; the Greek name is Theos. See Dios.
Zu (Assyrian). God. See Asia.