consonant shift

noun

: a set of regular changes in consonant articulation in the history of a language or dialect:

a

: such a set affecting the Indo-European stops (see stop entry 2 sense 9) and distinguishing the Germanic languages from the other Indo-European languages compare grimm's law

b

: such a set affecting the Germanic stops and distinguishing High German from the other Germanic languages

Word History

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined above