Sorry for being unclear–proto-Celtic calls wolves “wailos” for the same reason as they call gulls “weilanna,” because of the noise, yes. The coincidence is that the modern word “wolf” sounds like the proto-Celtic word “wailos.”
Comment on The name "seagull" implies the existence of landgulls, airgulls, and firegulls.
jaybone@lemmy.zip 5 days agoWailos or wailer is wolf, is that because they “wail” (howl?) Or is that just a coincidence?
ilinamorato@lemmy.world 4 days ago
Aqarius@lemmy.world 5 days ago
It’s probably the result of a taboo. It’s why people say “bear” (the brown one) or “medved” (the honey knower) instead of “arth” or “ursus”.
ilinamorato@lemmy.world 4 days ago
Interesting. I knew about “bear” but I did not know about “medved” as another minced-taboo.