Etymology and General Use of Sound / Sund
The Germanic word "sound" has the same root as the verb "to sunder" in the meaning of to separate. In Swedish language any strait is called "sund". In Norway hundreds of narrow straits separating islands and combining Fjords or outer parts of Fjords are named "Sund". Another explanation derives Sound from an ancient verb "sund" in the meaning of to swim. That way a sound is a swimmable strait.
With the denomination of fjords and other bays in North America (Prince William Sound) and New Zealand the European meaning of the word has been lost.
The Germanic word "sound" is not related to the Romance originated word "sound", which has developed from the Latin sonus.
Read more about this topic: Danish Straits
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