Reconstruction:Proto-Slavic/kolěno

This Proto-Slavic entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Slavic

Etymology

Formed as **kol- +‎ *-ěno, of disputed origin. Proposed etymologies include:

From Proto-Indo-European *kʷel- (“to turn, rotate”)[1] or *kʷelh₁- (“to revolve”)[2]. Possibly, via s-extension, the origin of Latin collum (“neck”), Proto-Germanic *halsaz (“neck”).
From Proto-Indo-European *kelH- (“to rise, raise, lift”)[1], often claimed as the origin of Proto-Slavic *čelo (“forehead”) and (first part of) *čeľustь (“jaw”).
Occassionally compared to Ancient Greek σκέλος (skélos, “leg”), of disputed descent. Perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kel- (“to bend, crook”).

Akin to Lithuanian kẽlis (“knee”), kelė́nas (“knee joint”) and Latvian celis (“knee”). Arguably, further related to Ancient Greek κῶλον (kôlon, “member, body part”), Ancient Greek κυλλός (kullós, “crooked, deformed”).

Secondary meaning “lineage” is sometimes considered unrelated, commonly linked with *čeľadь (“offsprings”) (collective) of uncertain origin. According to some interpretations, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kʷel- (“to rally (a group), to crowd”) (whence Proto-Germanic *skulō (“crowd, multitude”)).

Noun

*kolě̀no n[1][3][2]

knee
(secondary) lineage, pedigree
Synonym: *poteklo

Inflection

Declension of *kolě̀no (hard o-stem, accent paradigm a)

	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	*kolě̀no	*kolě̀ně	*kolě̀na
Accusative	*kolě̀no	*kolě̀ně	*kolě̀na
Genitive	*kolě̀na	*kolě̀nu	*kolě̀nъ
Locative	*kolě̀ně	*kolě̀nu	*kolě̀ně̄xъ
Dative	*kolě̀nu	*kolě̀noma	*kolě̀nomъ
Instrumental	kolě̀nъmь, kolě̀nomь^*	*kolě̀noma	*kolě̀nȳ
Vocative	*kolě̀no	*kolě̀ně	*kolě̀na

^* -ъmь in North Slavic, -omь in South Slavic.

Derived terms

*kolěniti, *kolěničiti (“to kneel”)
*kolěnьce (diminutive)
*kolěnьnъ, *kolěnьskъ

Related terms

*pokolěnьje (“generation”)
*kolo (“wheel”)
- *kolьce (“hoop”)
- *kolěja (“wheel track”)
- *kolǫtъ (“ring, loop”)
*čeľadь (“children; household”)
*čelo (“forehead”)
- *čelesьnъ (“top, frontal”)
*čelnъ (“member”)

Descendants

East Slavic:
- Old East Slavic: колѣно (kolěno)
  - Belarusian: кале́на (kaljéna)
  - Russian: коле́но (koléno)
  - Ukrainian: колі́но (kolíno)
South Slavic:
- Old Church Slavonic:
  Cyrillic: колѣно (kolěno)
  Glagolitic: ⰽⱁⰾⱑⱀⱁ (kolěno)
- Bulgarian: коля́но (koljáno)
- Macedonian: колено (koleno)
- Serbo-Croatian:
  Cyrillic: ко̀лено, ко̀љено, колино
  Latin: kòleno, kòljeno, kolino
  - Chakavian (Vrgada): kolȉno
  - Chakavian (Orbanići): kolȅno
  - Chakavian (Novi): kolȅno
- Slovene: kolẹ́no (tonal orthography)
West Slavic:
- Old Czech: koleno
  - Czech: koleno
- Kashubian: kòlano
- Polabian: ťüľonĕ
- Polish: kolano
- Slovak: koleno
- Slovincian: kʉ̀ɵ̯lanɵ
- Sorbian:
  - Lower Sorbian: kóleno
  - Upper Sorbian: koleno

References

Derksen, Rick (2008), “*kolě̀no”, in Etymological Dictionary of the Slavic Inherited Lexicon (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 4), Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 228: “n. o (a) ‘knee’”
Snoj, Marko (2016), “kolẹ́no”, in Slovenski etimološki slovar³ (in Slovene), https://fran.si: “Pslovan. *kolě̋no”
Olander, Thomas (2001), “kolěno”, in Common Slavic accentological word list, Copenhagen: Editiones Olander: “a (SA 149; PR 132)”

[Dersken-1] Derksen, Rick (2008), “*kolě̀no”, in Etymological Dictionary of the Slavic Inherited Lexicon (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 4), Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 228: “n. o (a) ‘knee’”

[Snoj-2] Snoj, Marko (2016), “kolẹ́no”, in Slovenski etimološki slovar³ (in Slovene), https://fran.si: “Pslovan. *kolě̋no”

[3] Olander, Thomas (2001), “kolěno”, in Common Slavic accentological word list, Copenhagen: Editiones Olander: “a (SA 149; PR 132)”