Weekly Georgian Etymology: მეკვლეობა Meḳvleoba 'First-foot (tradition)', from Middle Georgian მეკვლე meḳvle hunter, tracker from Old Georgian ႩႳႠႪႨ ḳuali trace, step, from Georgian-Zan *ḳwal- step. It draws its name from superstitions surrounding the New Year's first visitor.

Georgian has a pretty distinct word for 'Greek': berʒeni (ბერძენი). It's been explained as deriving from a word for 'wise', with Greece thought of as the land of wise people, but a more plausible explanation is that it comes from the city of Byzantium, centuries before it became Constantinople.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: დასი dasi 'group, troupe, choir, host', from Old Georgian ႣႠႱႨ dasi, via Old Armenian դաս das or directly from Indo-Iranian das- heap, arrange, perhaps from Indo-European dmH₂-sḱ- build. At Christmas time commonly used to refer to hosts of angels.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: ზღარბი zğarbi 'hedgehog', from Middle Georgian გძღარბი gdzğarbi, from Old Georgian ႢႰႻႶႠႡႨ grdzğabi, compound of Kartvelian *grdz- long and ğab- jowl, from Arabic غَبْغَب ğabğab- chin. The Southern White-Breasted species is endemic to the Caucasus.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: ტყვია ṭq̇via 'bullet', from Old Georgian ႲႷჃႥႨ ṭq̇wivi lead, from Kartvelian *ṭq̇wi- lead, poss. an ancient loan from a north Caucasian source: Lezgic *naIƛ̣:(ʷ)V blue, Abkhaz-Adyghean *ƛ̣ʷV blue, iron. Metals often get their names from their color.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: ქარი kari 'wind', from Old Georgian ႵႠႰႨ kari, from Proto-Kartvelian *kar- wind, to blow, poss. an ancient Steppe loanword: Altaic *găl- sky, wind, Dravidian *gāḷ- wind, air. Made famous in the poem by Galaktion Tabidze, ქარი ჰქრის 'The Wind Blows'.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: ბაჟე baže 'walnut sauce with garlic', from Megrelian ბაჟა baža, from Georgian ბაჟი baži toll, duty, tax, from Old Georgian ႡႠႯႨ baži, from Middle Persian bāǰ tax, from Old Persian 𐎲𐎠𐎪𐎶 tribute. It gets its name metaphorically from its enriched flavor.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: კეცი ḳeci 'ceramic pan', from Old Georgian ႩႤႺႨ ḳeci wine vessel, from Proto-Kartvelian *ḳec- ceramic vessel, loan from/into Nakh-Daghestanian *kɨ̄ṭV- vessel: cf. Chechen kad pot, Tsez ḳoṭi cup, Udi kot:o-war pan. Ancient pan-Caucasian Wanderwort.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: ლეკვი leḳvi 'puppy', from Old Georgian ႪႤႩႥႨ leḳvi, from Georgian-Zan *leḳw-, an ancient loan from Indo-European *lúkʷos, metathesis of *wĺ̥kʷos 'wolf': cf. Greek λύκος, Proto-Italic *lukʷos. It is thus cognate to English wolf and Latin lupus.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: ფოცხი pocxi 'rake', from Old Georgian ႴႭႺႾႨ pocxi rake, harrow, from Georgian-Zan *porcx-/*porcʲx- rake, broom, compound of Kartvelian *purcʲ- leaf and *cx- comb. Thus also related to ცოცხი cocxi broom and dialect forms like ფორჩხი porčxi rake.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: მაქცია makcia 'werewolf', from Old Georgian ႫႠႵႺႨႠ makcia shape-shifting monster, agent noun of Kartvelian *kecʲ- turn, behave, run, possible loan from/into Nakh-Daghestanian *ḳān[c̣]V- run, jump, or Altaic *kăči pass. An old part of Georgian folklore since the Middle Ages.

Short film now out by Sopho Chkheidze about the Tsova-Tush people and language: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrTV...

Weekly Georgian Etymology: საბანი sabani 'blanket', from Middle Georgian, from Greek σάβανον linen cloth or towel, from Coptic ⲥⲁⲃⲟⲛ sabon cloth, from Egyptian 𓋴𓃀𓈖 seben bandage for wrapping mummies, perhaps reflecting Afro-Asiatic *sVp- weave, sew.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: ნისლი nisli 'fog, mist', from Old Georgian ႬႨႱႪႨ nisli, from Georgian-Zan *nisɬ- fog, metathesis of Akkadian 𒈾𒀊𒋗 nalšum dew, deverbal noun of 𒈾𒆷𒀀𒋗 nalāšum fall as dew. Across languages, 'fog' words are often related to other weather phenomena.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: კალათა ḳalata 'basket', from late Old Georgian ႩႠႪႠႧႨ ḳalati, from Greek κάλαθος basket, probably from Akkadian 𒄭𒆷𒌅 ḫallatum basket for transporting goods, from Sumerian 𒂁𒄬 hal pot, basket.

For those who want to follow me in a more visual format, I now also make my weekly post about Georgian historical linguistics on Instagram at: www.instagram.com/georgian_ety...

Weekly Georgian Etymology: თივა tiva 'hay', from Old Georgian ႧႨႡႠ tiba to mow, from Georgian-Zan *tib- mow, from Kartvelian *tib- mow. Ancient Eurasian Wanderwort: Akkadian 𒊺𒅔𒉈 tibnum straw, chaff, Turkic *topon straw, Dravidian *taviḍ- chaff, Middle Korean 딥 tìp straw.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: მკვლელი mḳvleli 'murderer, assassin', from Old Georgian ႫႩႪႥႤႪႨ mḳlveli killer, participle of კვლა ḳvla kill, from Proto-Kartvelian *ḳal-. Possibly an ancient Eurasian Wanderwort: Indo-European *gʷelH- kill, Uralic *kola die, Dravidian *kol- kill.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: ხილი xili 'fruit', from Old Georgian ႾႨႪႨ xili, from Zan xil- fruit, from Georgian-Zan participle *χw-il-, from *χw- envelop, enfold. Like many words for fruit, it comes from verbs of growth or development: cf Latvian auglis fruit < PIE *h₂ewg- grow.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: მაყალი maq̇ali 'open coal fire, grill', from late Middle Georgian, from colloquial Ottoman Turkish منقل ma(n)qal brazier, from Arabic مِنْقَل minqal brazier, from Proto-Semitic *NQL transfer, move. Originally referred to a portable light/heat source.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: ქოხი koxi 'cabin, cottage', from Classical Persian كوخ kux hut, from Aramaic כוכי kukkī shack, from Akkadian 𒆠𒅅𒆠𒋙 kikkišum reed fence, ritual hut, from Sumerian 𒄀𒋝 gisigak hut. Replaced ძელური dzeluri log cabin, from Georgian-Zan *ʒʲel- tree/beam.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: გაგანება gaganeba 'sultry summer heat', from the phrase გაგანია ზაფხული gagania zapxuli summer peak, from Old Georgian ႢႠႬႨ gani wide, broad. Perhaps folk-etymology of Latin canicula dog days, the mid-summer heliacal rising of the 'dog star' Sirius.

Good news: the doc film about the #Tonkawa people that I was consultant for is nearly ready for release! It explores their history from precolonial days to the present, following the tribe's attempts maintain their traditions, language and culture: tonkawathemovie.com

