The Body › Reproductive System › Womb

STEDT #1733

r/m-bu ⪤ pru

NEST / WOMB / PLACENTA

Proto-Tibeto-Burman

Reconstruction analysis

handlebuprefixrinitialbrhymeucoverP · V

Intermediate reconstructions

Kuki-Chin*ɓuu ‘NEST / DEN’PKC #38

Connections

HPTB*pru(w) ‘womb’p. 199

Notes

This etymon is quite widely distributed, appearing in the NE Indian Areal Group, Lolo-Burmese, Jingpho, Nungic, Qiangic, and Karenic, with a key Himalayish cognate in Written Tibetan.

There is a good Chinese comparandum, 胞 GSR #1113b (see below).

The root shows metathetic variants, with the *r- treated either as a prefix (*r-bu; cf. the Aimol, Kom Rem, and Moyon reflexes) or as a post-initial glide (*pru; cf. the WT reflex). This is similar to #1632 PTB *r-ku ⪤ *kru NEST / UTERUS / AMNIOTIC SAC, below. It also shows variation in the voicing of the initial consonant, both in TB and in Chinese (GSR gives two OC readings, *pộg and *p'ộg).

In passing, STC (p. 102) gives a few forms meaning NEST from Kuki-Chin languages, without offering any reconstruction. See also #1633 PTB *bu CHILD, quite distinct from the present etymon.

Chinese comparandum

胞 OC *pộg, GSR #1113b ‘womb’; Li 1971: *prəgw; Baxter 1992: *pru; Mand. bāo.

This cognate set is in Bodman 1980:142 #310, Coblin 1986:161, Gong 1995 #61, and Schuessler 2007:157.

The regular correspondence between OC final *-əgw (Li), *-u (Baxter) and TB *-əw (or *-u) is well-attested. Examples include:

九 ‘nine’ TB *d-kəw; OC *kjəgw (Li) / *kʷjuʔ (Baxter)
鳩 ‘dove/pigeon’ TB *khəw, OC *kjəgw (Li) / *k(r)ju (Baxter); Mand jiū

also, #1654 PTB *pu EGG (elsewhere in this volume).

The TB final also corresponds to OC *-ug (Li) / *-o (Baxter), as seen in #253 PTB *s-nəw BREAST / MILK / SUCK.
[ZJH]

Reflexes & cognates84 reflexes · 27 subgroups

Damubu-lamorpheme ‘placenta’Sun J 93 Tani

Damupu-ramorpheme ‘placenta’Sun J 93 Tani

Milangtaprefix-pyu-ap#1613 PTB *(t)s(i/u)p ‘NEST / WOMB / SCROTUM’PTani *sup ‘NEST / LAIR’PCN *a-sap ‘NEST / WEB’PL *(d)zyi ‘PLACENTA / NEST’ ‘nest’Tayeng 76 Mil

1.1.2Deng3

Darang [Taraon]ɑ⁵⁵morpheme po⁵⁵ ‘placenta’Sun H 80 MLD

Kaman [Miju]mphɑ̆u⁵³ n‘nest (bird)’Huang and Dai 92 TBL: 0327.23

Kaman [Miju]mphɑ̆u⁵³ ‘nest’Sun H 91 ZMYY: 368.48

1.2Kuki-Chin1

*Chinɓuu ‘NEST / DEN’VanBik 09 PKC: 38

1.2.1.1Northern Chin11

Paitebu ‘nest’VanBik 09 PKC: 38

Sizangbū ‘nest’VanBik 09 PKC: 38

Thadobûu ‘nest’VanBik 09 PKC: 38

Thadoʌ̄prefix◦bú ‘nest’Thirumalai 72: 59

Tiddimbu¹ ‘nest’VanBik 09 PKC: 38

Tiddimbu¹ ‘nest’Bhaskararao 96 CDB: 119

Tiddimbuː¹ > buːt¹ v‘build a nest’Bhaskararao 96 CDB: 146

Tiddimbuː¹/buːt¹ ‘build a nest’Bhaskararao 94 TCV

Tiddimˉvă#1603 PTB *w(a/u) ‘BIRD / EGG / WING / FOWL’PKC *waa ‘BIRD’PTk *wa ‘BIRD’-săˊmorpheme◦buː n+n+n‘nest (bird's)’Henderson 65 TidC

