rrafsh

Albanian

Etymology

Formerly believed to be a Back-formation from rrafshoj; the latter is derived from unattested *rravsh + -oj, the first element of which is borrowed from a South Slavic language, ultimately derived from *orvьnъ (even); compare Old Church Slavonic равьнъ (ravĭnŭ), Serbo-Croatian ravan, Bulgarian равен (raven).[1] However this is less likely, as Omari doubts a Slavic origin due to phonological problems.[2] Most likely from rraf, Gheg form of rrah (to beat, strike, to flatten; grubbed out land). Consider also northeastern Gheg "rrapsh", as found in Malsia. Possibly related to rrjep (to peel) and rrap (plane tree), as it would explain the change from -psh- to -fsh-.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /rafʃ/

Noun

rrafsh m

  1. plain, flat area, field
  2. flatland
  3. (figuratively) field

Declension

Declension of rrafsh
singular plural
indefinite definite indefinite definite
nominative rrafsh rrafshi rrafshe rrafshet
accusative rrafshin
dative rrafshi rrafshit rrafsheve rrafsheve
ablative rrafshesh

Derived terms

References

  1. ^ Orel, Vladimir E. (1998) “rrafsh”, in Albanian Etymological Dictionary, Leiden, Boston, Köln: Brill, →ISBN, page 377
  2. ^ Omari, Anila (2012) “rrafsh”, in Marrëdhëniet Gjuhësore Shqiptaro-Serbe [Albanian-Serbian Linguistic Relations] (in Albanian), Tirana, Albania: Krishtalina KH, →ISBN, pages 257-258