| Abstract: This paper discusses the etymological associations for the two terms for ‘tree’ found in Terena, an Arawakan language of southwestern Brazil. After noting their apparently isolated status as far as comparative equations are concerned, I propose that tikóti ‘tree, wood’ derives from a deverbal nominalization of *ti-k(o)-oʔi-, a monovalent predicate meaning ‘to bear fruit’, used as an attributive modifier, or as a nominal head, and suffixed with the descriptive
suffix *-ti. The second term, ʃúwe ‘tree’, is hypothesized to be a loan from Chiquitano. Nevertheless, a competing internal etymology is sketched, based on a possibly collateral etymology for the Terena noun ʃûpu ‘manioc’, whose origin is established here for the first time. Implications of these proposals are discussed, in particular the hypothesis that Terena retains a frozen reflex of the third-person marker *ti-, shared with Proto-Mojeño and Paunaka, and the need to further investigate, in a rigorous manner, the nature, extent and context for the influx of Chiquitano elements in the language. |