Thomas Wier
@thomas_wier
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Linguist & Caucasologist • Prof @ Free Uni Tbilisi • Research lgs of the Caucasus, Native America • Author of 'Tonkawa Texts' • Weekly Georgian Etymologies
Tbilisi, Georgia
Joined October 2018
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Brief guide to selected previous posts, including weekly posts on Georgian language and culture, the languages of the Caucasus, and occasional posts about my actual research.
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@jugga101
In point of fact, actual pharaohs probably did look quite different from regular Egyptians b/c of foreign marriages with e.g. Hittites, though they weren't 'white' (a meaningless category for them). Ramses II was born with red/auburn hair, some of which survives on his mummy:
76
80
4K
@jugga101
(Also, red hair comes from a recessive gene, and most Egyptian dynasties were *very* inbred.)
5
10
1K
A map of the toponym 'Georgia' in different languages. Also, your regular reminder that around one quarter of Europe's linguistic diversity lies in the Caucasus.
37
50
431
Reason
#684
why Georgian is hard: it has a whole tense for implausible excuses.
10
78
373
Somehow had never seen this: manuscript poems by Tbilisi-born Armenian/Georgian/Azeri/Persian-speaking bard Sayat Nova in mixed Georgian-Armenian script, & in Azeri written in Georgian script. Cannot think of a better rejection of cultural siloing into discrete ethnic categories.
21
59
332
Weekly Georgian Etymology: კავკასია ḳavḳasia 'Caucasus', learnèd borrowing of Greek Καύκασος, from Scythian *kroukas- 'shining like ice'. Originally just the Darial Pass, it may come from Georgian მყინვარწვერი Mq̇invarc̣veri lit. 'glacial prominence', an old name for Mt Kazbek.
17
53
280
Weekly Georgian Etymology: შემომეჭამა šemomeč̣ama 'I accidentally ate the whole thing', from შე- še- preverb, მო- mo- ventive prefix, and ჭამ č̣am- 'eat', from Proto-Kartvelian *č̣ˠam- eat. Part of a whole family of šemo- verbs depicting involuntary actions or accidental results.
8
67
235
@CoachCarti
@jugga101
So, most of the red you see in that picture there is *not* his original hair color, but the result of dying his hair with henna. However, while his hair was mostly white b/c of advanced age, traces of his original hair color have survived and this is how we know his birth color.
3
2
198
Weekly Georgian Etymology: აბანოთუბანი Abanotubani, the most ancient district in Tbilisi. From Old Georgian ႠႡႠႬႭ abano bathhouse > Proto-Kartvelian *ban- wash; -t genitive plural; and Old Georgian ႳႡႠႬႨ ubani avenue, street. The area has long been famed for its sulphur baths.
5
44
206
Interesting find: medieval Arabic geographer Yaʿqūbī refers to Mtskheta, the ancient capital of Georgia before Tbilisi, as Masjid Dhi Ar-Qarnayn, or 'Mosque of Alexander the Great', a folk-etymology of Arabic مَسْجِد masjid 'mosque' on Georgian მცხეთა Mcxeta. But why Alexander?
5
35
206
Weekly Georgian Etymology: დუქანი dukani 'workshop', from Persian دوکان dūkān shop, < Arabic دُكَّان dukkān dais, shop, < Aramaic דּוּכָּנָא dukkānā dais, < Akkadian 𒆠𒍇 dukkannu dais, chamber < Sumerian 𒆠𒍇 daggan chamber. Orig just shops, they now function more like taverns
8
63
189
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ეზო ezo 'courtyard', from Old Georgian ႤႦႭ ezo, from Proto-Kartvelian *x₁ezo, possibly loaned from a Bronze Age Northwest Semitic language, cf Ugaritic 𐎈𐎇𐎗 ḥVẓVr enclosure, yard. Typical of Georgian urban architecture and focus of community life.
2
25
172
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ჯოჯოხეთი Jojoxeti 'Hell', from Old Georgian ႿႭႿႭႾႤႧႨ jojoxeti, from preliterary Georgian *dojoxeti, from *dojoxi, from Indo-Iranian *duš-Háhuš bad life, from PIE *dus- bad and *h₁ésus life. It replaced indigenous ბნელეთი Bneleti 'land of darkness'.
