Proto-Eskimo: *mǝluɣja- (~ -ŋj-)
Meaning: stinging insect, jellyfish
Russian meaning: кусающее насекомое, медуза
Comments: This stem is probably connected with *mǝlŋu 'beetle'; the secondary connotation 'sucker' is due to homonymity with *mulǝ, *mǝluɣ- 'nipple, to suck'. The Nunivak meaning 'elefant' can be explained only on the basis of the North Asian word game 'mammoth' ~ 'beetle' (whose origins can be traced back to PCh kamaka ~ kạmạkạ, for more details see PE *kamakra- 'mammoth').
Comparative Eskimo Dictionary: 198
