Proto-North Caucasian: *Hč[ī]rV-
Meaning: light-coloured
Notes: The root denoted some light (yellowish or greenish) colour, whence all the different colour meanings in languages. Phonetically the comparison seems plausible, with several comments:
a) PL, PD and PWC suggest the reconstruction of *ī as main vowel; however, Av.-And. reflects are unclear;
b) The Darg. and PWC forms incorporate the former class prefix *b- (Darg. čibara < (with metathesis) *čirV-bV).
c) Most forms are deductable from the original root structure *HčVrV̆-; however, Av. čar- (borrowed in Kar. čaro-b) suggests rather *HčVrV̄-. Variations of this type can be sometimes met in adjectival stems.
