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--- Adam Walker <carrajena@hidden.email> wrote: > I've been completely revamping my C-a > dictionary, > adding pronunciations, adding to the html > coding and, > most annoying by far, going back and > documenting > etymologies. > > Many of my words are well documented in little > notebooks of spices or body parts or fruits or > animals > or whatnot, but a few are really frustrating to > track > down. Where DID I come up with some of these > words?!?! When that happens for Kerno, I invoke "borrowing from Brithenig", "folk innovation", "Celtic root" or "etymon unknown". > Sometimes all I have to go on is the vaguest > memory > that I used a Semitic root, or a Gothic root or > what-have-you. Then I have to figure out how > many > different "originals" could have given the C-a > result > and then go hunting through any number of > dictionaries. Eventually I find them. > > But now I've come up with a word I have no > recollection of coining -- chirgada. It means > "checkers", as in the game. But I have no idea > where > this word came form. I've checked my note book > on > games which shows all the Romlangs having some > variant > of "dama". I've checked all my Arabic > dictionaries > and none of them even *have* checkers so it > couldn't > be that. I can't believe I found a Punic root > for > THAT. I can't find the Greek so I doubt that > was the origin. It looks a heck of a lot like English "checkers", you know! It could also ultimately be Arabo-Persian, as is English checkers. Compare with check mate, "sh�h m�t". Both checkers and chess derive from sh�h. Could any of that give you chirgada? Padraic. ===== To him that seeks, if he knock, the door will be opened; if he seeks, he shall find his way; if he searches for a way, he shall find his path. For though the Way is narrow, it's wisdom is written in the hearts of all: if ye would seek and find Rest, look first within! [The Petricon] -- Ill Bethisad -- <http://www.geocities.com/elemtilas/ill_bethisad> Come visit The World! -- <http://www.geocities.com/hawessos/> .