Wednesday, October 8, 2008

The origin of the word 'Girabbit'

The origins of the term 'Girabbit' has been the object of the most superstitious and ridiculous speculations. However, a correct etymological perception of this word is crucial to our understanding of the nature and origin of the Girabbit.

For some, the term 'Girabbit' refers to the giraffe-like deity that came to reign over a very small area of eastern Africa. This view is based essentially on a comparative approach to the study of African religions and does not integrate the etymological approach to the question of the origin of the term. Moreover, one should not forget that it is Dr. S.K. Heptical who first argued for such a derivation of 'Girabbit.' In my view it is difficult to follow the theory of one who denies the mere possibility of the Girabbit's existence as a distinct and more ancient species (as distinct from the giraffe, that is).

For others, 'Girabbit' is merely a composite of two English words, [giraffe] + [rabbit]. Of course, such a simplistic explanation cannot be taken seriously. It was first promulgated by Dr. Don Notkare to support his theory of the nonexistence of the Girabbit. Apart from the lack of support in etymological roots, Notkare forgets that the name 'Girabbit' in its European setting must have been of French origin and only later been translated into the English language. Therefore, it is to the French language that we must first turn.

According to the "Blue Book," the term comes from the combination of two old French words [jirer] + [habith]. The first word [jirer] originally meant something like 'vision' or 'seer'. The second term [habith] is probably a genitive, derivative of [habeth] which meant 'respectful'. The literal meaning would thus be 'respectful vision,' probably referring to the supposed capacity of the Girabbit to see into the future. When the word 'Jirhabith' was adapted and translated into the English language it naturally became 'Girabbit' word that we still use today.

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