E 0712          RAG

The word "rag" is of Germanic origin.

H 0061          א ר ג

Concept of root: to weave

Hebrew word

pronunciation

English meanings

א ר ג

arag

weave

Related English words

rag

Comparison between European words and Hebrew

Languages

Words

Pronunciation

English meanings

Similarity in roots

Hebrew

א ר ג

arag

weave

a r . g

Greek

αραχνη ; 

- 

αρκυς

-

arakhnè ;

-

arküs

-

spider, spiderweb ;   net

-

a r . kh 

-

a r k

-

English 

rag

r . g

Old English 

renge ;

-

hrægl

-

spider, spiderweb;

cloth, clothing

r . ng

< r . g ;

hr . gl

< r . g

Dutch

rag

ragh

spiderweb

r . g

 

 

Proto-Semitic *ARAG --- *RAG- Indo-European

 

 

This entry is related to number E 0736 (Hebrew 0069) about "spinning".

 

The billions of spiders that are found in the world, never reduced the impressiveness of their weaving. Some relation in words for "spider" and for "weaving" come forward in this entry.

 

The etymology of the Greek words is unknown. The first one, "arakhnè" for spider, has led to Latin "aranea" and with that to Italian "ragno" and French "araignée", both for spider. It is through the Hebrew word "arag" that we come to understand the origin of these words : a spider is a "weaver", weaving its web.

 

German and Dutch instead see the spider more as the animal that "spins" its threads, which is indeed does before, or rather while weaving its web. They call it a "Spinne" or "spin". The Swedes say "spindel".

 

Note:
  • Hebrew and Greek share the initial vowel and both use an A in that position. But if one compares this with the old Germanic words "rag", the idea may rise that this vowel is a later addition as prefix. This is a frequently used prefix in both languages, applied without bringing a change in the meaning of the word or root. The original root may have been "* R + G" as in English "rag". We find : ר ק ם , raqam " for "to apply threads, embroider " but also figuratively still used for " to weave " a complot, but that is just an indication .

 

Note:
  • Hebrew, in contrast, calls a spider an " ע כ ב י ש , ‛akkawìsh " .

 

Note:
  • Proto-Semitic. The supposed root is the same found in Hebrew. It is also used in Phoenician : א ר ג

 

Note:
  • English "rag" , in Middle English "ragge" is usually considered to be a loanword from the Old Norwegian word "rögg", but that means "tuft" , which is quite different from woven cloth .

 

Note:
  • Indo-European. For the concept of "weaving" we are leaning on the activity of the "spider" as "weaver", but as well on English "rag" and the Old English word "hraegl = cloth, clothing", that clearly refers to woven objects and that should go back to a root for "to weave" : "*R Æ G" without initial "H". The resulting hypothesis is " R Ă G-".

 

Note:
  • Arras, a woven piece of tapestry, comes from Italian "arazzo", and one might think of the root of this entry. But the name simple comes from the French, originally Flemish town of Arras, that was famous for its tapestries.

 

 

 

 

 
Created: Tuesday 6 November 2007 at 22.30.54 Updated: 21/12/2012 at 14.18.12