Die slawischen Stammesnamen Neletici und Nudzici

Abstract

The Slav Tribal Names Neletici and Nudzici

It is well known that in every language tribal and landscape names provide us with some of the earliest examples of vocabulary passed down to us. Ernst Eichler has closely examined forty archaic formations from the Old Sorbian language area with regard to their origin, structure and meaning in a special study. Two of these are given new interpretations here: Neletici, the name of four different Slav tribal areas, is interpreted as deriving from the late Proto-Slavonic *Nelětici ʻpeople of the Nelětʹʼ; *Nelětʹ is an ancient, apotropaic forename. The most likely explanation for Nudzici is that it Comes from late Proto-Slavonic * Nudʹźici ʻpeople of the Nudʹźaʼ; *Nudʹźa is, however, not to be understood as a nickname for a poor person in need, but as an old wishing name, whose basic meaning occurs in Proto-Slavonic *nuditi ʻto force, compelʼ, indicating a person, who is able to defeat his opponent in battle. In conclusion, three place names from near the river Saale are examined, which all derive from the late Proto-Slavonic tribal name *Chъrvati ʻKroatenʼ and today are called Korbetha.