þygr

þygr is a Proto-Germanic word believed to mean "thick" or "dense." While its exact original meaning is debated among linguists, this is the most commonly accepted reconstruction. It is the root from which several modern Germanic languages derive words related to thickness, density, and sometimes even abundance or richness. For example, the Old English word "þicce" is thought to descend from þygr, which in turn led to the modern English word "thick." Similarly, Old Norse "þykkr" is also believed to have its origins in þygr, influencing modern Scandinavian languages. The presence of this word across various branches of the Germanic language family strongly suggests its antiquity and importance in the proto-language. Its semantic range, even in reconstruction, hints at a concept applicable to both physical density and perhaps abstract qualities like richness or intensity. Further etymological study continues to explore the nuances and potential cognates of þygr in other Indo-European languages, though direct links are less certain.