inou

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Attestation:	VB·3.2 (inou:ea) (1)
Status:	probable
Language:	prob. Celtic
Word Type:	prob. proper noun
Semantic Field:	prob. personal name
Grammatical Categories:	nom. sg.
Stem Class:	on
Morphemic Analysis:	in-ū (?)
Phonemic Analysis:	/in(n)ū/ (?)
Meaning:	'Inu' (?)

Commentary

The short sequence is most likely an on-stem personal name in the nominative or an abbreviation; the former may be indicated by lutou in the same object. A hypocoristic in(n)ū can be formed from any name with preverb in-. ⟨ou⟩ appears to denote long /ū/ or a local allophone with a more open pronunciation, or diphthongisation of -/ū/ to -/ou̯/; an orthographic compromise between the vernacular ending -ū and the Latinised ending -ō may also be possible. Cf., beside lutou, uerkou (uel sim.), anatikou and prikou.

See also Rhŷs 1913: 62, no. 20 (a).

Corinna Salomon

Bibliography

Birkhan 2005	Helmut Birkhan, "UINOM NAŚOM", in: Franziska Beutler, Wolfgang Hameter (Eds.), "Eine ganz normale Inschrift" ... Vnd ähnLiches zVm GebVrtstag von Ekkehard Weber. Festschrift zum 30. April 2005 [= Althistorisch-Epigraphische Studien 5], Wien: Eigenverlag der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Archäologie 2005, 223-228.