10
28
173
Some good news: I just received news I have been awarded the American Research Institute of the South Caucasus (ARISC) grant to pursue fieldwork on the endangered Vartashen dialect of the Udi language. Picture of an Udi speaker reciting oral poetry from my last trip to Zinobiani:
14
5
174
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ხალიჩა xaliča 'carpet', from Classical Persian قالیچه qâliče, diminutive of قالی Qâli, shortened form of Arabic Qaliqala 'city of Karin', from Old Armenian Կարին Karin, modern Erzurum, reflecting that city's historical importance in the carpet trade.
5
53
172
Weekly Georgian Etymology: აივანი aivani 'balcony' from Classical Persian ایوان ayvan portico, < Middle Persian āywan palace, < Old Persian 𐎠𐎱𐎭𐎠𐎴 apadāna hypostyle hall. Remotely based on the Achaemenids' airy palace at Persepolis, it is today a symbol of Tbilisi's Old City.
4
25
171
Weekly Georgian Etymology: დათვი datvi 'bear', from Old Georgian ႣႠႧჃႨ datwi, from Georgian-Zan *datw-, from Proto-Kartvelian *da(sʲ)tw-. Unquestionably ancient in Kartvelian, it may yet be an ancient loan from Akkadian 𒊍 dabītu 'she-bear' into the protolanguage.
4
19
164
Weekly Georgian Etymology: დაღესტანი Dağesṭani 'Daghestan', from Ottoman Turkish داغستان Dağıstan, from dağ mountain and Persian e-stan land of, from Turkic *dāg and PIE *stéh₂nom. Replaced smaller regional names like ლეკეთი Leḳeti and ხუნძეთი Xundzeti as a learnèd borrowing.
2
23
150
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ლობიო lobio, kidney bean stew w/ herbs & spices. From Persian لوبیا lôbiyâ, < Anc Greek λόβια, pl of λόβιον cowpea, < Akkadian 𒇻𒂠𒊬 lubbu, < Sumerian 𒇻𒂠𒊬 lub cowpea. Now a central part of Georgian cuisine, it's not attested until the 17th century.
8
30
153
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ლამაზი lamazi 'beautiful', from Middle Georgian ლამაზი lamazi fine, acute, metathesis of ალმასი almasi diamond, sharp, from Middle Persian almās steel, diamond, from Akkadian 𒋤𒉘 elmēšu amber. A common shift from a precious object to beauty itself.
5
28
154
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ფორთოხალი portoxali 'orange', from late Middle Georgian *ფორთოჴალი *portoqʰali, from Ottoman Turkish پورتقال portukal, from Greek πορτοκάλι, from Venetian portogallo, from Portuguese Portugal. The name of origin reflects early modern trade networks.
3
26
145
In today's Moment of Zen: here is a fridge magnet of a pomegranate that shows the outline of
#Armenia
, that includes Nagorno-Karabakh claimed by
#Azerbaijan
, and says '
#Georgia
' on it: guaranteed to outrage three countries at the same time! A true collector's item.
7
23
151
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ბერძენი berdzeni 'Greek person', from Old Georgian ႡႤႰႻႤႬႨ berdzeni, perhaps via Megrelian or Abkhaz, from Greek Βυζάντιον, archaic city-state and later capital of the Roman Empire. Like other words for Greeks, it stems from a specific subset of Greeks.
5
21
146
Weekly Georgian Etymology: მეფე mepe 'monarch, sovereign', from Old Georgian ႫႤႳႴႤ meupe, from Georgian-Zan *up- possess, control, perhaps an ancient IE loan, cf Hittite 𒂊𒅁 epp- seize, Sanskrit आप्त āpta seize. Often mistranslated as 'king', it carries no gendered connotations.
7
19
141
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ყოჩაღ q̇očağ 'bravo, congratulations', from ყოჩაღი q̇očaği bold, daring, variant stem related to ყაჩაღი q̇ačaği robber, brigand, from Azerbaijani qaçaq robber, smuggler, fugitive, from Proto-Turkic *kač- run away, flee. Originally found as 19th c slang.
9
19
135
Weekly Georgian Etymology: უკრაინა Uḳraina 'Ukraine', late loan from Russian Украина, from Old East Slavic оукраина 'borderland', from Proto-Slavic *u at & *kràjь edge, from PIE *kreh₁y- separate. Replaced the earlier toponym ხაზარეთი Xazareti, lit. 'land of the Khazars'.
