 | ThisProto-Germanic entry containsreconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directlyattested, but are hypothesized to have existed based oncomparative evidence. |
The origin of this word (and the related*rattō) is uncertain.[1] It may derive fromProto-Indo-European*Hreh₃d-(“to scrape, gnaw, scratch”) (whence e.g. Latinrōdō and possibly also, but more indirectly, Latinrādō), but this is disputed, and Klein says that such a connection does not exist.[2] In view of Welshrhathu(“to scrape; to chafe”) (via Proto-Brythonic*rėθid and earlier*ratteti from Proto-Celtic*rasdeti(“to scrape; to scratch”), cognate with Latinrādō(“to scrape”)), an ancient Celtic derivative noun like*rattos could conceivably be the source. The word may also go back to an unknownsubstrate language.
Kroonen notes that consonant variation is high in descendant languages, especially in the High German dialects (Middle High Germanrate,radde,ratte,ratze). Older etymological sources explained theGermanic words as borrowings fromRomance, but it is now accepted that this is not the case; Kroonen even asserts that the Romance (and Celtic) words must be borrowed from Germanic. He considers it plausible, however—especially considering dialectalRatz/Ratze(“polecat”)—that the Germanic word originally referred to a different animal.[3] The rat itself may have been unknown in Europe at a Proto-Germanic date.
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | *rattaz | *rattōz, *rattōs |
| vocative | *ratt | *rattōz, *rattōs |
| accusative | *rattą | *rattanz |
| genitive | *rattas, *rattis | *rattǫ̂ |
| dative | *rattai | *rattamaz |
| instrumental | *rattō | *rattamiz |