Bleicherode -> (Blicero) -> Blicker?

[Michael J. Hußmann]

jbor at bigpond.com (jbor at bigpond.com) wrote:

> And, interestingly, the words blitzkreig and blaze (and conflagration) 
> seem to derive from the same root as well:
>
> http://www.yourdictionary.com/ahd/roots/zzb01700.html

The way yourdictionary.com is referring to "Blitzkrieg" is misleading:
"# BLITZKRIEG, from Old High German blëcchazzen, to flash, lighten, from
Germanic *blikkatjan". The naive reader might believe "blitzkrieg" to be
an ancient German word, when it is in fact a modern (20th century)
composite from "blitz" (a flash of lightning) and "krieg" (war),
referring to the swiftness of the attack. The derivation from
"blëcchazzen" applies to "blitz" only, not to "krieg". It is the root
meaning "brightly shining" that connects "blitz" to "bleich" etc., not
death (other than that if you are struck by lightning, you might die).

Now, wouldn't it be possible for a language to associate death with
whiteness, either because of the deadly pallor, or because bones are
white? Of course it would be. I just don't see any real evidence that
the German language does make much use of this concept. The only actual
example that comes to mind is "verbleichen", which is a euphemistic term
for dying. It is only used in the forms "verblichen" (died) and "der/die
Verblichene" (the deceased). Both are considered obsolete and their use
had always been confined to a rather formal style.

- Michael


Michael J. Hußmann

E-mail: michael at michael-hussmann.de
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