Tiddimˊbuː n‘nest’Henderson 65 TidC

1.2.1.2Southern Plains Chin6

Ashoaprefix-büˊˊ n‘nest’VanBik 09 PKC: 38

Ashoəprefix◦bü ‘nest’Benedict 72 STC: p.102

Cho (Mindat)aprefix ng’morpheme bu ‘nest’VanBik 09 PKC: 38

Khamitəprefix◦bu ‘nest’Benedict 72 STC: p.102

Awa Khumiăprefix◦tăprefix◦buʔ² ‘womb / placenta’Luce 85: O.13

Khumitbuu ‘nest (bird or snake), den (of jungle boar)’VanBik 09 PKC: 38

1.2.2Central Chin8

Lai (Hakha)(vàa)#1603 PTB *w(a/u) ‘BIRD / EGG / WING / FOWL’PKC *waa ‘BIRD’PTk *wa ‘BIRD’-bǔu ‘bird-nest’VanBik 09 PKC: 38

Lai (Falam)bûu ‘nest’VanBik 09 PKC: 38

Lai (Hakha)bu·◦θsuffix ‘build a nest’Hakha Lai θ is from suffixal *-t (see STC pp. 102-3).Benedict 72 STC: p.102

Lai (Hakha)əprefix◦bu ‘nest’Benedict 72 STC: p.102

Lushai [Mizo]bu ‘nest’Marrison 67 Naga

Lushai [Mizo]bû ‘nest, group’VanBik 09 PKC: 38

Lushai [Mizo]bu ‘nest’Bhaskararao 96 CDB: 119

Lushai [Mizo]bu ‘nest’Benedict 72 STC: p.102

1.2.3Maraic1

Lakher [Mara]bú ‘nest’VanBik 09 PKC: 38

1.2.4“Old Kuki”5

Aimolrəbu ‘nest’Benedict 72 STC: p.102

Kom Remnəimorpheme rəbu ‘placenta’Toba 91 KRQ: 10.4.11

Kom Remnəimorpheme rəbu ‘womb’Toba 91 KRQ: 10.4.8

Moyonnæ̀morpheme◦rubów ‘womb’Kosha 90: 10.4.8

Sorbungʔəprefix-waa#1603 PTB *w(a/u) ‘BIRD / EGG / WING / FOWL’PKC *waa ‘BIRD’PTk *wa ‘BIRD’-búu ‘nest’Mortensen 11 Sorbung: Animals.121

1.3.3Zeme Group1

Rongmei / Nruanghmeibou ‘nest’Marrison 67 Naga

1.7.1.1Bodo2

Dimasabu◦thup#1613 PTB *(t)s(i/u)p ‘NEST / WOMB / SCROTUM’PTani *sup ‘NEST / LAIR’PCN *a-sap ‘NEST / WEB’PL *(d)zyi ‘PLACENTA / NEST’ ‘nest’Marrison 67 Naga

Kokborokbə-tʰɔ#1613 PTB *(t)s(i/u)p ‘NEST / WOMB / SCROTUM’PTani *sup ‘NEST / LAIR’PCN *a-sap ‘NEST / WEB’PL *(d)zyi ‘PLACENTA / NEST’ ‘nest’Tripuri 88

