Proto-North Caucasian: *mēć̣_uri (~-ī-)
Meaning: beard; long hair
Notes: Reconstructed for the PEC level. Tense *ć̣_- reconstructed because of the Nakh reflex (after a weak vowel *ć̣ would yield PN *-ss-). PN *merc̣ is obviously a transformation of *mec̣rV- (analogously from the oblique base to direct - a rather frequent process). Since there are no Av.-And.-Tsez. reflexes and the root is polysyllabic, the vocalic reconstruction is not very certain.
