14 August 2013

SMÜGRIG = creepy

One of my main fascinations about the OLB is its language.
Whether genuine (which I believe) or reconstructed, it has helped me to better understand the origins, evolution and degeneration of my own language (and dialect) as well as some other.
Today I discovered an improvement on all existing translations that I know.

The word SMÜGRIG is used twice, in "Gosa's counsil".
It was translated by Ottema, Sandbach and Wirth as smerig/ dirty/ schmutzig.

[161/17]
THJU TÁLE THÉRA KÀLTANA.FOLGAR IS THRVCH THA SMÜGRIGE GOLE VRDERVEN
[Ottema & Sandbach p.219]
de taal der Keltana volgers is door de smerige Golen verdorven
the language of the followers of Kaltana has been spoiled by the dirty Gauls
[Wirth p.115]
die Sprache der Keltana-Folger ist von den schmutzigen Golen verdorben

[162/14]
THISSA LOGHA SKIL ALLE BALDA FORSTA VRTÉRA ÀND ALLE SKIN.FRÁNA ÀND SMÜGRIGA PRESTERA
[O+S p.219]
Deze vlam zal alle slechte vorsten verteeren en alle schijnvrome en smerige priesters
that flame will destroy all bad princes and hypocritical dirty priests
[Wirth p.116]
Diese Flamme wird alle bösen Fürsten und Scheinfrommen und schmutzigen Priester verzehren

(Jensma 2006 also has "smerig".)

"Smerig" (dirty, filthy, greasy), seems to be related to smeer (grease, butter) en smeren (smear).
See etymologiebank.nl/smerig and gtb.inl.nl/smerig

First I considered a relation to "smuigerig": walmend, broeierig (smoky, muggy)...
gtb.inl.nl/smuigerig


Renovated 19th century 'smuiger' (ornamental fireplace) in farm
'De Moor' in Zuidermeer, Westfriesland. (Source: Westfries Genootschap)

But when I checked the Oldfrisian dictionaries, I found a more plausible (imo) explanation:

Wiarda (1786)
smugen - kriechen, sich schmiegen (creep, crawl, nestle)

Hettema (1832)
smuga, smoegje - smeeken, laag zijn, kruipen (beg, be low, creep)

Norsk:
smug - alley (steeg)
i smug - stealthy, secretly, on the sly (tersluiks, heimelijk, stiekem)
smughandel - black market, smuggle (sluikhandel)
smugle - to smuggle (smokkelen)

[added 30-10-'21: see Köbler: smuch, smuga]
 
The dutch smeken (to beg) and the german schmeicheln (to flatter, adulate) also seem to be related.

Interestingly, oldschool etymologies of these words do not mention any relation yet to the oldfrisian word.

Conclusion:
creepy/ kruiperige/ kriecherische GOLE & PRESTERA!

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