[techtalk] Etymology (was Re: Layman's Guides to Computer Security)

[jenn at simegen.com]

Kai MacTane wrote:


> In Old High German, there were two major types of "men": "wo-men" and 
> "wer-men". "Wo-men" were female and "wer-men" male. The "wer" in 
> "wer-man" is cognate with the Latin "vir", which also means "man" (in 
> our current sense of "adult male human").

I've heard also of 'hus-mann' and 'wif-mann' .. which have obvious
modern derivatives.


Jenn V.
-- 
     "Do you ever wonder if there's a whole section of geek culture
             you miss out on by being a geek?" - Dancer.

jenn at simegen.com     Jenn Vesperman     http://www.simegen.com/~jenn/