O etymologii leksemów legawiec oraz wyżeł w języku polskim
On the etymology of the lexemes legawiec (pointing dog) and wyżeł (gundog) in the Polish language

Summary/Abstract: This paper puts forth and examines hypotheses regarding the etymology of the Polish words legawiec (pointing dog) and wyżeł (gundog), both used to denote pointing dogs. The origin of the first name is documented and fairly uncontroversial. It has been subject to numerous analyses. On the contrary, the origin of wyżeł is uncertain. In the paper, various linguistic, breed- and hunting-related hypotheses are discussed. They suggest either Slavic or Hungarian origin of the term. Examples of folk etymology are also discussed. In spite of a rich literature of various types (linguistic, cynological, and related to hunting), the proper etymology cannot be established. Likewise, the precise motivation for wyżeł cannot be reconstructed. From among a multitude of linguistic proposals, derived from cynological writings and those of the history of hunting, the Hungarian origin seems most probable and best confirmed by the existing documents.

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