Thomas Wier
@trwier.bsky.social
Linguist & Caucasologist • Professor at the Free University of Tbilisi • Research languages of the Caucasus, the Tonkawa language • Author of 'Tonkawa Texts' • Weekly Georgian Etymologies
Academic research: https://freeuni.academia.edu/ThomasWier
Academic research: https://freeuni.academia.edu/ThomasWier
Pinned
Thomas Wier
@trwier.bsky.social
· Nov 13
I just set up a Starter Pack for people doing research or have interest in the languages and linguistics of the Caucasus! If you want to be on it, let me know!
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ლეკვი leḳvi 'puppy', from Old Georgian ႪႤႩႥႨ leḳvi, from Georgian-Zan *leḳw-, an ancient loan from Indo-European *lúkʷos, metathesis of *wĺ̥kʷos 'wolf': cf. Greek λύκος, Proto-Italic *lukʷos. It is thus cognate to English wolf and Latin lupus.
November 10, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ლეკვი leḳvi 'puppy', from Old Georgian ႪႤႩႥႨ leḳvi, from Georgian-Zan *leḳw-, an ancient loan from Indo-European *lúkʷos, metathesis of *wĺ̥kʷos 'wolf': cf. Greek λύκος, Proto-Italic *lukʷos. It is thus cognate to English wolf and Latin lupus.
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ფოცხი pocxi 'rake', from Old Georgian ႴႭႺႾႨ pocxi rake, harrow, from Georgian-Zan *porcx-/*porcʲx- rake, broom, compound of Kartvelian *purcʲ- leaf and *cx- comb. Thus also related to ცოცხი cocxi broom and dialect forms like ფორჩხი porčxi rake.
November 5, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ფოცხი pocxi 'rake', from Old Georgian ႴႭႺႾႨ pocxi rake, harrow, from Georgian-Zan *porcx-/*porcʲx- rake, broom, compound of Kartvelian *purcʲ- leaf and *cx- comb. Thus also related to ცოცხი cocxi broom and dialect forms like ფორჩხი porčxi rake.
Weekly Georgian Etymology: მაქცია makcia 'werewolf', from Old Georgian ႫႠႵႺႨႠ makcia shape-shifting monster, agent noun of Kartvelian *kecʲ- turn, behave, run, possible loan from/into Nakh-Daghestanian *ḳān[c̣]V- run, jump, or Altaic *kăči pass. An old part of Georgian folklore since the Middle Ages.
October 27, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Weekly Georgian Etymology: მაქცია makcia 'werewolf', from Old Georgian ႫႠႵႺႨႠ makcia shape-shifting monster, agent noun of Kartvelian *kecʲ- turn, behave, run, possible loan from/into Nakh-Daghestanian *ḳān[c̣]V- run, jump, or Altaic *kăči pass. An old part of Georgian folklore since the Middle Ages.
Short film now out by Sopho Chkheidze about the Tsova-Tush people and language: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrTV...
Day of Love
YouTube video by Caucasus Cinema
www.youtube.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Short film now out by Sopho Chkheidze about the Tsova-Tush people and language: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrTV...
Weekly Georgian Etymology: საბანი sabani 'blanket', from Middle Georgian, from Greek σάβανον linen cloth or towel, from Coptic ⲥⲁⲃⲟⲛ sabon cloth, from Egyptian 𓋴𓃀𓈖 seben bandage for wrapping mummies, perhaps reflecting Afro-Asiatic *sVp- weave, sew.
October 20, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Weekly Georgian Etymology: საბანი sabani 'blanket', from Middle Georgian, from Greek σάβανον linen cloth or towel, from Coptic ⲥⲁⲃⲟⲛ sabon cloth, from Egyptian 𓋴𓃀𓈖 seben bandage for wrapping mummies, perhaps reflecting Afro-Asiatic *sVp- weave, sew.
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ნისლი nisli 'fog, mist', from Old Georgian ႬႨႱႪႨ nisli, from Georgian-Zan *nisɬ- fog, metathesis of Akkadian 𒈾𒀊𒋗 nalšum dew, deverbal noun of 𒈾𒆷𒀀𒋗 nalāšum fall as dew. Across languages, 'fog' words are often related to other weather phenomena.
October 15, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ნისლი nisli 'fog, mist', from Old Georgian ႬႨႱႪႨ nisli, from Georgian-Zan *nisɬ- fog, metathesis of Akkadian 𒈾𒀊𒋗 nalšum dew, deverbal noun of 𒈾𒆷𒀀𒋗 nalāšum fall as dew. Across languages, 'fog' words are often related to other weather phenomena.
