Reconstruction:Thracian/spīnos

Thracian

Etymology

Unclear:

• Left undetermined by Duridanov;
• Danka & Witczak compare it with Proto-Slavic *svinьcь (“lead”), Ancient Greek κύανος (kúanos, “cyan”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *ḱwn̥H-ós (“type of metal”);
• Formally fits an n-derivative of Proto-Indo-European *spey- (“sharp object”); compare Latin spīna (“thorn, wedge”).

Notes

Attested by Aristotle.

Noun

*spīnos

1. type of rock / ore which blazes in contact with water (per Aristotle)

References

• Duridanov, Ivan (1985) “18. spīnos”, in Die Sprache der Thraker (Bulgarische Sammlung; 5) (in German), Neuried: Hieronymus Verlag, →ISBN, page 13
• Danka, Ignacy (1995) “Thracian spínos and its Indo-European cognates”, in Thraco-Dacica, volume 16, București, pages 267-272