Generalized from the oblique stem of an earlier n-stem Proto-Balto-Slavic *strigē̃n ~ *strígenes. Cognate with Old Prussian strigeno (“brain, marrow”).
Further origin traditionally derived (per Trautmann, Iljinsky, Vasmer) from Proto-Indo-European *streyg- (“to strike”) with Winter's law blocked in vicinaty of a nasal. Derksen suggests instead *streygʰ- (according to Rasmussen, maybe *streygʷʰ-), perhaps akin to Polish *strząc (“to shake”) (with n-infix), Lithuanian stri̇̀gti (“to stick”), Latvian strigt (“to tighten”).
An ad hoc hypothesis due to Sobolevsky proposes origin from formally incompatible *strъgati (“to scrape”), with root -ь- due to assimilation (vowel harmony) or under the influence of *strьmь (“steep, abrupt; absolutely”).
*strь̏žьnь m[2]
singular | dual | plural | |
---|---|---|---|
nominative | *strь̏žьnь | *strь̏žьni | *strь̏žьnьjē, *strь̏žьňē* |
genitive | *strьžьní | *strьžьnьjù, *strьžьňu* | *strьžьnь̀jь |
dative | *strь̏žьni | *strьžьnьmà | *strь̏žьnьmъ |
accusative | *strь̏žьnь | *strь̏žьni | *strь̏žьni |
instrumental | *strь̏žьnьmь | *strьžьnьmà | *strьžьnьmì |
locative | *strьžьní | *strьžьnьjù, *strьžьňu* | *strь̏žьnьxъ |
vocative | *strьžьni | *strь̏žьni | *strь̏žьnьjē, *strь̏žьňē* |
* The second form occurs in languages that contract early across /j/ (e.g. Czech), while the first form occurs in languages that do not (e.g. Russian).