Proto-North Caucasian: *=Hĭc̣_Ăl
Meaning: naked, bare
Notes: As many other adjectival stems, PNC *=Hĭc̣_Ăl- could have suffixed class markers, turning to *=Hĭc̣_lV- > *=Hĭlc̣_V- (this process could occur independently in different subgroups). The latter form is reflected in PN and PA - but archaic Lezghian and Dargian data speak in favour of the original structure *=Hĭc̣_Ăl-. The root could also use prefixed class markers, which are preserved in Nakh languages and have left traces in some Lezghian languages, as well as in PWC *p(ǝ)-. Despite all these difficulties, the etymology seems both phonetically and semantically quite satisfactory.
