kalns
Latvian
Etymology
From Proto-Baltic *kalˀnás [1] with a suffix -no, from Proto-Indo-European *kelH-, *kolH- (“to raise, to lift, to build”), whence also Latvian celt. The meaning of celt was originally not only “to lift,” but also “to be high”, whence the meaning of kalns. This word was also sometimes used in the past to mean “building, construction,” especially tall ones in large estates. Cognates include Lithuanian kálnas, Gothic 𐌷𐌰𐌻𐌻𐌿𐍃 (hallus, “rock, cliff”) (< *kolnus), Old English holm (“hill, knoll”) (< Proto-Germanic *kl̥mo), German Holm (“islet”), Ancient Greek κολωνός (kolōnós), Latin collis (“knoll, hill”) (< *colnis).[2]
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [kâlns]
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Declension
References
- Derksen, Rick (2015) “kalnas”, in Etymological Dictionary of the Baltic Inherited Lexicon (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 13), Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 221
- Karulis, Konstantīns (1992) “kalns”, in Latviešu Etimoloģijas Vārdnīca (in Latvian), Rīga: AVOTS, →ISBN
Samogitian
Etymology
From Proto-Balto-Slavic *kalˀnas, ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root *kelH- (“lift”). Compare Latvian kalns, Lithuanian kalnas.