The word kýrskýr

Meaning and formation

Abstract

The Icelandic adjective, kýrskýr, (kýr ‛cow’, skýr ‛clear, sharp, intelligent’) merits attention for a number of reasons. According to sources, the oldest written examples are from the latter part of the 20th century. However, the word could be older. This article undertakes the task of writing the history of this adjective, considering its meaning and formation. The following issues are dealt with: 

a. Normally, the adjective kýrskýr has the meaning ‛(very) clear, sharp, intelligent’, referring to persons or matters. Furthermore, examples show that the adjective is most commonly used in the construction e-ð er kýrskýrt ‘sth is (very) clear’.

b. The adjective kýrskýr is also known in the meaning of ‘stupid’, referring to persons only. As a matt er of fact, this seems to be the older meaning.

c. The formation of kýrskýr is not clear and it could be argued that there is a relationship between the word formation and the meaning of the word. In the sense of ‛stupid’, kýrskýr is a compound word of the type N+A. On the other hand, the formation of kýrskýr in the meaning ‛(very) clear, sharp, intelligent’ is not clear. It could be considered a compound word, having undergone a metaphorical extension. Or, it could be argued that kýr- is a prefixoid with the head skýr. In that case, the question of the function of the rhyme, kýr and skýr, arises.