Weekly Georgian Etymology: კალათა ḳalata 'basket', from late Old Georgian ႩႠႪႠႧႨ ḳalati, from Greek κάλαθος basket, probably from Akkadian 𒄭𒆷𒌅 ḫallatum basket for transporting goods, from Sumerian 𒂁𒄬 hal pot, basket.
September 29, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Weekly Georgian Etymology: კალათა ḳalata 'basket', from late Old Georgian ႩႠႪႠႧႨ ḳalati, from Greek κάλαθος basket, probably from Akkadian 𒄭𒆷𒌅 ḫallatum basket for transporting goods, from Sumerian 𒂁𒄬 hal pot, basket.
For those who want to follow me in a more visual format, I now also make my weekly post about Georgian historical linguistics on Instagram at: www.instagram.com/georgian_ety...
September 24, 2025 at 12:22 PM
For those who want to follow me in a more visual format, I now also make my weekly post about Georgian historical linguistics on Instagram at: www.instagram.com/georgian_ety...
Weekly Georgian Etymology: თივა tiva 'hay', from Old Georgian ႧႨႡႠ tiba to mow, from Georgian-Zan *tib- mow, from Kartvelian *tib- mow. Ancient Eurasian Wanderwort: Akkadian 𒊺𒅔𒉈 tibnum straw, chaff, Turkic *topon straw, Dravidian *taviḍ- chaff, Middle Korean 딥 tìp straw.
September 22, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Weekly Georgian Etymology: თივა tiva 'hay', from Old Georgian ႧႨႡႠ tiba to mow, from Georgian-Zan *tib- mow, from Kartvelian *tib- mow. Ancient Eurasian Wanderwort: Akkadian 𒊺𒅔𒉈 tibnum straw, chaff, Turkic *topon straw, Dravidian *taviḍ- chaff, Middle Korean 딥 tìp straw.
Weekly Georgian Etymology: მკვლელი mḳvleli 'murderer, assassin', from Old Georgian ႫႩႪႥႤႪႨ mḳlveli killer, participle of კვლა ḳvla kill, from Proto-Kartvelian *ḳal-. Possibly an ancient Eurasian Wanderwort: Indo-European *gʷelH- kill, Uralic *kola die, Dravidian *kol- kill.
September 16, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Weekly Georgian Etymology: მკვლელი mḳvleli 'murderer, assassin', from Old Georgian ႫႩႪႥႤႪႨ mḳlveli killer, participle of კვლა ḳvla kill, from Proto-Kartvelian *ḳal-. Possibly an ancient Eurasian Wanderwort: Indo-European *gʷelH- kill, Uralic *kola die, Dravidian *kol- kill.
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ხილი xili 'fruit', from Old Georgian ႾႨႪႨ xili, from Zan xil- fruit, from Georgian-Zan participle *χw-il-, from *χw- envelop, enfold. Like many words for fruit, it comes from verbs of growth or development: cf Latvian auglis fruit < PIE *h₂ewg- grow.
September 9, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ხილი xili 'fruit', from Old Georgian ႾႨႪႨ xili, from Zan xil- fruit, from Georgian-Zan participle *χw-il-, from *χw- envelop, enfold. Like many words for fruit, it comes from verbs of growth or development: cf Latvian auglis fruit < PIE *h₂ewg- grow.
Weekly Georgian Etymology: მაყალი maq̇ali 'open coal fire, grill', from late Middle Georgian, from colloquial Ottoman Turkish منقل ma(n)qal brazier, from Arabic مِنْقَل minqal brazier, from Proto-Semitic *NQL transfer, move. Originally referred to a portable light/heat source.
September 1, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Weekly Georgian Etymology: მაყალი maq̇ali 'open coal fire, grill', from late Middle Georgian, from colloquial Ottoman Turkish منقل ma(n)qal brazier, from Arabic مِنْقَل minqal brazier, from Proto-Semitic *NQL transfer, move. Originally referred to a portable light/heat source.
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ქოხი koxi 'cabin, cottage', from Classical Persian كوخ kux hut, from Aramaic כוכי kukkī shack, from Akkadian 𒆠𒅅𒆠𒋙 kikkišum reed fence, ritual hut, from Sumerian 𒄀𒋝 gisigak hut. Replaced ძელური dzeluri log cabin, from Georgian-Zan *ʒʲel- tree/beam.
