Proto-Slavic *čerěnъ and *černъ. I. Vault (of the hearth)

Abstract

In etymological literature, one can come across the reconstruction of several homonymous words *černъ and/or *čerěnъ in the Proto-Slavic language. The highest number of reconstructed words is four while the lowest number is two. The reconstructions differ both in form and semantics. This article attempts to determine which position is best supported by facts and to clarify the reconstructed meanings. The analysed material suggests that we should differentiate between *černъ ‘handle’ and *čerěnъ / *čerěnь / *čerenъ / *čerenь (?), which denoted a certain part of the hearth, most likely the vault. It is highly probable that certain designations of nets in West Slavic languages are also continuants of the latter word. Etymologically, *čerěnъ / *čerěnь / *čerenъ / *čerenь is most probably related to the verb *kuriti (sę), although alternative explanations are possible.