Etymology.
2007-01-06 06:11:56 · 4 answers · asked by shlomogon 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Please do not get too technical. Put it in laymen's terms.
2007-01-06 06:23:27 · update #1
1771, from Fr. avalanche, from Romansch avalantze "descent," altered (by metathesis of -l- and -v-, probably influenced by O.Fr. avaler "to descend, go down") from Prov. lavanca "avalanche," perhaps from a pre-L. Alpine language (the suffix -anca suggests Ligurian).
2007-01-06 06:17:40 · answer #1 · answered by Sir Alex 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
avalanche
1771, from Fr. avalanche, from Romansch avalantze "descent," altered (by metathesis of -l- and -v-, probably influenced by O.Fr. avaler "to descend, go down") from Prov. lavanca "avalanche," perhaps from a pre-L. Alpine language (the suffix -anca suggests Ligurian).
2007-01-06 06:23:43 · answer #2 · answered by Martha P 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
In layman's terms:
sumpin been goin down in Liguria before Romans takin over all language
2007-01-06 14:23:27 · answer #3 · answered by Sterz 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know that the Italian word for landslide is "valanga," so maybe it's of Latin origin.
2007-01-06 06:17:14 · answer #4 · answered by Danagasta 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