An (Old) Idea for Explaining (West Germanic )-apa

Abstract

The origin of the hydronymic element (West-Germ. *)-apa, also used in toponymic elements/place names, has been unclear for decades. This article revisits this debate and proposes a solution that takes known sound laws into account. The element *-apa is the result of a Pre-Proto-Germanic derivation from the root PIE *h₂ep- ʻ(running) waterʼ with an exact parallel in Pre-Proto-Celtic: PIE
*h₂ep-h₃on- > Pre-Proto-Germ. *Haban- > Proto-Germ. *apan- (nom. *apōⁿ, gen. *apeniz). Starting from Early Proto-Germ. *apōⁿ > Proto-Germ. *apō, a full Proto-Germanic ō-stem paradigm can be reconstructed. Of note is the fact that this Germanic element is only attested in onyms, whereas Proto-Germ. *aχu̯ō- (from the root PIE *h₂ek^u̯- ʻwaterʼ) is generally continued as an appellative in the Germanic languages. In most other Indo-European languages, only one of the two aforementioned roots is continued.