August 11, 2025 at 6:25 AM
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ქოხი koxi 'cabin, cottage', from Classical Persian كوخ kux hut, from Aramaic כוכי kukkī shack, from Akkadian 𒆠𒅅𒆠𒋙 kikkišum reed fence, ritual hut, from Sumerian 𒄀𒋝 gisigak hut. Replaced ძელური dzeluri log cabin, from Georgian-Zan *ʒʲel- tree/beam.
Weekly Georgian Etymology: გაგანება gaganeba 'sultry summer heat', from the phrase გაგანია ზაფხული gagania zapxuli summer peak, from Old Georgian ႢႠႬႨ gani wide, broad. Perhaps folk-etymology of Latin canicula dog days, the mid-summer heliacal rising of the 'dog star' Sirius.
August 7, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Weekly Georgian Etymology: გაგანება gaganeba 'sultry summer heat', from the phrase გაგანია ზაფხული gagania zapxuli summer peak, from Old Georgian ႢႠႬႨ gani wide, broad. Perhaps folk-etymology of Latin canicula dog days, the mid-summer heliacal rising of the 'dog star' Sirius.
Good news: the doc film about the #Tonkawa people that I was consultant for is nearly ready for release! It explores their history from precolonial days to the present, following the tribe's attempts maintain their traditions, language and culture: tonkawathemovie.com
TONKAWA: THEY ALL STAY TOGETHER
Tonkawa: They All Stay Together follows the life of the Tonkawa Tribe over two years, as they work to firmly secure their independence and prowess as a first nation in modern society.
tonkawathemovie.com
July 31, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Good news: the doc film about the #Tonkawa people that I was consultant for is nearly ready for release! It explores their history from precolonial days to the present, following the tribe's attempts maintain their traditions, language and culture: tonkawathemovie.com
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ფანდური panduri 'two/three-stringed lute', from Greek πανδούρα, metathesis of Akkadian *pitnurum, possible analogical leveling of 𒁉𒋾𒉡 pitnu- instrument's string, musical instrument. Semantically shifted from part of the instrument to the whole.
July 29, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ფანდური panduri 'two/three-stringed lute', from Greek πανδούρα, metathesis of Akkadian *pitnurum, possible analogical leveling of 𒁉𒋾𒉡 pitnu- instrument's string, musical instrument. Semantically shifted from part of the instrument to the whole.
Weekly Georgian Etymology: დარიალი Dariali 'Darial Gorge', from Old Georgian ႣႠႰႨႠႪႠႬ Darialan, from Middle Persian Dar-i-Alan 'Gate of the Alans', from PIE *dʰwer- gate, door and *Áryas Aryan, Iranian. Also known as the Caucasian Gates, it is one of few passes over the Caucasus.
July 21, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Weekly Georgian Etymology: დარიალი Dariali 'Darial Gorge', from Old Georgian ႣႠႰႨႠႪႠႬ Darialan, from Middle Persian Dar-i-Alan 'Gate of the Alans', from PIE *dʰwer- gate, door and *Áryas Aryan, Iranian. Also known as the Caucasian Gates, it is one of few passes over the Caucasus.
Weekly Georgian Etymology: თუთა tuta 'mulberry', from Middle Georgian, from Middle Persian tut mulberry, from Proto-Iranian *tut-. Found in Babylonian 𒄑𒌅𒌓𒌈 tuttu, Aramaic ܬܘܬܐ tuta, and Sanskrit तूत tūta, possibly from Hurrian 𒌅𒌑𒁲 tuldi plant. Wanderwort of obscure origin.
July 14, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Weekly Georgian Etymology: თუთა tuta 'mulberry', from Middle Georgian, from Middle Persian tut mulberry, from Proto-Iranian *tut-. Found in Babylonian 𒄑𒌅𒌓𒌈 tuttu, Aramaic ܬܘܬܐ tuta, and Sanskrit तूत tūta, possibly from Hurrian 𒌅𒌑𒁲 tuldi plant. Wanderwort of obscure origin.
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ნატვრა naṭvra 'yearning, dream, desire', from Old Georgian ႬႠႲႰႠ naṭra yearning, from Paleo-Georgian *na-ṭr-, reanalysis of *ṭr- love, from a Nakh-Daghestanian source: cf Avar-Andic *iƛ̣:ʷ- love. Found in ნატვრის ხე naṭvris xe 'wishing tree'.
