Re: CHAT: weird names, was Re: conlanging,the ultimate feminist subversion

Tom Wier wrote:

> FYI:  in German, the word "Kerl" means basicly "guy, man, person".  This is etymologicly
> related to English <ceorl>, <churl> (both spellings are acceptable), meaning something
> like "irritating or quarrelsome person".  (I'm too lazy to go look up the exact meaning)
"Ordinary person, non-noble."  "Ceorl" is OE, "churl" is ModE.
Like many such words, "villain", or "Knecht" in German (cognate of
"knight"), it has come to be derogative.


--
        John Cowan      http://www.ccil.org/~cowan      cowan@ccil.org
Schlingt dreifach einen Kreis um dies! / Schliesst euer Aug vor heiliger Schau,
Denn er genoss vom Honig-Tau / Und trank die Milch vom Paradies.
                        -- Coleridge / Politzer