Message #211978

[Karissa Oleyanin]

The West Finns have several words for reindeer; poro 'a tame reindeer,' petra, peura 'a wild reindeer, a stag,' which last with great reservation and a note of interrogation is derived by Professor Thomsen from Lith. brëdis 'elk'; 1 the equation is therefore doubtful. Fin. hirvas 'male reindeer, stag,' and Fin. hirvi 'elk' are referred by him with a note of interrogation to a hypothetical Lith. *širvis, širvas, based on O. Pr. sirvis (or sịrnis) 'a roe.' He regards Lap, sarva