1.7.3.1Jingpho2

Jingphopù-jàt#679 PTB *tsat ‘WOMB / PLACENTA / NEST’ ‘womb’Matisoff 87 BP

Jingphopə◦jàt#679 PTB *tsat ‘WOMB / PLACENTA / NEST’ ‘womb’Matisoff 87 BP

2.1.2.1Tibetan2

Tibetan (Written)(ḥ)phru-basuffix ‘uterus; placenta’Coblin 86: 161

Tibetan (Written)(h̥)pʻru-masuffix ‘womb of animals’Matisoff 87 BP

3.1Tangut1

Tangut [Xixia]mbu¹ ‘womb’Sofronov 97

3.2Qiangic8

Muyaβu⁵³ n‘nest (bird)’Huang and Dai 92 TBL: 0327.15

Muya [Minyak]wu⁵³ ‘nest’Sun H 91 ZMYY: 368.15

Qiang (Longxi)ỳprefix (tshá)morpheme bù ‘nest’Evans 99 Qiang: 405

Qiang (Mawo)wukmorpheme nəːʴmorpheme bu ‘nest’Sun H 91 ZMYY: 368.8

Qiang (Mianchi)ìprefix bú ‘chicken shed (bú='nest')’Evans 99 Qiang: 700

Qiang (Mianchi)ìprefix tshè#1651 PTB *tsyul ⪤ *tsywal ‘WOMB / PLACENTA / UMBILICAL CORD’PKC *tshuul ‘WOMB / UTERUS’ bú ‘nest’Evans 99 Qiang: 405

Qiang (Mianchi)tʂhàmorpheme ʂɨ̀morpheme bú ‘spiderweb (bú='nest')’Evans 99 Qiang: 445

Qiang (Taoping)i³¹prefixtshie⁵⁵#1651 PTB *tsyul ⪤ *tsywal ‘WOMB / PLACENTA / UMBILICAL CORD’PKC *tshuul ‘WOMB / UTERUS’χbu²⁴¹ ‘nest’Sun H 91 ZMYY: 368.9

3.3.1rGyalrong7

rGyalrongtaprefix pu ktɕɛm#1612 PTB *k-y(i/u)m ‘HOUSE’PKC *ʔim ‘HOUSE’PCN *a-jam ‘HOUSE / VILLAGE’PTk *ʃim ‘HOUSE’TGTM *ᴮdim ‘HOUSE’PLB *yim¹ ‘HOUSE’PL *yim¹ ‘HOUSE’PKar *hyi[m] ‘HOUSE’ ‘womb’Dai 89 Jiar: 10.4.8

rGyalrong (Northern)taprefix◦po◦tso#2727 PTB *tsa-n ‘CHILD / GRANDCHILD / NEPHEW / NIECE’MesorootsPCN *tsaʔ ‘SON’PTk *tsa ‘CHILD / DIMINUTIVE’Allofams1 #428 PTB *tsa-n ⪤ *za-n ‘CHILD / SON / RELATIVES’1a #1012 PTB *za-n ‘CHILD’1b #2727 PTB *tsa-n ‘CHILD / GRANDCHILD / NEPHEW / NIECE’ fkəm#1612 PTB *k-y(i/u)m ‘HOUSE’PKC *ʔim ‘HOUSE’PCN *a-jam ‘HOUSE / VILLAGE’PTk *ʃim ‘HOUSE’TGTM *ᴮdim ‘HOUSE’PLB *yim¹ ‘HOUSE’PL *yim¹ ‘HOUSE’PKar *hyi[m] ‘HOUSE’ ‘womb’Sun H 91 rNQ: 10.4.8

rGyalrong (Northern)tamorpheme◦po◦tsomorpheme r̥qʰu#1632 PTB *r-ku ⪤ *kru ‘NEST / UTERUS / AMNIOTIC SAC’ ‘amniotic sac / bag of waters’Sun H 91 rNQ: 10.4.9

rGyalrong (Eastern)tamorpheme◦pu wanmorpheme◦dʐi#1613 PTB *(t)s(i/u)p ‘NEST / WOMB / SCROTUM’PTani *sup ‘NEST / LAIR’PCN *a-sap ‘NEST / WEB’PL *(d)zyi ‘PLACENTA / NEST’ ‘placenta’Sun H 91 rEQ: 10.4.11

rGyalrong (Eastern)tamorpheme◦pu◦kəstʃiwutʂitətʃimorpheme ‘amniotic fluid’Sun H 91 rEQ: 10.4.10

rGyalrong (Eastern)tamorpheme◦pʴ stamorpheme ‘amniotic sac / bag of waters’Sun H 91 rEQ: 10.4.9

rGyalrong (Eastern)taprefix◦pʴ tʃʰem#1612 PTB *k-y(i/u)m ‘HOUSE’PKC *ʔim ‘HOUSE’PCN *a-jam ‘HOUSE / VILLAGE’PTk *ʃim ‘HOUSE’TGTM *ᴮdim ‘HOUSE’PLB *yim¹ ‘HOUSE’PL *yim¹ ‘HOUSE’PKar *hyi[m] ‘HOUSE’ ‘womb’Sun H 91 rEQ: 10.4.8

