Sino-Caucasian etymology : List with all references

Proto-North Caucasian: *whǝ̆rʒ_ĭ ( ~ -ħ-)

Meaning: edge, tip

Proto-Nakh: *c̣ɦoṗ ( ~ -ō-)

Proto-Avaro-Andian: *c̣:ibir

Proto-Lezghian: *warc̣:

Proto-West Caucasian: *(p-)ć̣a

Notes: In PN and PA we have to assume a metathesis (*c̣ɦoṗ < *bɦoc̣ with assimilation, *c̣:ibir < *bic̣:i-r), which is a rather common phenomenon; otherwise correspondences are regular.

Nakh etymology :

Proto-Nakh: *c̣ɦoṗ ( ~ -ō-)

North Caucasian etymology: North Caucasian etymology

Meaning: edge (of weapon); top

Batsbi: c̣ʕoṗ

Comments: Attested only in Bacb., but having probable external parallels.

Avar-Andian etymology :

Protoform: *c̣:ibir

North Caucasian etymology: North Caucasian etymology

Meaning: edge

Akhvakh: c̣:ebe

Karata: c̣:iber (Anch.)

Comments: Cf. also Akhv. Ratl. c̣:eber 'edge', Kar. Tok. c̣:ebir 'piece of bread'.

Lezghian etymology :

Proto-Lezghian: *warc̣:

North Caucasian etymology: North Caucasian etymology

Meaning: 1 top 2 corner, angle (external)

Agul: wart: 1

Rutul: wɨt 2

Tsakhur: wut 2

Comment: Obl. base *worc̣:e- (cf. Ag. /with vowel levelling/ wart:u-, Rut. wɨtɨ- /with consonantal levelling: -t:- would be regularly expected/, Tsakh. wut:e-). The vocalism of the oblique stem in Rut. and Tsakh. penetrated into the direct stem. 3d class in Rut. and Tsakh.

Abkhaz-Adyghe etymology :

Proto-West-Caucasian: *(p-)ć̣a

North Caucasian etymology: North Caucasian etymology

Meaning: 1 sharp 2 pointed 3 edge, end; nose

Abkhaz: á-c̣ar 1

Abaza: c̣ara 1

Adyghe: pā-ṗc̣ 2

Kabardian: pā-ṗc̣a 2

Ubykh: fa-ć̣á 3

Comments: PAT *ć̣a-rV 'sharp' (cf. also Bzyb. á-ć̣ar); the same root (without the suffix) is present in PAT *pǝ-nǝ-ć̣a 'nose' (q.v.) - a compound, except for the linking morpheme *-nǝ-, identical to Ub. fa-ć̣á and PAK *pá-ṗc̣a (the first component see under *pʷV).

The PAT *pǝnǝć̣a 'nose' is compared (by Shagirov 1972, Abdokov 1973) with Kab. panc̣ǝv 'tip of the nose'. Absence of this form in Ad., however, speaks rather in favour of this form's being borrowed from Abaz. (Ashkh.) pǝnc̣ǝžʷ 'nostril(s)' - which can be probably analyzed as pǝnc̣a 'nose' + -žʷ 'expressive suffix'. This seems to us more probable than Shagirov's (1977) analysis of pǝnc̣ǝv as pǝ 'nose' + c̣ǝv 'beetle' (?). The WC compound form *pʷV(nǝ)-ć̣a spread also to the neighbour languages: Georg. ṗinčwi, Arm. ṗinǯ / ṗinč 'nostril', Osset. fɨnʒ / fɨnʒ(ä) 'nose, tip' (see Abayev 1958; Abayev lists also Megr. ṗiǯi 'mouth' - which, according to Klimov 1963, does not belong here and descends from PK *ṗir- 'edge'. On the contrary, Klimov (1963) considers the Armenian form to be a megrelism which is hardly possible; he does not list the Georgian form).

Basque etymology :

Proto-Basque: *baste-r̄

Sino-Caucasian etymology: Sino-Caucasian etymology

Meaning: corner, edge

Bizkaian: baztar

Gipuzkoan: baztar, bazter

High Navarrese: baztar, bazter

Low Navarrese: bazter

Salazarese: bazter

Lapurdian: bazter, (Ainhoa) baztar

Baztanese: bazter

Zuberoan: bazter

Roncalese: bazter

Comments: Cf. PNC *whǝ̆rʒ_ĭ 'edge, tip'. One of several cases in which Bsq *-st- corresponds to PNC tense sibilants: cf. Bsq *esti 'honey, sweet' ~ PEC *mĭʒV 'sweet'.