boukólos rule

noun

A rule of the Proto-Indo-European reconstructed language that states that a labiovelar stop (*kʷ, *gʷ, *gʷʰ) dissimilates to an ordinary velar stop (*k, *g, *gʰ) next to the vowel *u or its corresponding glide *w.

OriginAncient Greek βουκόλος ← Proto-Indo-European *gʷow-kólos →
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Meanings

nounthe boukólos rule
  1. Indo European studieshuman sciencesA rule of the Proto-Indo-European reconstructed language that states that a labiovelar stop (*kʷ, *gʷ, *gʷʰ) dissimilates to an ordinary velar stop (*k, *g, *gʰ) next to the vowel *u or its corresponding glide *w.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*gʷow-kólos
  2. Ancient Greekβουκόλος“cowherd”
  3. Englishboukólos rule

The rule is named after an example of such a dissimilation: the Ancient Greek βουκόλος (boukólos, “cowherd”), which is ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʷow-kólos, from *gʷṓws (“cow”) + *kʷól-os (“herder”).

More words from Ancient Greek, Proto-Indo-European

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Cite this entry
APA

boukólos rule. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bouk%C3%B3los%20rule

MLA

“boukólos rule.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bouk%C3%B3los%20rule. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “boukólos rule,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bouk%C3%B3los%20rule.

Source: boukólos rule on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.