paulus

Etymology
From earlier, likely from , from +  + , the first two elements also giving 🇨🇬.

Cf. the proportions ::  like  ::  like  ::, and with diminutives  ::  like  ::  like  ::. and showcase the same development of /dipthong + ks/ as the present word. ,, are further examples of words formed with the same suffixes.

Against this, De Vaan (2008) notes that "the suffix *-slo- is otherwise only used for instrument nouns, and only after consonant stems; both are reasons to reject a preform *pauk-slo- derived from *pau-ko-", and quotes Thurneysen (1907: 177) as deriving it from, from , also from.

However, the regular development of the cluster /wr/ is metathesis, as in, and just this is attested in. It's difficult to envision a split outcome of metathesis for the base form and its morphologically transparent diminutive (cf. the systematic parallels above). The "instrument nouns" objection can be countered with the striking parallel in ::  and by the cross-linguistic tendency to refer to the young with neuter or otherwise objectifying nouns (cf. 🇨🇬); the precise meaning of the suffix also need not have been an instrument.

Further related to 🇨🇬,, 🇨🇬, 🇨🇬.

Adjective

 * 1) little, small

Usage notes
Used especially pertaining to size.