Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/hamfaz

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.

Possibly, via an earlier sense “bent (out of shape), crooked”, from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning “to bend, curve”, but the reconstruction is disputed:

• *kámpos (“bent, curved”), whence perhaps also Latin campus (“field”) and Proto-Slavic *kǫpъ ~ *kǫpa (“hill, island ~ clump, thicket; tassel”),^[1] apparently extended in *-p- from a root *kam-: compare Latin camur (“curved, bent, crooked”), Sanskrit क्मरति (kmárati, “to be curved”) (< *kam-er-);
• *kómpos (id.), from a root *kemp-: compare Latvian kùmpt (“to be(come) bent”), Lithuanian kum̃pas (“curved”), Proto-Celtic *kambos (“twisted, crooked, bent, curved”) and possibly Proto-Germanic *huppōną (“to turn back, retreat”).^[2][3]

In either case, considered cognate with Lithuanian kam̃pas (“corner”), Ancient Greek κάμπτω (kámptō, “to bend, bow, curve”) and Ancient Greek καμπή (kampḗ, “bend”). Derksen, maintaining the former etymology,^[4] supposes the u-vocalism of Lithuanian kum̃p- is secondary.^[5]

*hamfaz^[2]

1. maimed, lame

   Synonym: *hammaz

• Proto-West Germanic: *hamf
  • Old Saxon: hāf
  • Old High German: hamf
• Gothic: 𐌷𐌰𐌼𐍆𐍃 (hamfs)