Thread:User talk:Rua/Derivation of Maid, Maidli, Meydli

Hi there!

I originally wanted to search for the right place of the Alemannic word for girl Maydli or Maidli (east Alemannic) or Meydli (west Alemannic). This term is quit near to the English word maid. However, because of the li ending, which is a reduction form, it stands not for young women, it stand for a girl (mostly a younger one, not a teen). This principle is typical (Swiss) Alemannic and can be observed in many other words like Bergli (smaller mountain), Schiffli (smaller ship), and so on.

While the term Maid (for young women) is fully outdated and replaced by "jungi Frou", the word Maydli, Maidli, Meydli are in heavy use.

So whats the problem of the following derivation for maid, Maydli / Meydli?


 * magaþ => magadīn => maiden, meiden => maid


 * magaþ => magadīn => mait => Maidli, Maydli, Meydli