Proto-Lezghian: *t:am[a]
Meaning: 1 wood, forest 2 river
Lezghian: t:am 1
Rutul: dam 1
Tsakhur: dama 2
Comment: Obl. base not quite clear (Lezg. t:amu- and Rut. damɨ- seem to contradict to Tsakh. dama). 4th class in Rut., but 3d in Tsakh. The original meaning was probably 'forest near the river-bank' (whence, on one hand, 'forest', on the other - 'river'); cf. the meaning of related forms in Darg. [It is not excluded that the old meaning 'edge' is preserved in Ud. dömbä 'corner, edge' - which otherwise has an obscure etymology. Cf. also Ag. Fit. damb 'tomb-stone' which may preserve a rather archaic phonetic and semantic shape].
