Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/barwaz

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

• *baruz

This word only has cognates in Slavic. Kroonen states that the reconstructed proto-form would reflect *bʰorwos, and states that it is a Germanic-Slavic isogloss.^[1] See Proto-Slavic *borъ (“pine tree”). Orr considers the possibility that it is a loan, in particular the ŭ-declension being copied. In this case the Germanic meaning would be more derived, with a shift from the Slavic sense “pine grove” to “forest (in general)" for which compare Proto-Slavic *dǫbrava (“oak grove; forest in general”).^[2]

• IPA^(key): /ˈbɑr.wɑz/

*barwaz m

1. coniferous forest; pinewood
2. wood; grove

• ⇒? *barō

• Proto-West Germanic: *baru
  • Old English: bearu, bearo
    • Middle English: berwe, barwe, berewe, barewe, barou
    • Middle English: ber, bere, beare, byar, biare, byare, bir (in placenames only) (merged with descendant of Old English bǣr (“pasture”))
  • Old Saxon: *baro; bere (< *baruz?)
  • Old High German: baro
• Old Norse: bǫrr (“a kind of tree”)
  • Icelandic: bör