4Nungic1

Trung [Dulong]pɯ³¹tɕiʔ⁵⁵morphemedɑ̆ŋ⁵³#3445 PTB *twaŋ ‘NEST / WOMB’ ‘nest’Sun H 91 ZMYY: 368.46

6.1.2.1Northern Loloish3

Gazhuopao³³ ‘placenta’Gazhuo pao³³ evidently a loan from Chinese (cf. Mandarin 胞 bāo).Dai 89 Gazh: 10.4.11

Liphopo⁵⁵lo³³morpheme ‘placenta’Chen 86 Yi: 10.4.11

Nasubɤ³³ ‘placenta’Chen 86 Yi: 10.4.11

6.1.2.2Central Loloish1

Yi (Sani)ŋe³³#3442 PTB *s-ŋak ‘BIRD’PLB *s-ŋ(y)akᴴ ‘BIRD’bɤ³³ n‘nest (bird)’Huang and Dai 92 TBL: 0327.39

6.1.2.3Southern Loloish3

Bisuʔaŋ#5450 PTB *ʔa(ŋ/k)- ‘NOUN PREFIX’◦pʰò ‘nest’Bradley 9x Bisu

Hani (Dazhai)bɯ³¹ ‘nest’Sun H 91 ZMYY: 368.31

Hani (Lüchun)dzi⁵⁵morphemebɯ³¹ n‘nest (bird)’Huang and Dai 92 TBL: 0327.41

7Karenic2

Pa-Opò kháŋmorpheme lâmmorpheme ‘uterus’Solnit 89 PaO

Pa-Opò khròŋ#672 PTB *k-yaŋ ‘UTERUS / PLACENTA / CRADLE / NEST’ ‘uterus’Solnit 89 PaO

8Bai1

Bai (Jianchuan)ji⁵⁵morpheme pao⁵⁵ ‘placenta / afterbirth’Cf. Gazhuo pao³³ ‘placenta’.Zhao 90: 10.4.11

9.0.1Old Chinese4

Chinese (Old/Mid)pộg/pɑu ‘womb’Karlgren 57 GSR: 1113b

Chinese (Old/Mid)pʼộg/pʼɑu ‘womb’Karlgren 57 GSR: 1113b

Chinese (Old)phrəgw ‘womb’Coblin 86: 161

Chinese (Old)prəgw ‘womb’Coblin 86: 161

9.0.2Middle Chinese2

Chinese (Middle)pau ‘womb’Coblin 86: 161

Chinese (Middle)phau ‘womb’Coblin 86: 161

9.0.3Modern Chinese2

Chinese (Mandarin)pɑo ‘womb’Karlgren 57 GSR: 1113b

Chinese (Mandarin)pʼɑo ‘womb’Karlgren 57 GSR: 1113b

Cite this entry

STEDT etymon #1733, *r/m-bu ⪤ *pru ‘NEST / WOMB / PLACENTA’.

Stable link: https://larc-iu.github.io/stedt/etymon/1733

Data: STEDT v1.0 (2017). Accessed: [date].

References: not related to 1633 *bu 'child'; some forms mentioned in STC p. 102

BibTeX

@misc{stedt-1733,
  title  = {{*r/m-bu ⪤ *pru 'NEST / WOMB / PLACENTA'}},
  author = {STEDT},
  year   = {2017},
  note   = {Sino-Tibetan Etymological Dictionary and Thesaurus (STEDT) v1.0, etymon #1733},
  url    = {https://larc-iu.github.io/stedt/etymon/1733}
}

*r/m-bu ⪤ *pru