Reconstruction:Proto-Slavic/medvědь

Etymology
From (originally probably a consonant stem, later reformed into an i-stem based on the accusative in *-in, as typical in Balto-Slavic), equivalent to , hence literally the epithet "honey-eater". Cognate with 🇨🇬 (RV I 164,22). Presumably came into use as taboo avoidance of an earlier word, possibly something like (compare 🇨🇬, from Proto-Indo-European ). Similar proposed examples of linguistic taboo for 'bear' are, , and.

There is a false etymology from and, hence "one who knows honey" or "honey master".

Noun

 * 1)  bear

Declension
Reconstructed as a jo-stem in Derksen 2008, since no descendants reflect an i-stem. But may have originally been an i-stem based on the lack of iotation of the final *d.

Descendants
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 * East Slavic:
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 * West Slavic:
 * Bohemian :
 * Pomeranian:
 * Sorbian:
 * West Slavic:
 * Bohemian :
 * Pomeranian:
 * Sorbian:
 * West Slavic:
 * Bohemian :
 * Pomeranian:
 * Sorbian:
 * Bohemian :
 * Pomeranian:
 * Sorbian:
 * Pomeranian:
 * Sorbian:
 * Pomeranian:
 * Sorbian:
 * Pomeranian:
 * Sorbian:
 * Sorbian:
 * Sorbian:
 * Non-Slavic: