uk p 
Ke 
ii Ft 
; 1895.] MYODES LEMMUS. 18 

Læmende, Limende, Lemende, Lemend, Lemand, Lomende, Lö- 
menne, Lomund, Lomhund, Lomeldre, Lemeldre, Lemette, Lemett, 
and Lemmuing. 
More garbled or dialectic names for it might even be 
added. 
It will be seen therefore, that this word with its numerous 
variations appears, nevertheless, to have å common root, lem or 
lom, and it is very remarkable that, so far as the author is 
aware, no designation of other origin for this animal is to be 
found in Norway. 
The meaning of the name is doubtful. The first who 
endeavoured to explain its origin, was Olaus Wormius, in 1653 
(Historia ammalis, &c., p. 5). 
His supposition that the name was derived from Le (scythe) 
and Mand (man), is occasionally, still maintained by modern 
authors, but, naturally, without reason. It appears equally im- 
probable that his Lomhund should have originated from *hound,” 
on account of its barking cry. 
Concerning this question, Professor Sophus Bugge has kindly . 
placed the following account at my disposal, which, with his 
permission, I repeat here 1n extenso. 
*T will not express any opinion as to the original meaning 
of the name. Aasen's supposition* that it is derived from the 
Old Norse lemja, *to waste, to destroy,” signifying *noxious 
apimal,” cannot in my opinion, be correct on account of the 
1 It says here: 
* Qvarum vocum originationem dum inqviro, videtur mili qvod å Le 
d adjunctis ortum trahamt. Le vero vil adjective capitur nostratibus & 
turpem motat, vel substantive falcem mussoriam indicat. Utroque modo 
hisce appellattonibus qvadrare videtur. St emim a substantivo trahas, 
Messores Latinis indicabit, & eos qui falce segetes demetunt, qvod hæc 
animalia, dentibus primoribus in fales modum formatis, facere, dolent 
Agricole: sin vero adjective, turpia animalia notabit, qvæ ob noxam & 
cladem qvam frugibus & arvis inferunt, merito turpia & detestanda ha- 
bentur. Hoc sensu mures falciferos aut turpes, idiomate Romano haud 
inepte, quis vocaverit. Qvibusdam in locis Norvagie Lomhunde vocari 
accept, eo qvod latratum edant similem catulis canum.” .. 
2 Ordbog, p- 439. 
