Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.15291/csi.4299
Etymology of the Fish Name Tabinja
Ranko Matasović
orcid.org/0000-0001-7068-3036
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Philosophy, Department of Philological Sciences HAZU, Zagreb, Croatia
*
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
In this paper a new etymology of the Croatian fish name
tabinja ʻPhycis phycisʼ is proposed. It is derived from a Dalmato-
Romance reflex of Lat. *tabō/*tabōnis ʻgadflyʼ, itself a
derivative of tabānus ʻgadflyʼ. It is argued that the metaphorical
transfer was motivated by the confusion of the species
Phycis phycis with that of maritime lampreys (Petromyzon
marinus) which are similar to gadflies since they suck the
blood of other fish species.
Keywords
Dalmato-Romance; etymology; ichthyonymy; tabinja
Hrčak ID:
312242
URI
Publication date:
28.12.2023.
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