5
30
133
Weekly Georgian Etymology: რქა rka 'horn', from Old Georgian ႰႵႠ rka, from Georgian-Zan *rka/*kra horn, likely an ancient loan from Indo-European *ḱerh₂: Greek κέρας horn, Latin cornū horn, English horn. Found in many derivatives, e.g. რქაწითელი Rkatsiteli, a famous white wine.
7
12
131
Weekly Georgian Etymology: მხედრული Mxedruli, the third of Georgian's three alphabets. From მხედ��რი mxedari equestrian, from Old Georgian ႫჄႤႣႠႰႨ mqedari, participle of ჴედ- qed- break in a draft animal, from Proto-Kartvelian *qed- toil. The alphabet used in all secular contexts.
1
12
133
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ქუთაისი Kutaisi, ancient capital of Imereti, from Old Georgian ႵႳႧႠႧႨႱႨ Kutatisi, from Proto-Megrelian *kva-ta-tav-is-i 'stone promontory'. Home in myth to Aeëtes and Medea, its name vividly describes the natural landscape of the Rioni river gorge.
2
19
131
@beccamagnus
I think you may be looking for 'hesitation substitutes'. There's an entire literature on the -ma- infix in English words like whatchamacallit, thingamajig, thingamabob that often marks such hesitation words. Alan Yu wrote a paper about this years ago, I think
5
7
131
Weekly Georgian Etymology: მდივანი mdivani 'secretary', from Old Georgian ႣႨႥႠႬႨ divani archive, from Old Persian *dipi-vahanam book-house, < OPers 𐎮𐎡𐎱𐎡 dipi inscription < Elamite 𒁾 tuppu < Sumerian 𒁾 dub clay tablet. The root has thus reflected bureaucracy since antiquity.
5
34
129
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ჭური č̣uri 'wine amphora, vessel', from Old Georgian ႽႳႰႨ č̣uri, from Georgian-Zan *č̣ˠurʲi drinking vessel, perhaps from Akkadian ṣurru drinking vessel. Now primarily a western dialect word, it has been superceded by a more recent word, ქვ��ვრი kvevri.
4
26
131
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ყურძენი q̇urdzeni 'grape', from Old Georgian ႷႳႰႻႤႬႨ q̇urdzeni, from Proto-Kartvelian *q̇urdz-en- grape, possibly an ancient loan out of or into Urartian 𒌌𒁲 ulde vineyard, wine and -ne article or related to Proto-Nakh *ʔurd- arable land.
6
17
127
Weekly Georgian Etymology: გამარჯობა gamarǯoba 'hello', from გამარჯვება gamarǯveba victory, triumph, from Proto-Kartvelian *ma-rǯv- overcome, defeat, from PK *rǯv- right, nimble. It illustrates the sometimes strange origins of the 'phatic' speech we use to create social bonds.
4
21
126
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ჭადრაკი č̣adraḳi 'chess', from Middle Armenian ճատրակ čatrak, from Pahlavi čatrang, from Sanskrit चतुरङ्ग cáturaṅga 'the four divisions' or kinds of chess piece. Introduced to Georgia by the 11th c, its name descends from premodern forms of the game.
4
20
126
Weekly Georgian Etymology: მოღალატეობა moğalaṭeoba 'treachery', from მოღალატე moğalaṭe traitor, from Old Georgian ႶႠႪႠႲႨ ğalaṭi treason, from Arabic غلط ɣalatˤ error, mistake. While today it refers to a crime against the state, it began as a legal term of Islamic contract law.
7
17
124
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ჯავშანი javšani 'armor, protection, reservation', borrowed into Middle Georgian from Classical Persian جوشن jawšan chainmail, < Arabic jawšan cuirasse, < Proto-Semitic *gayŝ- army, shield, spear. Now used when you reserve a COVID vaccine appointment.
5
18
119
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ღვიძლი ğvidzli 'liver', from Old Georgian ႶჃႨႻႪႨ ğwidzli, from Proto-Kartvelian *ʡwizʲ-l-i. Now used alongside ჯიგარი jigari liver, from Classical Persian جگر jigar, from PIE *Hyékʷr̥ liver, used in the idiom ჯიგარი ხარ jigari xar 'you're a great guy'.