Weekly Georgian Etymology: ფანდური panduri 'two/three-stringed lute', from Greek πανδούρα, metathesis of Akkadian *pitnurum, possible analogical leveling of 𒁉𒋾𒉡 pitnu- instrument's string, musical instrument. Semantically shifted from part of the instrument to the whole.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: დარიალი Dariali 'Darial Gorge', from Old Georgian ႣႠႰႨႠႪႠႬ Darialan, from Middle Persian Dar-i-Alan 'Gate of the Alans', from PIE *dʰwer- gate, door and *Áryas Aryan, Iranian. Also known as the Caucasian Gates, it is one of few passes over the Caucasus.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: თუთა tuta 'mulberry', from Middle Georgian, from Middle Persian tut mulberry, from Proto-Iranian *tut-. Found in Babylonian 𒄑𒌅𒌓𒌈 tuttu, Aramaic ܬܘܬܐ tuta, and Sanskrit तूत tūta, possibly from Hurrian 𒌅𒌑𒁲 tuldi plant. Wanderwort of obscure origin.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: ნატვრა naṭvra 'yearning, dream, desire', from Old Georgian ႬႠႲႰႠ naṭra yearning, from Paleo-Georgian *na-ṭr-, reanalysis of *ṭr- love, from a Nakh-Daghestanian source: cf Avar-Andic *iƛ̣:ʷ- love. Found in ნატვრის ხე naṭvris xe 'wishing tree'.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: ჩაშუშული čašušuli 'tomato meat stew', from ჩაშუშვა čašušva to roast, scorch, from Old Georgian ႫႭႸႳႸႥႠ mošušva fry, roast, from Georgian-Zan *šˠušˠ- fry. Though considered a traditional Georgian dish, the name itself dates only to the late 20th century.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: თავდასხმა tavdasxma 'strike, attack' from late Middle Georgian, from the idiom თავს დაესხმება tavs daesxmeba, lit. it will set itself upon, from Georgian-Zan *sʲx- set, press upon. Found in the phrase საჰაერო თავდასხმა sahaero tavdasxma airstrike.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: მთა mta 'mountain', from Old Georgian ႫႧႠ mta, reanalysis of Paleo-Georgian *m-ta, plural of a Nakh-Daghestanian source *muɦal mountain: cf Avar meʕér, Archi mul, Bezhta mä, Khvarshi mani. Despite appearances, it has no connection to English mountain, from Latin mōns.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: აბლაბუდა ablabuda 'spider web', from late Middle Georgian აბლაბუდა ablabuda, compound and haplology of Paleo-Georgian *a-bab-il-a, from Kartvelian *bab- spider, beetle and *bud- nest. A possible ancient loan from/into Nakh-Daghestanian *bǟmbV beetle.

I cooked this for the first time on Friday night! And now here it is. Great 🧵, especially "the imam fainted" 🤗

Weekly Georgian Etymology: აჯაფსანდალი ajapsandali, from Ottoman Turkish عجب acep wondrous marvelous and صَنْدَل sandal, vessel for bringing victuals and water, from Arabic عَجَب ʕajab marvel and Greek σάνδαλον barge. In Turkish gastronomy, many dishes take poetic/jocular names.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: თავისუფლება tavisupleba 'freedom', from Old Georgian ႧႠႥႨႱႳႴႪႤႡႠ tavisupleba, from Proto-Kartvelian *taw- head, top, self, ear of corn, and უფლება upleba right, from Georgian-Zan *up- possess, own. A calque of ancient Greek αὐτόνομος free, independent.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: ფხალი pxali 'vegetable paté', from Old Georgian ႫႾႠႪႨ mxali 'edible greens', haplology of Paleo-Georgian *m-xar-al-, participle of Georgian-Zan *xar- nibble, gnaw. One of the classic Georgian dishes, it is usually served as an appetizer before the meal.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: ცისარტყელა cisarṭq̇ela 'rainbow', from Middle Georgian, from ცა ca sky and სარტყელი sarṭq̇eli belt, girdle, from Kartvelian *ca sky and *raṭq̇- to gird. A relative neologism, it replaced Old Georgian ႨႰႨႱႤ irise from Greek ἶρις rainbow, halo.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: შრომა šroma 'work, labor', from Old Georgian ႸႰႭႫႠ šroma, from Georgian-Zan *šir- reap, cut, pierce, a possible ancient loan from Nakh-Daghestanian *HVrsa cut: Andi isir scissors, Chechen urs knife. Widened in meaning from reaping to any form of work.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: დაკრძალვა daḳrdzalva 'burial, funeral', from Old Georgian ႣႠႩႰႻႠႪႥႠ daḳrdzalva protect, hide, compound of Proto-Kartvelian *ḳar/ḳr- bind, seal and *dzʲal- overcome. Semantically narrowed from any protection to protecting the body of the deceased.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: ჭეშმარიტი č̣ešmariṭi 'true', from Old Georgian ႽႤႸႫႠႰႨႲႨ č̣ešmariṭi, from Old Armenian ճշմարիտ čšmarit true, from Middle Persian čašmdīd obvious, visible to the eyes. Used as a response to the Easter greeting formula: ჭეშმარიტად č̣ešmariṭad! Truly!

