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Taking up the discussion of the PN Artebuθz on the pot from Poetovio – we are looking for a second element to go with putative arto- & #39;bear& #39;. boud- & #39;victory& #39; is an option, but requires monophthongisation and raising of /ou/ to /u/. Also, why spell auslauting /s/ with zeta? 1/8
To account for /u/ and zeta, we can compare the Gaulish hapax buđđuton and the common name element bussu-; the spelling <θz> in Artebuθz would then represent an attempt to reflect the complex cluster resulting from the tau gallicum sound [ts] vel sim. plus the ending -[s]. 2/8
buđđu-/bussu- has long been considered to belong with a widespread Celtic and Western IE onomatopoeic element bus- & #39;lips, kiss& #39; (e.g., MIr. bus). Alternatively, some argue for a derivation from PC *bozdo- & #39;knob& #39; (MIr. bot & #39;male member, tail& #39;, MW both & #39;nave, shield boss& #39;). 3/8
Whether *bozdo- belongs here depends on whether PC /zd/ is one of the sources for tau gallicum – with a staggering three words (also *nezd-isamo- & #39;nearest& #39;, *ku̯ezdi- & #39;piece& #39;), the evidence is scarce and debated. /o/ vs. /u/ in both the root and the stem is also problematic. 4/8
The semantics are not helpful either. buđđutton in one of the notoriously risqué Gaulish spindle whorl inscriptions (& #39;come girl, take my buđđutton& #39;) has been translated as & #39;little kiss& #39; (cf. Austrian Busserl); the & #39;knob& #39;-etymology of buđđ- makes for a juicier translation. 5/8
bussu- in names invites the fun game of guessing alternative PN semantics – a dubious pastime, as compound names must not necessarily make sense as compound lexemes. There is no case in which one option is incontestably superior: Bussumaros & #39;big-lipped& #39; or & #39;big percy& #39;? 6/8
Bussurigios & #39;smooch king& #39; or & #39;royal dong& #39;? Bussugnata & #39;famed for her lips& #39;, & #39;kiss-skilled& #39; or & #39;willy expert& #39;? Anbusulus & #39;lipless& #39; or & #39;dickless& #39;? Artebuθz & #39;lips like a bear& #39; or & #39;bear prick& #39;? You are welcome to bring your onomastic expertise to bear (ha) and submit your vote. 7/8
Personally, I find & #39;Bear-Lips& #39; more convincing – they do have rather noticeable lips, right? Details on the discussion including literature on http://www.univie.ac.at/lexlep/wiki/bu%C4%91-.">https://www.univie.ac.at/lexlep/wi... Credits to @montypython for helpful euphemisms. I do hope this thread stays up. 8/8