6
18
119
Weekly Georgian Etymology: გოგო gogo 'girl', from Old Georgian ႢႭႢႭ gogo maidservant, back-formation of გოგონა gogona, reduplication of *gona, from Greek γυνή woman, from Hellenic *gʷonā, from Indo-European *gʷḗn woman. Cognate with English queen and Armenian կին kin woman.
3
16
123
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ვახტანგი Vaxṭangi, man's personal name. From Scythian *warx-tang 'wolf-bodied', from Indo-Iranian *wŕ̥kas wolf & *tanúHs body, from PIE *wĺ̥kʷos & *tenuh₂-. Name of many Georgian kings, it reflects the totemic role of wolves in the ancient Caucasus.
4
19
116
Weekly Georgian Etymology: თაფლი tapli 'honey', from Old Georgian ႧႠႴႪႨ tapli, from Proto-Kartvelian *tapɬi 'honey', likely an ancient loan from Proto-Semitic *dVbVr- bee, cf Akkadian dašpum sweet (of honey; < *daɬpu-), Arabic dabr- bee swarm. Reflects ancient bee domestication.
6
14
120
Weekly Georgian Etymology: აჯანყება ajanq̇eba 'rebellion, insurrection', from late Middle Georgian ჯანყი janq̇i revolt, from Classical Persian جنگ jang war, fight, perhaps from Parthian *janaka, from IE *gʷʰen- strike, kill. Used alongside the older loan ამბოხი amboxi revolt.
4
21
114
Weekly Georgian Etymology: შამფური šampuri 'skewer, spit', from Old Georgian ႸႠႫႴႳႰႨ šampuri, from Old Armenian շամփուր šampur, from Syriac ܫܦܘܕܐ šappūδā, from Proto-Semitic *šVpVd- pierce, transfix. Typical utensil found at every Georgian feast.
8
10
116
Weekly Georgian Etymology: სოკო soḳo 'mushroom', from Old Georgian ႱႭႩႭ soḳo, from Georgian-Zan *soḳo, from Nakh-Daghestanian *swVmḳV- mushroom, perhaps the source of late PIE *(s)pong- tree mushroom, whence Greek σφόγγος and Latin fungus. An ancient circum-Pontic loanword.
4
22
115
Weekly Georgian Etymology: მაწონი mac̣oni 'yoghurt', from Armenian մածուն macun, from Old Armenian մած mac 'glued, curdled' and -ուն -un nominalizing suffix, < PIE *meh₂ǵ- 'knead, mix, oil'. This favorite Caucasian dish is thus cognate with English make and Russian масло butter.
5
24
120
Weekly Georgian Etymology: გონიო Gonio, fortress in southwestern Georgia along the Black Sea. From Greek γωνία carpenter's square, nominalization related to γόνυ knee, from PIE *ǵónu knee. In antiquity called Apsaros, it is one of the best preserved Roman fortresses in the world.
1
18
117
Georgian etymology of the week: ხინკალი /xink'ali/ 'broth-filled dumpling', from Avar χ:inḳ 'dumpling' (pl. χ:inḳá-l), borrowed into numerous Nakh-Daghestanian languages. Some lgs preserved their own etymons: Tsez ħaḳo, Lak hawk:u-ri, Archi qonḳ. Best served piping hot.
7
25
116
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ბროწეული broc̣euli 'pomegranate', from Old Georgian ႫႰႭႼႤႳႪႨ mroc̣euli, from Proto-Kartvelian *mro- 'pomegranate, fruit',*c̣ew- pull, and -ul participle. It reflects an original distinction between fruit still on the bush and plucked or harvested fruit.
6
23
118
Weekly Georgian Etymology: გველეშაპი gvelešaṗi 'dragon', from Middle Georgian გველვეშაპი gvelvešaṗi, compound of გველი gveli snake and ვეშაპი vešaṗi whale from Georgian-Zan *gweɬ- snake and Old Armenian վիշապ višap leviathan. Used alongside დრაკონი draḳoni, from Greek δράκων.
