Abstract
In the present article, I argue that the received etymological connection of Proto-Germanic *kraftu- 'power' with ON kræfr 'strong' is misleading, because the adjective 1) does not mean 'strong' and 2) must be analyzed as a direct derivation from ON krefja 'to demand'. Alternatively, we may connect *kraftu- with *krēpja-, a formation that I reconstruct on the basis of the Visperterminen Swiss form xreepfe 'strong'. This adjective was possibly borrowed into Slavic, so as to emerge as Old Church Slavonic krěpb 'strong'.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Journal of Indo-European Studies |
| Volume | 38 |
| Issue number | 3 & 4 |
| Pages (from-to) | 402-408 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| ISSN | 0092-2323 |
| Publication status | Published - Sept 2010 |