*tarb-

Schürr 2006a:117f., Schürr 2010c:199, Schürr 2019d:12 reconstructs a Carian word *tarb- ‘wood’ from several Carian toponyms: the forest-rich mountain Τάρβηλος (today’s Sandras Dağ, cf. Zgusta 1984a:600) at Kaunos, a place name Τροβαλισσος (in the region of Mylasa, Zgusta 1984a:634 §1368; Blümel 1998a:181), and a place name Tarban- from the ethnic name Ταρβανης of the Athenian tribute lists (cf. Zgusta 1984a:600 §1297-1; Blümel 1998a:180). He connects *tarb- with Hittite and Luwian tāru- ‘wood’. Schürr’s hypothesis is both semantically and formally plausible in case of Τάρβηλος, even if there is no independent evidence for the meaning of these toponyms and the precise form of the suffix requires further investigation (Schürr’s derivation from “*trbáli” leads to a non-Kaunian form).

*Τροβαλισσος would represent a derivative from it, but the sequence -ro- instead of -ar- requires explanation (Schürr’s derivation from *trb° is of course possible, but currently ad hoc) and thus, its connection is not assured. Also the case of Tarban- requires more investigation from a morphological point of view.

[Zs.S.]