Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/wisundz

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.

• *wisandz
• *wisundaz

Likely a lexicalization of the present participle *wesandz (Stiles 2004; cf. Krahe–Meid 1967:§129.1), from Proto-Indo-European *wes- (“to graze”). The naming-motive “big-eater” is suggested as hunters' taboo (compare 'grey one' for both hare and wolves; 'brown one' or 'honey-eater' for bear in Indo-European). Latin bisōn/bisōntis, variant visōn, is a first-century loan directly from continental West Proto-Germanic, as are Greek forms. Compare Old Prussian wissambrs (“bison”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈwi.sundz/

*wisundz m

1. wisent, bison

• Old English: wesend, wesand, weosend
  • Middle English: wesend
• Old Saxon: *wisund, *wisand
  • Middle Low German: wēsent, wisent
  • → Old Norse: vísundr
    • Faroese: visundur
    • Icelandic: vísundur
• Old Dutch: *wisund, *wisand, wisent (in placenames)
  • Middle Dutch: wēsent, wesende
• Old High German: wisunt, wisant
  • Middle High German: wisent, wisente, wisant
    • German: Wisent, Wisund
      • → English: wisent
      • → Danish: visent
      • → Dutch: wisent
      • → Swedish: visent
• → Latin: bisōn, bisōnt-
  • Old French: bison
    • French: bison
      • → English: bison
      • → Dutch: bizon
  • → German: Bison, Bisont
• Gothic or Suevic:
  • → Galician: Guisande