4
19
114
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ხიდი xidi 'bridge', from Old Georgian ჴიდი qʰidi, from Georgian-Zan *qʰid- bridge, ablauted nominalization of Proto-Kartvelian *qʰ(e)d- come, go. Despite the similarity, it has no relation to Ossetian хид bridge or Hungarian híd bridge.
6
15
115
Weekly Georgian Etymology: წყალი c̣q̇ali 'water', from Old Georgian ႼႷႠႪႨ c̣q̇ali, from Proto-Kartvelian *rc̣q̇ali, from *rc̣q̇- 'water, spring' plus the archaic nominal suffix -al. First attested around 550 AD, foreigners usually learn this word from Georgia's bottled waters.
8
15
116
Weekly Georgian Etymology: გენაცვალე genacvale 'dear, honey', lit. 'let me replace you', from ნაცვალი nacvali, past participle of ცვლ- cvl- change, replace, from Proto-Kartvelian *cw(a)l- change. First attested in 19th c, it is part of a much older set of replacement euphemisms.
3
31
110
Weekly Georgian Etymology: სპილო sṗilo 'elephant', from Old Georgian ႱႮႨႪႭ sṗilo, < Mid. Persian pīl, < Old Persian 𐎱𐎡𐎽𐎢𐏁 piruš, < Akkadian 𒄠𒋛 pīru, < Mid. Egyptian 𓍋𓃀𓅱𓃰 pꜣ-ꜣb(w) [piʀ ʀuːbaw] 'the elephant', also source of Greek ἐλέφας elephant & Latin ebur ivory.
4
18
116
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ინდაური indauri 'turkey', shortened from ინდოური ქათამი indouri katami 'Indian chicken', calque of Armenian հնդկահավ hndkahav or Arabic دِيك هِنْدِيّ dīk hindiyy. It name reflects the nature of early modern trade networks in the eastern Mediterranean.
6
16
114
Weekly Georgian Etymology: მიზეზი mizezi 'reason, purpose', from Old Georgian ႫႨႦႤႦႨ mizezi reason (for complaint), from Georgian-Zan *mizezi, from Akkadian mazzazum pledge, security for transaction. Originally a financial instrument, it became a general noun for explanations.
1
18
111
Fact check: ejectives are not particularly rare; according to the World Atlas of Language Structures, about 27% of lgs have them. (They are just rare in Europe outside the Caucasus.) The specific claim linking ejectives and altitude has also been debunked:
One linguist has observed that languages with certain rare consonants (called ejectives) are more prevalent at high altitudes, perhaps because those are easier to pronounce in lower air pressure
13
34
99
4
24
104
Weekly Georgian Etymology: სახლი saxli 'house', from Old Georgian ႱႠႾႪႨ saxli house, from Proto-Georgian-Zan *ɬaxɬi, from *ɬa- nominalizing prefix and *xal- be near, present. Largely replaced the older Kartvelian root *kor- house, as in ქორი kori, now meaning 'upper floor'.
1
13
109
@athleticstwitt
@emmaloffhagen
@GeordieBearDXB
@katyaellis_
Most Americans pronounce the word as 'kreg' because in Scots Gaelic that's about how it's pronounced: /kʰɾek/. The vowel is short, not long. As with many words, Americans simply preserve (something closer to) the original pronunciation.
3
0
112
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ყვავილი q̇vavili 'flower', from Old Georgian ႷႳႠႥႨႪႨ q̇uavili, nominalization of ყუავის q̇uavis blooms, from Kartvelian *q̇w- make, lead, grow, stem extension *-aw, and *-il participial suffix. One of many basic nouns derived from verbs.
1
12
106
It's palindrome day, so to celebrate here's a surreal Georgian poem by Galaktion Tabidze:
აი, რა მზის სიზმარია,
აირევი, ივერია...
აი, დროშა, აშორდია,
აერების სიბერეა.
So, what a dream of the sun
You're all confused, Iveria
Look, a flag, Ašordia,
It's the old age of the wind
2
17
112
Weekly Georgian Etymology: მარანი marani 'wine cellar', from Old Armenian մառան maṙan, from Syriac ܡܕܢܐ maddānā, from Akkadian ma- and 𒂁𒆗𒉡dannu, 'storage vat for beer and wine'. Though used since remote antiquity, the actual word is attested only since the 11th century.
