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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- 'bear'. boud- 'victory' 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- 'lips, kiss' (e.g., MIr. bus). Alternatively, some argue for a derivation from PC *bozdo- 'knob' (MIr. bot 'male member, tail', MW both 'nave, shield boss'). 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- 'nearest', *ku̯ezdi- 'piece'), 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 ('come girl, take my buđđutton') has been translated as 'little kiss' (cf. Austrian Busserl); the 'knob'-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 'big-lipped' or 'big percy'? 6/8
Bussurigios 'smooch king' or 'royal dong'? Bussugnata 'famed for her lips', 'kiss-skilled' or 'willy expert'? Anbusulus 'lipless' or 'dickless'? Artebuθz 'lips like a bear' or 'bear prick'? You are welcome to bring your onomastic expertise to bear (ha) and submit your vote. 7/8
Personally, I find 'Bear-Lips' 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-. Credits to @montypython for helpful euphemisms. I do hope this thread stays up. 8/8
