Etymograph : Old English : Rules : oe-r-metathesis

Etymograph > Indo-European > Old English > Rules > oe-r-metathesis

Source: Ringe 2014:340

sound is short vowel and previous sound is 'r' and next sound is geminate consonant:

'r' is inserted after
next sound disappears
previous sound disappears

Examples

From	To	Gloss	Steps	Expected
PNWGmc *hrussą	hors	horse	hrussą > hross > hors
PGmc *brannjan-	bærnan	make burn	brannjan- > brennan > bernan	bernan
PGmc *brannijaną	bærnan	make burn	brannijaną > brennan > bernan	bernan
PGmc *brinnan-	birnan	burn	brinnan- > birnan

sound is short vowel and previous sound is 'r':

'r' is inserted after
previous sound disappears

Examples

From	To	Gloss	Steps	Expected
PGmc *baruga-	bearg	barrow	baruga- > barug > baurg	baurg
PGmc *brestan-	berstan	break, burst	brestan- > berstan
PGmc *frusta-	forst	frost	frusta- > frost > forst
PGmc *grasa-	gærs	grass	grasa- > græs > gærs