(via Token Skeptic)
Mysteries of Vernacular is a video series by Myriapod Productions that explains the odd origins of everyday words. Some of them are truly bizarre, and the effects of historical contingency on the rise of different meanings of words is apparent. The used-book aesthetic is lovely, too. “Clue” is my favourite so far:
This is interesting, because the word for ‘clue’ in the Latvian language kind of takes the opposite route… The word is ‘pavediens’ (defined/translated as ‘thread, lead’ in English), and it DOES mean the leading end of string (related words also include those referring to reins (as in horses), lead ropes, etc.). BUT it also means ‘clue’, or ‘idea, thread’ (as in of a story).
However, it is actually from either the verb ‘pavest’ (to carry (by some means of transportation) or lead (by a rope)), which is one of the prefixed forms of ‘vest’ (to bring) (the prefix ‘pa-‘ usually signifies ‘for a little while, a bit, for a temporary amount of time’); or the verb ‘pavedināt’ (to lead on, usually in a sexual connotation). So, in a sense, backwards…
But I wonder, if it is in any way related to this etymology – less related by structural etymology, more by functional etymology (if you know what I mean). After all, the Greeks DID know about Latvians… heathens, pagans, uncultured savages and all. 🙂
(I think it was Tacitus who wrote about a small, thieving nation on the shores of the Baltic, that lives in trees and eats muchrooms. Or something like that; don’t take my word for it!)
One could imagine the word “pavediens” taking on the additional meaning of a clue (in the detective story sense) somewhat recently, possibly from English, perhaps with a translator looking for a suitable word. Or perhaps it acquired the more recent meaning in parallel to English!
Well, it might actually be even older than that (the ‘clue’ aspect)… Especially if the story of Theseus was in some way transferred to the area (via trade), or during the Crusades, or with Napoleon (Latvia’s been in a lot of crossroads, and crosshairs, throughout history)… It might actually have followed the same route, linguistically, as clue – except it still has its original meaning, so probably not as old? Although who knows, maybe the original meaning sticks around in relation to the predominance of knitting.
Then again, the beginning of the last century saw a huge language restructure, inventory, revival, etc., and a llot of words were added/invented/revived to be more up-to-date. Your theory is plausible, especially if the translator knew of ‘clue’s original meaning. It might have seemed like a beautifully apt solution.
PS Also, it makes sense if it DID come the last century or so, because just a hundred years ago, linguists were far more likely to try to find a Latvian equivalent for such terms, or at least invent a suitable word from appropriate roots, rather than simply latvianize everything (the way they do now). Thanks for the thought-inspiration.