RV. asi - L. ensis < black (metal)?

[C.R. Selvakumar]

On Wed, 22 Nov 2000, Swaminathan Madhuresan wrote:

> Dear Indologists,
>
> In Dravidian languages, the word
> for iron (=tam. irumpu) derives from
> words for "night/darkness/black".

  The Tamil word 'iru' also means 'great'. I think it
  comes from 'black' > invisible > unfathomable.
  Thus irumpu also signifies 'great' > strong.

  C.R.Selvakumar