eluku

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Word
Language:	Raetic
Word type:	noun
Morphemic analysis:	elu-ku
Phonemic analysis:	/eluku/
Meaning:	"sacrificed"
Attestation:	SZ-14 (φelituriesielukusletile/kạṛataśna), SZ-30 (ka[? ?]isθi:puχe:̣ṭumis:p[ ]θiaḳ[? ?]auþile:ẹḷuku:̣), WE-3 (lastasieluku/piθamnuale), WE-4 (?]niχesitaeluku[(?)θ̣e) (4)

Commentary

According to Rix, the Raetic lexeme eluku forms an equation with Etruscan ilucu (nom. sg.; cp. Rix 1998: 36–38).
Etruscan ilucu appears no less than seven times on the Tabula Capuana, an archaic ritual calendar dealing with prescriptions for ritual activities (cp. ET 2: 399–400). In each single prescription, ilucu can be interpreted as the subject of the introductory phrase of each ritual and of the related description of this ritual. Before ilucu the name of the divinity in question is indicated in the genitive. Therefore, the genitive of the theonym + ilucu must be interpreted as term for the ritual in question. Rix proposes a translation with "sacrifice" or at least a meaning related to the context of "ritual" or "sacrifice" (cp. Rix 1998: 37). Thus, e.g. "laruns ilucu" (TC 18) the "sacrifice for Larun" where Larun is the Etruscan name for the divinity Mars.
Etruscan ilacve from the early fifth-century inscription Cr 4.4 may be another form of this lexeme. Steinbauer assumes that ilacve is a locative form and can be translated with "in the month", "in the week" or "on the feast (day)" (cp. Steinbauer 1999: 203 et seq., 431).
Further references in based on Rix’s views: Schumacher 2004: 299; Wallace 2008: 113–114.
Returning to Raetic eluku, it must be emphasised that sound laws make it likely that it forms a full equation with Etruscan ilucu (Rix 1998: 37–38). Moreover, eluku appears on objects whose archaeological context suggests that they were votive offerings. Therefore Rix’s suggestion that eluku means "sacrificed" or the like seems quite plausible.

Bibliography

ET 2	Gerhard Meiser, Valentina Belfiore, Sindy Kluge (Eds), Etruskische Texte. Editio minor, revised edition [= Studien zur historisch-vergleichenden Sprachwissenschaft Band 4], Hamburg: Baar 2014. (2 volumes)