Proto-North Caucasian: *nɨ̆wc(w)Ā
Meaning: prince, ruler; bride-groom
Notes: The original meaning was probably 'chief, ruler' ( > PWC 'god', Av. 'prince'). The semantic change 'ruler' > 'bride-groom' in most EC languages is usual (cf. the borrowed Turk. *bäg in Ag. beǵ, Kryz. bäg, Bud. bǝg, Khin. bäg, Ud. bäj 'bride-groom', the borrowed Pers. padšah 'king' in Av. Chad. parcaħ 'bride-groom' etc.).
In PL (Tsakh.) the root underwent metathesis: *nɨwca > *muca > *cuma. With analogous metathesis we can possibly relate here also Darg. ucm-ij 'ruler, prince'.
