Proto-Lezghian: *ʔawχ:(a)
Meaning: 1 gutter 2 ditch, drain 3 slope; breast
Agul: aχʷ 1
Rutul: waχ 2 (Khniukh.)
Archi: χ:ʷa
Udi: aqI 3
Comment: The Arch. form χ:ʷa means 'part of the mountain bordered with growth'. Cf. also Ag. Bursh. aχʷ 'wood, forest'. All the different meanings in Lezg. languages can be explained by the original meaning "mountain slope" > a) "woody place, wood, forest"; b) "slope > drain, ditch". The Arch. form probably reflects a former locative (in *-aʔ) with initial reduction.
