icicle(n.)
"挂坠状的冰块,由从附着处流下的水滴结冰形成,锥形朝下," 早在14世纪,来自 isykle,源自 is "冰"(见 ice(n.))+ 中古英语 ikel,这个词本身的意思是"冰柱",来自古英语 gicel "冰柱,冰"(在复合词中发现,例如 cylegicel "寒冰"),源自原始日耳曼语 *jekilaz(源头还包括古诺尔斯语 jaki "一块冰",小型 jökull "冰柱,冰; 冰川"; 古高地德语 ihilla "冰柱"),源自原始印欧语 *yeg- "冰"(源头还包括中古爱尔兰语 aig "冰",威尔士语 ia)。方言词 ickle "冰柱"一直流传到20世纪。
The latter element came to lose its independent meaning, and has suffered under popular etymology; explained in books as a mere dim. termination -icle, as in article, particle, etc., it appears transformed in the obs. or dial. forms ice-sickle, ise-sicklc, ice-shackle, ice-shoggle, OSc. iceshogle, icechokill, etc. [Century Dictionary]
后一个元素失去了独立的意义,并在通俗的词源学中受到了影响; 在书中被解释为仅仅是一个缩小的终止符 -icle,如 article, particle 等,它在过时或方言形式中出现,如 ice-sickle, ise-sicklc, ice-shackle, ice-shoggle,OSc. iceshogle, icechokill 等。[世纪词典]
该词起源时间:14世纪初