2
24
108
Weekly Georgian Etymology: სულგუნი sulguni, a popular kind of briny cheese made from buffalo milk, variant of სულუგუნი suluguni, from Ossetic сулугун, from Digor Ossetic сулу whey and -гун, nominalizing suffix; ultimately from PIE *serw- whey. Originally a west Georgian cheese.
5
17
108
Weekly Georgian Etymology: დევი devi 'ogre', from Old Georgian ႣႤჃႨ devi demon, from Middle Persian dēw evil spirit, from Old Persian 𐎭𐎡𐎺daiva false god, from Indo-Iranian *daywás, from Indo-European *deywós sky deity. Prominent antagonists in pre-Christian Georgian folklore.
7
17
107
Weekly Georgian Etymology: მაღალი mağali 'tall, high', from Old Georgian ႫႠႶႠႪႨ mağali, from preliterary Megrelian *mağali high, from Greek μεγάλη great, large, from PIE *meǵh₂-l- great, big. An ancient loan, it is cognate with Latin magnus, English much, and Armenian մեծ mec.
4
17
105
Weekly Georgian Etymology: მემკვიდრეობა memḳvidreoba 'inheritance, heritage', from late Middle Georgian, derived from მეკვიდრე memḳvidre heir, from Old Georgian ႫႩႳႨႣႰႨ mḳuidri inhabitant, from Kartvelian *ḳwd- die. Represents a common semantic shift of 'mortal' > 'person'.
3
15
104
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ოქრო okro 'gold' from Old Georgian ႭႵႰႭჂ okroy, from Proto-Kartvelian *okro. Unassailably ancient in Kartvelian, it was probably the source of Anc Greek ὦχρος 'pale yellow' (> English ochre), χρῡσός 'gold', and perhaps also PIE *h₂erǵ- 'glitter'.
3
28
105
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ფაფახი papaxi 'Caucasian lambskin hat', from Azeri Turkic papaq, from Middle Persian pambak cotton and cognate with Greek βάμβαξ. The same source as ბამბა bamba cotton, it shifted meaning from a material to a manner of production to an item of clothing.
3
12
98
Weekly Georgian Etymology: წიგნი c̣igni 'book', from Old Georgian ႼႨႬႢႨ c̣ingi/c̣igni 'seal, document', from Georgian-Zan *c̣ingi 'seal', prob borrowed from Akkadian 𒅎𒋃𒊒𒊒𒁀 kanīku 'sealed object' or 𒁾 kunukku 'cylinder seal' via prehistoric Hurrian, Armenian or Iranian lgs.
5
35
98
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ბირჟა birža 'hangout place', from Russian биржа 'exchange, market' from (low) German Börse, < French bourse 'stock exchange', < Late Latin bursa 'leather purse', < Greek βύρσα 'skin, hide'. Now often a slang term for where local gossip is exchanged.
3
19
102
Weekly Georgian Etymology: გალავანი galavani 'city-wall', from Middle Georgian, from Tatar qalav 'wall, brickwork', from Arabic قلعة qalʿa fortress, from Persian کلات kalât. Used alongside the older term ზღუდე zğude fortified wall, from Proto-Kartvelian *zğw- enclose, protect.
4
12
98
Weekly Georgian Etymology: საზოგადოება sazogadoeba 'society', from Old Georgian ႦႭႢႠႣႨ zogadi general, from ႦႭႢႨ zogi pair, from Syriac ܙܘܓܐ zawga pair, yoke, from Ancient Greek ζεῦγος yoke, from PIE *yewg- join, yoke. From a quantifier itself grammaticalized from a common noun.
7
12
100
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ტყემალი ṭq̇emali 'wild cherry plum', haplology of Proto-Kartvelian *ṭq̇e 'forest' and *q̇amal- 'plum'. Foremost of a dozen or more regional plum varieties, it also refers to the sweet-sour plum sauce found on every Georgian dinner table.
6
14
102
Weekly Georgian Etymology: დაფა dapa 'tablet, blackboard', from Old Georgian ႣႠႴႠ dapa, from Aramaic דַּפָּא dappā wax tablet, from Akkadian 𒁾𒁍𒌝 ṭuppum clay tablet, from Sumerian 𒁾 dub tablet. Cognate with მდივანი mdivani secretary, it has changed little since antiquity.
