bhergh-

I. bhergh-¹

To hide, protect. Oldest form *bherg̑h-, becoming *bhergh- in centum languages.

1.

a. Germanic compound *h(w)als-berg- (see kʷel-¹);

b. Germanic compound *skēr-berg- (see sker-¹). Both a and b from Germanic *bergan, to protect.

2. Zero-grade form *bhr̥gh-.

a. bury, from Old English byrgan, to bury, from Germanic *burgjan;

b. burial, from Old English byrgels, burial, from Germanic derivative *burgisli-.

3.

a. borrow, from Old English borgian, to borrow, from Germanic *borgēn, to pledge, lend, borrow;

b. bargain, from Old French bargaignier, to haggle, from Germanic derivative *borganjan.

 

[Pokorny bherg̑h- 145.]

  II. bhergh-²

High; with derivatives referring to hills and hill-forts. Oldest form *bherg̑h-, becoming *bhergh- in centum languages.

Derivatives include iceberg, bourgeois, burglar, force, and fortify.

1.

a. barrow², from Old English beorg, hill;

b. iceberg, from Middle Dutch bergh, mountain;

c. inselberg, from Old High German berg, mountain;

d. Germanic compound *harja-bergaz (see koro-). a-d all from Germanic *bergaz, hill, mountain.

2. belfry, from Old French berfroi, tower, from Germanic compound *berg-frij-, “high place of safety,” tower (*frij-, peace, safety; see prī-).

3. Zero-grade form *bhr̥gh-.

a. borough, burg, from Old English burg, burh, byrig, (fortified) town;

b. burgomaster, from Middle Dutch burch, town;

c. bourg, bourgeois, burgess, burglar; faubourg, from Late Latin burgus, fortified place, and Old French burg, borough;

d. burgher, from Old High German burgāri, townsman, from Germanic compound *burg-warōn-, “city protector” (*warōn-, protector; see wer-⁴). a-d all from Germanic *burgs, hill-fort.

4. Possibly suffixed zero-grade form *bhr̥gh-to-. force, fort, fortalice, forte¹, forte², fortis, fortissimo, fortitude, fortress; comfort, deforce, effort, enforce, fortify, pianoforte, reinforce, from Latin fortis, strong (but this is also possibly from dher-).

 

[Pokorny bhereg̑h- 140.]

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