E 0200            COWP , CYP

  Middle  English  " cowp "and Old English " cyp " are of Germanic origin .

H 0784             ה ו ק

Concept of root : gathering liquid

Hebrew word

pronunciation

English meanings

ה ו ק

qowà

to gather liquids

Related English words

Old English : cyp ,Middle English: cowp

Comparison between European words and Hebrew

Languages

Words

Pronunciation

English meanings

Similarity in roots

Hebrew

      ה ו ק

qowà

to gather liquids

q (o) w .

Greek

κυπελλον

küpellon

goblet, vase

k (u) p .

Latin

cupa

cupa

tub

c (u) p

Middle English

cowp

tub

c (o) w p

Old English

cyp

tub

c (y) p

Old High German

kuofa

kuofa

tub

k (uo) f

German

Kufe

kufe

tub, cask

k (u) f .

Middle Dutch

cupe

cupe

tub

c (u) p .

Dutch

kuip

k(ui)p

tub

k (u) p

 

 

Proto-Semitic *QOBÀ --- *KŪP Indo-European

 

 

The European languages express the instrument, a tub, whereas Hebrew indicates the action of gathering water. They are clearly related and of probable common origin.

 

 

Note:
  • Latin . It is important to see that Latin has both "cupa = tub" and "cuppa = cup". Both words are independent of each other. The word "cuppa" is seen in Entry E 0219 cup (Hebrew 0495).

 

Note:
  • Greek "küpellon", already found in Homer, does not enjoy a clear etymology. It is a diminutive, but the only other words that have a sound that comes near have quite different meanings. Apparently the basisword has disappeared from use. It is possible that it was not even related to the other words of this entry.

 

Note:
  • Proto-Germanic. As usual, derivation from Latin is assumed for Germanic. But this does not convince, as we look at Middle English " cowp " and Old English "cyp" that are quite a bit nearer to Hebrew. Besides this, there are Old Saxon "kōpa" and Old High German "kuofa". It has been tried to explain this range of words by supposing a couple of loans, first of Latin "*cōpa" and then again of Latin "cūpa". The first Latin word is hypothetical; a hypothesis that seems to have been invented to explain a loan into Old High German. The second Latin word is relatively new but used in classic Latin. Proto-Germanic more probably had its own form "*K Ü P-".

 

Note:
  • European and Hebrew. The adding of a final P or F (like PH) is characteristic for European tongues that like less to leave a more open end after a WAW-sound. Besides, the W at the end of a word, in Hebrew is pronounced " F " as well .

 

Note:
  • Hebrew. The first gathering of liquid we read in the Book of Genesis, when God decided to separate the Waters from the Dry Land.

 

Note:
  • Proto-Semitic. A root "Q W Hé (accentuated vowel" in Hebrew is used for three groups of meanings : 1. to wait for 2. to call, invoke ( perhaps somewhat related to 1.) and (adjective) hopeful ; 3. to collect liquids. This root in the sense of this entry according to some is related to Aramaic א ק ו י , aqewì = he collected" .

     

    Then there is very interesting Syriac word "ק ב א, qaw'à = it was collected, ran together", spelled with a consonant "B" instead of "W", but with the same pronunciation. This may mean that there have been different choices at the beginning of alphabetic writing. A " B " between vowels, if not doubled, could be pronounced " W ". People might be induced to use a "waw" in their new alphabetic transcription of the existing word. But some others, as seen in Syriac, were aware of the origin " B " and used the letter "Beth" in their spelling. The root may have been used in Proto-Semitic : "*ק ב ה , Q B H (accentuated vowel)". And Proto-Semitic may still have used a pronunciation "*QOBÀ".

 

Note:
  • Indo-European.

     

    Old Indian

    "kūpah = cavity, hollow, pit" sounds very similar but is not identical in message. It may be related.

     

    Further clear indications about cognates seem not available in other Indo-European groups of languages.

     

    For Indo-European a hypothesis "*K Ū P-" may be justified.

 

 

 

 

 
Created: Tuesday 6 November 2007 at 22.30.54 Updated: 23/11/2012 at 17.28.12