5
19
100
Weekly Georgian Etymology: კომში ḳomši 'quince', from late Middle Georgian, from a Nakh-Daghestanian source: cf Tabasaran kumiš quince, Ingush koms grape, Lak k:urmuz plum, from earlier *kurmäśV quince. Along with older ბია bia, it is a common ingredient in Georgian cuisine.
2
19
99
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ნაბახუსევი nabaxusevi 'hung-over', lit. 'ex-Bacchant', 20th c. literary coinage from ბახუსი Baxusi 'Bacchus' and ნა-…-ევ- na-…-ev- circumfix denoting former states. With პახმელია ṗaxmelia, it largely replaced older terms like ნამთვრალევი namtvralevi.
3
14
97
@pancaucasus
The only one on that map that is a language isolate is Basque. The others consist of families with between 4 and 55 languages: Kartvelian, Nakh-Daghestanian and Abkhaz-Adyghean.
8
2
95
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ლომი lomi 'lion', from Old Georgian ႪႭႫႨ lomi, from Proto-Kartvelian *lom-, likely loaned from a Bronze Age East Semitic source, cf Akkadian 𒆷𒁍𒌝 lābum and Eblaite 𒊊labʾum, probably also source of PIE *leu-. A classic ancient Near Eastern Wanderwort.
3
14
98
Weekly Georgian Etymology: მოედანი moedani 'public square', from Old Georgian ႫႭႤႣႠႬႨ moedani, from Kipchak mōytan, from Arabic ميدان maydān, from Parthian maẟyān middle < PIE *médʰyos middle. Now the primary way to describe a public space, it replaced earlier terms and phrases.
2
16
102
Weekly Georgian Etymology: სომხეთი sɔmxetʰi 'Armenia'. From OGeo ႱႭႫႤႾႨ somexi 'Armenian (person)' and -et country-forming suffix. This in turn comes from metathesis of Akkadian 𒆳𒋢𒄭 Suḫmu, a region of the upper Euphrates in close contact with Kartvelians in the Bronze Age.
7
16
98
Weekly Georgian Etymology: გოდოლი godoli 'stone tower', from Old Georgian ႢႭႣႭႪႨ godoli, from Old Armenian կոթող kotʰoł obelisk, from a Semitic GDL root related to Syriac ܡܓܕܠܐ maḡdlā tower or Akkadian 𒆪𒁺𒊒 kudurru boundary stone. Prototypically used of the Tower of Babel.
4
7
96
Weekly Georgian Etymology: გალობა galoba 'chant', from Old Georgian ႢႠႪႭႡႠ galoba, calque of Old Armenian գեղօն gełōn song, from PIE *gʰel- call, shout. Originally meaning just an individual song of praise, the word came to refer to an entire musical tradition.
4
19
100
Weekly Georgian Etymology: თამაში tamaši 'game, match', from Middle Georgian თამაში tamaši theatre performance, spectacle, from Classical Persian تماشی tamâši walk around, show off, from Arabic تَمَاشٍ tamāšin walking around, nominalization of the triliteral root MŠY walk.
5
14
100
Weekly Georgian Etymology: სუფრა supra 'table cloth' and by extension a formal drinking banquet. From Arabic سفرة sufra traveling provisions, victuals, < Semitic *spr travel. Attested only since late Middle Georgian, it acquired its current bibulous connotations only in the 19th.
7
25
94
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ხატი xaṭi 'icon, shrine', from Old Georgian ႾႠႲႨ xaṭi 'graven image', from Aramaic ܚܛ ḥaṭṭ 'dig out; carve', perhaps from Akkadian 𒄩𒁕𒂅 ḫaṭāṭu, 'dig out; incise'. Now central to Orthodox worship, the word entered Georgian in pagan times.
2
30
97
Weekly Georgian Etymology: საწებელი sac̣ebeli 'sauce', from Middle Georgian, from future participle of წებვა c̣ebva glue, paste, from Georgian-Zan *c̣ʲeb- to paste, to stick to. A central part of Georgian gastronomy, the name derives from the process of making organic pastes.
3
16
96
Weekly Georgian Etymology: აქლემი aklemi 'camel', from Old Georgian ႠႵႪႤႫႨ aklemi, a borrowing from an unknown early Semitic language, ultimately from Semitic *gam(a)l-, also the source of Greek κάμηλος, whence English camel. Long a sight on Georgia's stretch of the Silk Road.
