> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vassil Karloukovski [mailto:v.karloukovski@...]
> Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2003 10:32 AM

> Below is the Slavic etymology suggested in one Bulgarian
> archaeological description of Pliska (which I am currently
> translating :).
>
> Regards,
> Vassil
>
> ***********
>
> The name 'Pliska' is Slavic in origin. According to the linguists it
> is cognate with the Old Russian word 'pleso', 'pljos', meaning a
> lake, a swamp.

A connection to Old Russian <plesU>, Russian <plės>, Ukr. <pléso> '',
Czech, Slovak <pleso> (< *plesU 'flat and shallow part of a river; still
waters' < PIE *pleth2-s- 'flat') is highly improbable (nearly
impossible, since it would require a quirky metathesis of otherwise
unattested reflex of zero grade *-Il- > *-lI-, which would be normal in
Germanic, less common in Baltic and very rare in Slavic).

> Even now, there is a small town
> called Pliskov in Central Ukraine, in the Vinicka district.

If it's indeed <Pliskov> (not <Plyskov>), then it directly supports my
etymology (belonging to the same etymon as *PlIskova (Pliska) and
<PlIskovU>), since it can only continue earlier *Ple^skovU < *ple^sk-
(rather than *ples-).

Sergei