litillaike

n.

WA litilayke, lityllaike, lityllake

'smallness'

(Modern English )

Etymology

littel (adj.) + suffix < ON -leikr (cp. godlaik (n.)); the formation of the compound is always explained by input from ON, cp. lítilleikr 'lowness, smallness'. Its unique attestation in WA may be taken as additional circumstantial evidence in favour of an ON origin.

PGmc Ancestor

*lūt- or *līt- + laik-

Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)

lítilleikr 'lowness, smallness'
(ONP lítilleikr)

Other Scandinavian Reflexes

OE Cognate

Phonological and morphological markers

Summary category

C4c

Attestation

Unique to WA

Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus

WA 1709, 2505, 2706 etc.

Bibliography

MED lī̆tellaik (n.) , OED3 littlelaik (n.) , HTOED