Talk:pebble
Latest comment: 5 years ago by Werdna Yrneh Yarg in topic Etymology
Etymology[edit]
'Pebble' is from Old English PAPOL[8] in PAPOLSTĀN[9]. Perhaps, from the root of Latin PAPULA (pustule, pimple)[6]. Other possible origins are more dubious, such as Greek PSĒPHOS[3] (pebble) < PSĀŌ (I crumble away); since there are no known intermediate derivatives here. Very remotely has it an ultimate pre-historic root = √*B(h)ĀB(h)A[4] (rounded object, bean). Compare Spanish BABUINO [3] (pustule on lips)Andrew H. Gray 21:09, 24 September 2015 (UTC) and remotely, Basque BABA [4] (broad bean and blister on the skin). Andrew (talk) Andrew H. Gray 09:38, 27 October 2018 (UTC)
[0] means 'Absolutely not; [1] means 'Exceedingly unlikely'; [2] means 'Very dubious'; [3] means 'Questionable'; [4] means 'Possible'; [5] means 'Probable'; [6] means 'Likely'; [7] means 'Most Likely' or *Unattested; [8] means 'Attested'; [9] means 'Obvious' - only used for close matches within the same language or dialect, at linkable periods. √ means original or earliest root.