kaskas
English: Translation
fast; swift; rapid; speedy
English: Definition
\ Moving, traveling, or operating at a high rate of speed. Describes an entity—especially a vehicle or other mover—as proceeding rapidly rather than slowly.
Part of Speech
reduplication
adjective
Notes
Semantic Domain
Motion; Speed; States and characteristics
Example Sentence
Kaskas yo awto.
“The car is fast.”
Mari’gen a kaskas nya awto.
“That car is very fast.”
Notes
Synonymous or nearly synonymous with paspas in the automobile examples:
- Kaskas yo awto.
- Paspas yo awto.
Additional contrastive examples should test whether kaskas conveys any of the following more strongly than paspas:
- sustained high speed;
- vigorous or forceful movement;
- unusually rapid travel;
- expressive emphasis.
Until such evidence appears, it is preferable to define the two as near-synonyms rather than inventing a distinction.
Linguistic History
Evidence status: Proto-Philippine speed cognate verified; relationship to “scrape/scratch” uncertain.
Related Entries
paspas; tolin
Linguistic History
Inherited from Proto-Philippine /kaskas/ swift, fast, speedy.” Related forms occur in other Philippine languages, including Bikol. A formally identical Malayo-Polynesian root meaning “scrape; scratch” is also reconstructed. The historical relationship between the “scrape” and “speed” senses is uncertain. They may be distinct expressive roots, or rapid repeated scraping may have contributed to a secondary speed meaning. This possibility should remain tentative.