Neil McLeod wrote:
> As the word is an o-stem, I wonder if it is a cpd with -crann,
> 'wood', perhaps a late form of *'fo-chrann', 'under-growth'?)
aicher (sharp) + rann (part, portion, section) > achrann = sharp/rough/
cutting part (of field, forest) ??
This would involve syncope and broadening of the resultant consonant
cluster under the influence of the broad quality of the two r's.
This is very speculative (and doubtful, I think) and would imply that
the word existed under the written radar for quite a few centuries.
DIL seems to indicate that "aicher" was borrowed from Latin "acer".
Is this the case, and is that relevant to the formation of such a
compound?
BTW, I haven't looked at the Scottish Gaelic Studies article yet.
Dennis
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