rrafsh
Albanian
editEtymology
editFormerly believed to be a Back-formation from rrafshoj; the latter is derived from unattested *rravsh + -oj, the first element of which is borrowed from a South Slavic language, ultimately derived from Proto-Slavic *orvьnъ (“even”); compare Old Church Slavonic равьнъ (ravĭnŭ), Serbo-Croatian ravan, Bulgarian равен (raven).[1] However this is less likely, as Omari doubts a Slavic origin due to phonological problems.[2] Most likely from rraf, Gheg form of rrah (“to beat, strike, to flatten; grubbed out land”). Consider also northeastern Gheg "rrapsh", as found in Malsia. Possibly related to rrjep (“to peel”) and rrap (“plane tree”), as it would explain the change from -psh- to -fsh-.
Pronunciation
editNoun
editrrafsh m
Derived terms
editRelated terms
editReferences
edit- ^ Orel, Vladimir E. (1998) “rrafsh”, in Albanian Etymological Dictionary, Leiden, Boston, Köln: Brill, →ISBN, page 377
- ^ Omari, Anila (2012) “rrafsh”, in Marrëdhëniet Gjuhësore Shqiptaro-Serbe, Tirana, Albania: Krishtalina KH, pages 257-258