Proto-North Caucasian: *q_wǝlɵV(rV̄) / *χ_wǝlɵV(rV̄)
Meaning: lung
Notes: Reconstructed for the PEC level. The root is rather peculiar (although there are no doubts at all in its EC antiquity): it contains a very rare phoneme *-ɵ- (which yields t-like reflexes in PTs, Lak.and PL, but s-like reflexes in And. and Darg.). Several subgroups also reflect a specific variation of reflexes (*qw- or *χw-) which is a rather rare case.
Since the root is liable to metatheses (cf. the situation in Lezg.), one would be tempted also to compare PAK *tħa- in *tħa-(m)bǝLǝ 'lung' (Ad. tħābǝL, Kab. tħambǝL), Kab. tħa-m-ṣ́ǝʁʷ 'liver' with a possible reconstruction PWC *tǝχ́Iʷa or *tǝq́Iʷa; however, it may be a pure coincidence, and Kuipers' analysis (*tħa as 'life, spirit') may be right (see Shagirov 2,83).
