bdel-

    bdel-

    English meaning: to suck

    Deutsche Übersetzung: ‘saugen, zullen”?

    Material: Gk. βδάλλω “ sucks “, βδέλλα “ leech “; Ger. zullen “ suck in a sucking sac “, zulp “ piece of cloth used for soaking up liquid “, Dutch tullen “ drink, booze, sup “, Ger. tulken “ suck, drink with large gulps, quaff “? Kretschmer KZ. 31, 423; Very uncertain because of more similar Gmc. words like Nor. tūna “ drink a lot “ under likewise (see Falk-Torp under tylde). If the connection applies, was IE initial sound bd-, or it is Gk. β - perhaps in child language? - from πι-= ἐπὶ shortened prefix (be- ‘suck”?).

    References: WP. II 119.