Reconstruction:Proto-Slavic/perъka

This Proto-Slavic 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.

Proto-Slavic

Alternative reconstructions

• *pьrъka

Etymology

Formed either from the verb *pьrati (“to fly, to propagate”) +‎ *-ъka or from the noun *pero (“feather”) +‎ *-ъka.

Noun

*perъka f

1. propeller
2. fin (of fish), paddle

Inflection

Declension of *perъka (hard a-stem)

	singular	dual	plural
nominative	*perъka	*perъcě	*perъky
genitive	*perъky	*perъku	*perъkъ
dative	*perъcě	*perъkama	*perъkamъ
accusative	*perъkǫ	*perъcě	*perъky
instrumental	*perъkojǫ, *perъkǫ**	*perъkama	*perъkami
locative	*perъcě	*perъku	*perъkasъ, *perъkaxъ*
vocative	*perъko	*perъcě	*perъky

^* -asъ is the expected Balto-Slavic form but is found only in some Old Czech documents; -axъ is found everywhere else and is formed by analogy with other locative plurals in -xъ.
^** The second form occurs in languages that contract early across /j/ (e.g. Czech), while the first form occurs in languages that do not (e.g. Russian).

Related terms

• *pero (“feather”)
• *pьrati (“to propel”)
• *pьrxati (“to flutter (wings)”)

Derived terms

• *perъkati (“to flap (fins), to slam”)

Descendants

• East Slavic:
  • Russian: пёрка (pjórka, “driller”)
• South Slavic:
  • Bulgarian: перка (perka)
  • Macedonian: перка (perka)

Further reading

• Vasmer, Max (1964–1973) “пёрка”, in Oleg Trubachyov, transl., Этимологический словарь русского языка (in Russian), Moscow: Progress
• Duridanov, I. V., Racheva, M., Todorov, T. A., editors (1996), “перка”, in Български етимологичен речник (in Bulgarian), volume 5 (падѐж – пỳска), Sofia: Prof. Marin Drinov Pubg. House, →ISBN, page 174