Abramova Guba: Towards the Etymology of the Myconym

The article attempts to clarify the origin of a number names mushrooms and fungal growths on tree (myconyms): abramka, abramukha, obramushka, Abramova (obramova) guba <Abram’s lip>, Abramov grib mushroom> attested in Yaroslavl dialects Russian language. Researching etymology such words which are formally close anthroponyms, requires considering some specific factors: a) semantic features certain components name (denotative reference, indication gender, prevalence usage, etc.), b) nature paronymic attraction personal name, particularly colloquial speech. In terms deanthroponymic logic myconyms, Abram can be interpreted as: biblical patriarch, secondary ethnonym, c) pejorative characteristic person (regardless ethnicity). However, there several factors that testify against hypothetical relation between myconyms this lack connection with character corresponding botanical Latin other Western European languages; absence “Jewish” or “male” On hand, distribution factor (these dialects), it might have been foreign word borrowed into language reanalyzed following anthroponymic pattern. analysis Northern vocabulary carried out by Olga V. Mishchenko proves possibility drawing connections Finno-Ugric borrowings need include meaning ‘growth, tumor,’ etc. among potential for myconyms. author substantiates from Mari ováryme ‘tumor’ as both formal (variation vowels at beginning middle source language, correlation β ~ b, (similar naming patterns ‘something bloated’ → ‘mushroom, mushroom growth’ contacting languages) criteria.