4
12
94
Weekly Georgian Etymology: სამკითხველო samḳitxvelo 'reading room, library', from Old Georgian ႫႩႨႧႾჃႤႪႨ mḳitxveli reader, from Georgian-Zan *ḳitx- ask, enquire. Like many words for 'reading' across languages, it comes from a more basic verb of oral communication.
4
7
94
Draft of my new review of "Caucasian Albania - an International Handbook":
2
19
110
Weekly Georgian Etymology: გოგრა gogra 'pumpkin', from late Middle Georgian and dialectal გუგურა gugura, from the Mediterranean trade language Lingua Franca *gogorda, cf Occitan cogorda, from Latin cucurbita. Its late attestation reflects its role in the Columbian Exchange.
2
19
93
Weekly Georgian Etymology: კოშკი ḳošḳi 'tower, turret', from Old Georgian ႩႭႸႩႨ ḳošḳi tower, from Middle Persian kōšk palace, pavillion, from Indo-Iranian *kōs- box, chest, from Indo-European *kʷas- basket. Cognate with kiosk, its meaning shifted from an object to its shape.
5
11
91
If you want to buy me something nice, you can get me this T-shirt with
#Georgian
's longest consonant cluster: ვეფხვთმბრდღვნელი /vepxvtʰmbrdğneli/ 'he who shouts at tigers':
13
11
94
Weekly Georgian Etymology: აგარაკი agaraḳi 'dacha, country house', from Old Georgian ႠႢႠႰႠႩႨ agaraḳi arable land, village, from Old Armenian ագարակ agarak estate, from Iranian *agar-ak- or Hurrian awari, rel to Sumerian 𒀀𒃼 AGAR₃ field. An ancient near-eastern Wanderwort.
2
12
93
Weekly Georgian Etymology: სიყვარული siq̇varuli 'love', from Old Georgian ႱႨႷႳႠႰႳႪႨ siq̇uaruli, from Proto-Kartvelian root *q̇war- plus nominalizing prefix si- and participial suffix -ul. The most basic root for love, it is found in many derived forms and Georgian literary works.
1
12
92
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ნიანგი niangi 'crocodile', from Classical Persian نهنگ nihang, from Proto-Iranian *ni-θanga-, *ni- down plus *θanǰáyati- drag, from PIE *tengʰ- pull. Not native to the Caucasus, the word was probably taken from Medieval bestiaries or Persian romances.
4
22
92
Weekly Georgian Etymology: შემოდგომა šemodgoma 'autumn, fall', from Old Georgian ႸႤႫႭႣႢႭႫႠ šemodgoma belabor, follow, from Proto-Kartvelian preverb *šˠe- in, *mo- ventive prefix, and *dg- stand. The semantic shift reflects the act of gathering in crops for the annual harvest.
2
10
90
Weekly Georgian Etymology: თაიგული taiguli 'bouquet', late Middle Georgian compound of თაია taia sheaf, bundle from *tatia, from თათი tati hand, from Old Armenian թաթ tat palm, and Classical Persian گل gol flower, from Proto-Iranian *wr̥dah rose. Used alongside ბუკეტი buḳeṭi.
5
13
89
Weekly Georgian Etymology: თემი temi 'community, district', from Middle Georgian, from Byzantine Greek θέμα theme, imperial military district, nominalization of τίθημι place, put, from Indo-European *dʰeh₁- put. In modern Georgia, it constitutes the smallest administrative unit.
2
14
94
Weekly Georgian Etymology: მთვარე mtvare 'moon', from Old Georgian ႫႧႭႥႠႰႤ mtovare, from Proto-Kartvelian *tew-/*tiw- 'stay awake, rise early'. Perhaps taboo replacement for earlier lunar words, it's also related to თვე tve month, განთიადი gantiadi sunrise & მთიები mtiebi Venus.
3
14
90
Weekly Georgian Etymology: თერგდალეული Tergdaleuli 'Europeanizer, having a European education', lit. 'one who has drunk of the river Terek', from თერგი Tergi and დალეული daleuli, participle of დალევა daleva drink, from Kartvelian *l- reduce, spend. Iconic 19th c social movement.
3
18
89