Bear comes from the Proto-Indo European word for brown. Proto Germanic tribes thought that using the animal’s real name (probably Arkto) would cause it to appear, hence they used the euphemism “The Brown One”. In other European languages they also use taboo naming for bear. For example in Russian, a bear is called Medved (Honey Eater) or in Old Irish it’s mathgamain (Good Calf)
Bear comes from the Proto-Indo European word for brown. Proto Germanic tribes thought that using the animal’s real name (probably Arkto) would cause it to appear, hence they used the euphemism “The Brown One”. In other European languages they also use taboo naming for bear. For example in Russian, a bear is called Medved (Honey Eater) or in Old Irish it’s mathgamain (Good Calf)
In the defence of old Irish people everywhere, they probably WOULD make for a pretty good calf by some measures…