Reconstruction:Proto-Slavic/bělъka

This Proto-Slavic entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Slavic

Etymology

From *bělъ +‎ *-ъka. Akin to Lithuanian bálnas (“white-backed”) and possibly to Latin faelēs (“cat, marten”).

Noun

*bělъka f

  1. creature with white colored torso
    → squirrel (East Slavic)
    Synonyms: *věverica, *katerica
    → stone marten (Eastern South Slavic)
    → type of fish (Western South Slavic)
  2. pale skinned female
  3. albumen

Declension

Declension of *bělъka (hard a-stem)
singular dual plural
nominative *bělъka *bělъcě *bělъky
genitive *bělъky *bělъku *bělъkъ
dative *bělъcě *bělъkama *bělъkamъ
accusative *bělъkǫ *bělъcě *bělъky
instrumental *bělъkojǫ, *bělъkǫ** *bělъkama *bělъkami
locative *bělъcě *bělъku *bělъkasъ, *bělъkaxъ*
vocative *bělъko *bělъcě *bělъky

* -asъ is the expected Balto-Slavic form but is found only in some Old Czech documents; -axъ is found everywhere else and is formed by analogy with other locative plurals in -xъ.
** The second form occurs in languages that contract early across /j/ (e.g. Czech), while the first form occurs in languages that do not (e.g. Russian).

Descendants

  • East Slavic:
    • Old East Slavic: бѣлка (bělka)
      • Belarusian: бе́лка (bjélka, “squirrel”)
      • Russian: бе́лка (bélka, “squirrel”)
      • Middle Ukrainian: бѣлка (bilka)
    • Old Novgorodian: бѣлка (bělka)
  • South Slavic:
  • West Slavic:
    • Old Czech: bělka
      • Czech: bělka (dialectal)
    • Kashubian: białka
    • Polish: białka
  • Non-Slavic:
    • → Albanian: bejkë (“white sheep”)

Further reading

  • Trubachyov, Oleg, editor (1975), “*bělъka”, in Этимологический словарь славянских языков [Etymological dictionary of Slavic languages] (in Russian), numbers 2 (*bez – *bratrъ), Moscow: Nauka, page 81
  • Vasmer, Max (1964–1973) “белка”, in Oleg Trubachyov, transl., Этимологический словарь русского языка [Etymological Dictionary of the Russian Language] (in Russian), Moscow: Progress
  • Snoj, Marko (2016) “bȇlka”, in Slovenski etimološki slovar [Slovenian Etymology Dictionary] (in Slovene), 3rd edition, https://fran.si
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