A theory of borrowing from a pre-Old Japanese form like *tura(C)i, the stem tura- with the -Ci that yields the noun 連れ ture 'companion' (*tura-Ci) and the verb 連れる tureru 'bring along' (*tura-Ci-). Old Japanese tura 'row' (列) and the verbs 連なる turanaru 'stand in a row', 連ねる turaneru 'put in a row' (modern citation forms) share the stem; Martin (1987: 65, 556, 775) derives ture < *tura-Ci, tureru < *tura-Ci-, turaneru < *tura-na-Ci- and turanaru < *tura-na-ra-. Ainu tura shows no trace of the final -Ci. The borrowing itself is an internal hypothesis (2026-07).