Reconstruction:Old Dutch/but

This Old Dutch entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Old Dutch

Alternative reconstructions

• *butt (both senses)

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *butt (“stumpy”), from Proto-Germanic *buttaz (“stumpy”). The noun derives from the fact that the fish was considered stumpily shaped.

Adjective

*but

1. dull, stumpy

Inflection

Declension of *but (a-stem)

strong declension
case	masculine	feminine	neuter	plural
nominative	*but	*but	*but	*butta, *butte
accusative	*buttan, *butten	*butta	*but	*butta, *butte
genitive	*buttes	*buttero	*buttes	*buttero
dative	*buttin, *buttemo	*buttero	*buttin, *buttemo	*button
weak declension
case	masculine	feminine	neuter	plural
nominative	*butto	*butta	*butta	*button
accusative	*button	*button	*butta	*button
genitive	*buttin	*button	*buttin	*buttono
dative	*buttin	*button	*buttin	*button

Descendants

• Middle Dutch: butte, but, bot
  • Dutch: bot

Noun

*but m

1. flounder (fish)

Inflection

Declension of *but (masculine a-stem noun)

case	singular	plural
nominative	*but	*butta
accusative	*but	*butta
genitive	*buttes	*butto
dative	*butte	*button

Descendants

• Middle Dutch: butte, but, bot
  • Dutch: bot

Futher reading

• “but”, in Oudnederlands Woordenboek, 2012