Etymology

Always derived from ON, cp. OIcel skógr 'forest'. A PGmc root *skōg- is only attested in NGmc, but is usually connected with PGmc *skagōn, cp. OIcel skagi 'low cape, ness', OE sceaga 'small wood, copse' (see e.g. Mag.). The absence of palatalization of initial /sk/ is a secure test of loan.

PGmc Ancestor

*skōg-

Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)

skógr 'forest'
(ONP skógr (sb.))

Other Scandinavian Reflexes

Far skógur, skógbur, Icel skógur, Norw skog, Dan skov, Sw skog

OE Cognate

cp. sceaga 'small wood, copse'

Phonological and morphological markers

absence of palatalization of */sk/

Summary category

A1bc

Attestation

The word has a very clear N distribution: it is attested in only a few N ME texts, beginning with a1400 Cursor (Frf 14), but much more frequently as a place-name element in the N. from as early as the 12c.

Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus

WA 3915, 4731, 5157

TPD point out that the instance at WA 4731 should be regarded as an additional spelling variant of this word rather than the native n. (<schaw> in 4730; Skeat WA prints <schaw> for both) because it alliterates on /sk/: 'and þai for skere of þe skrike into þe schow fledd'.

Bibliography

MED scough (n.) , OED scogh (n.) , HTOED , Bj. 128-9, de Vries skógr, Mag. skógur, AEW sceaga