Proto-Sino-Caucasian: *H(w)ǟlʒ́ĭ
Meaning: likeness, mark
Comments and references : There is a rather large semantic range, both within Bsq and NC, and between them. Between Bsq ‘appearance, likeness’ (> NC ‘mark, sign’) and ‘manner’ (> ‘skill, art’), cf. Span. forma ‘form, shape, manner’, Breton doare ‘way, manner; appearance’, and other examples. The common Bsq change of *lʒ́ > /nc/ is convergent with some NC forms, e.g. Andi anži 'mark', etc. Etymological comparison suggested by John Bengtson.