Weekly Georgian Etymology: ჯეჯილი jejili 'sprout, shoots', from Old Georgian ႿႤႿႨႪႨ jejili, from *jerjili, reduplication of Georgian-Zan *jer- sprout, likely an ancient Central Asian Wanderwort: cf. Hungarian csíra sprout, Azeri cücərti sprout. Feature of Orthodox Easter rituals.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: ჩიტი čiṭi 'bird, sparrow', from Middle Georgian ჩიტი čiṭi, early medieval loan from a Nakh-Daghestanian source *čwV̄rṭ bird: cf Lak čiṭu swallow, Akusha Dargwa čaṭa swallow, Tsakhur šiṭ bird. One of many old Daghestanian loans for flora and fauna.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: ფუტკარი puṭḳari 'bee', from Old Georgian ႴႳႲႩႠႰႨ puṭḳari, from Georgian-Zan *buṭḳ-arʲ-, from *buṭḳ- leaf, possibly an ancient Eurasian Wanderwort: cf Turkic *būta- branch, Mongolic *buta bush. It gets its name from its behavior and ecology.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: ყლორტი q̇lorṭi 'sprout, shoot', from Middle Georgian ყლორტი q̇lorṭi, from Georgian-Zan *q̇lorṭ-, an ancient loan from Nakh-Daghestanian *ƛ̣ōrχw- sprout: Hinukh ƛ̣iχ bough, Lak ḳurχ sprout, Avar ṭeχ sprout flour. One of many borrowed botanical terms.

The other 🟢“green”🟢 (Ir. 𝐮𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞) – an 𝗲𝘁𝘆𝗺𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆. In a timely thread earlier today, Thomas Wier ‪@trwier.bsky.social‬ has demonstrated how Georgian mc̣vane “green” comes from the Kartvelian root *c̣ʲw- “grow, produce”: bsky.app/profile/trwi.... There is a much wider pattern behind this,... /1

Weekly Georgian Etymology: მწვანე mc̣vane 'green', from Old Georgian (Ⴋ)ႼႳႠႬႤ (m)c̣uane, derivation of Kartvelian *c̣ʲw- grow, produce, green. Possibly a loan into Abkhaz-Adyghean *ƛ̣ʷV- blue, green, it is also the name of one of Georgia's most famous grape varietals, Mtsvane.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: სქესი skesi 'gender, sex', from Old Georgian ႱႵႤႱႨ skesi, syncope & reanalysis of ႱႵႤႫႠ skema monastic dress, from Greek σχῆμα form, sort, fashion, from PIE *sǵʰéh₁mn̥, from *seǵʰ- hold. A generic word for appearance came to refer to gender roles.

Why Official English is a terrible idea for the United States, from @lingsocam.bsky.social. Like and share! www.lsadc.org/content.asp?...

Weekly Georgian Etymology: დედა deda 'mother', from Old Georgian ႣႤႣႠ deda, from Proto-Kartvelian *ded-. As with many languages around the world, it is a 'nursery word' whose form reflects the way children learning their first language first acquire labial and dental consonants.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: ლოლუა lolua 'icicle', from late Middle Georgian ლოლუა lolua, ლოლო lolo, from Classical Persian لوله lule tube, pipe, from Middle Persian rūrag herb, plant stalk, from PIE *h₂r̥h₃wéreh₂ fertile land. It thus gets its name as a metonymy of its shape.

Weekly Georgian Etymology: გული guli 'heart', from Old Georgian ႢႳႪႨ guli, from Proto-Kartvelian *guɬ- heart. Clearly ancient within Kartvelian, it may yet reflect an ancient steppe Wanderwort: cf. Indo-European *gʷólbʰ- womb, Altaic *k`i̯ū́ĺnu navel, Dravidian *kōl- belly.