*liþuz

Runic: ᛚᛁᚦᚢᛉ Pronunciation: /ˈli.θuz/

noun · masculine · u-stem

Meanings

a bend
a joint
a body part, limb, member

Etymology

Of uncertain origin; Kroonen considers the word as cognate with *limuz (‘limb’). Other theories include derivation from Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-, *leyH- (‘to bend’). A relationship with Latin lituus is sometimes suggested, but is doubtful as it is likely a loanword from Etruscan. Given the variety of forms, which are difficult to reconcile as inherited, origin in a substrate language is possible.

Declension

Case	Singular	Plural
Nom.	liþuz	liþiwiz
Acc.	liþų	liþunz
Gen.	liþauz	liþiwǫ̂
Dat.	liþiwi	liþumaz
Inst.	liþū	liþumiz
Voc.	liþu	liþiwiz

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Descendants

*liþu (Proto-West Germanic)
- *lith (Old Dutch)
  - lit, let (Middle Dutch)
    - lid (Dutch)
      - lid (Afrikaans)
      - lid (Indonesian)
      - lid, leden, leeden (Negerhollands)
*liþu (Proto-West Germanic)
- liþ (Old English)
  - lyth, lith, lythe, lithe, lyþ, liþ, liþe, liþthe, liyþe, litht, leth, lethe (Middle English)
    - lith (English)
    - lith (Scots)
*liþu (Proto-West Germanic)
- lith, leth (Old Frisian)
  - leth, lath, lass (North Frisian)
  - Lid (Saterland Frisian)
  - lid (West Frisian)
*liþu (Proto-West Germanic)
- lid (Old High German)
  - lit (Middle High German)
    - Lid (Alemannic German)
    - Lied (German)
*liþu (Proto-West Germanic)
- lid (Old High German)
  - gilid (Old High German)
    - gelit, glit (Middle High German)
      - Glied (German)
      - Glidd (Luxembourgish)
*liþu (Proto-West Germanic)
- lith (Old Saxon)
  - lit (Middle Low German)
    - gelit (Middle Low German)
liðr (Old Norse)
- liður (Faroese)
- liður (Icelandic)
- lid (Norwegian)
liðr (Old Norse)
- lith (Old Danish)
  - led (Danish)
liðr (Old Norse)
- liþer (Old Swedish)
  - led (Swedish)
𐌻𐌹𐌸𐌿𐍃 (liþus) (Gothic)
*lëδës (Proto-Samic)
*lëttō (Proto-Samic)

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