July 8, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ნატვრა naṭvra 'yearning, dream, desire', from Old Georgian ႬႠႲႰႠ naṭra yearning, from Paleo-Georgian *na-ṭr-, reanalysis of *ṭr- love, from a Nakh-Daghestanian source: cf Avar-Andic *iƛ̣:ʷ- love. Found in ნატვრის ხე naṭvris xe 'wishing tree'.
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ჩაშუშული čašušuli 'tomato meat stew', from ჩაშუშვა čašušva to roast, scorch, from Old Georgian ႫႭႸႳႸႥႠ mošušva fry, roast, from Georgian-Zan *šˠušˠ- fry. Though considered a traditional Georgian dish, the name itself dates only to the late 20th century.
June 30, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ჩაშუშული čašušuli 'tomato meat stew', from ჩაშუშვა čašušva to roast, scorch, from Old Georgian ႫႭႸႳႸႥႠ mošušva fry, roast, from Georgian-Zan *šˠušˠ- fry. Though considered a traditional Georgian dish, the name itself dates only to the late 20th century.
Weekly Georgian Etymology: თავდასხმა tavdasxma 'strike, attack' from late Middle Georgian, from the idiom თავს დაესხმება tavs daesxmeba, lit. it will set itself upon, from Georgian-Zan *sʲx- set, press upon. Found in the phrase საჰაერო თავდასხმა sahaero tavdasxma airstrike.
June 23, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Weekly Georgian Etymology: თავდასხმა tavdasxma 'strike, attack' from late Middle Georgian, from the idiom თავს დაესხმება tavs daesxmeba, lit. it will set itself upon, from Georgian-Zan *sʲx- set, press upon. Found in the phrase საჰაერო თავდასხმა sahaero tavdasxma airstrike.
Weekly Georgian Etymology: მთა mta 'mountain', from Old Georgian ႫႧႠ mta, reanalysis of Paleo-Georgian *m-ta, plural of a Nakh-Daghestanian source *muɦal mountain: cf Avar meʕér, Archi mul, Bezhta mä, Khvarshi mani. Despite appearances, it has no connection to English mountain, from Latin mōns.
June 16, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Weekly Georgian Etymology: მთა mta 'mountain', from Old Georgian ႫႧႠ mta, reanalysis of Paleo-Georgian *m-ta, plural of a Nakh-Daghestanian source *muɦal mountain: cf Avar meʕér, Archi mul, Bezhta mä, Khvarshi mani. Despite appearances, it has no connection to English mountain, from Latin mōns.
Weekly Georgian Etymology: აბლაბუდა ablabuda 'spider web', from late Middle Georgian აბლაბუდა ablabuda, compound and haplology of Paleo-Georgian *a-bab-il-a, from Kartvelian *bab- spider, beetle and *bud- nest. A possible ancient loan from/into Nakh-Daghestanian *bǟmbV beetle.
June 10, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Weekly Georgian Etymology: აბლაბუდა ablabuda 'spider web', from late Middle Georgian აბლაბუდა ablabuda, compound and haplology of Paleo-Georgian *a-bab-il-a, from Kartvelian *bab- spider, beetle and *bud- nest. A possible ancient loan from/into Nakh-Daghestanian *bǟmbV beetle.
Reposted by Thomas Wier
I cooked this for the first time on Friday night! And now here it is. Great 🧵, especially "the imam fainted" 🤗
Weekly Georgian Etymology: აჯაფსანდალი ajapsandali, from Ottoman Turkish عجب acep wondrous marvelous and صَنْدَل sandal, vessel for bringing victuals and water, from Arabic عَجَب ʕajab marvel and Greek σάνδαλον barge. In Turkish gastronomy, many dishes take poetic/jocular names.
June 1, 2025 at 10:29 AM
I cooked this for the first time on Friday night! And now here it is. Great 🧵, especially "the imam fainted" 🤗
Weekly Georgian Etymology: აჯაფსანდალი ajapsandali, from Ottoman Turkish عجب acep wondrous marvelous and صَنْدَل sandal, vessel for bringing victuals and water, from Arabic عَجَب ʕajab marvel and Greek σάνδαλον barge. In Turkish gastronomy, many dishes take poetic/jocular names.
June 1, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Weekly Georgian Etymology: აჯაფსანდალი ajapsandali, from Ottoman Turkish عجب acep wondrous marvelous and صَنْدَل sandal, vessel for bringing victuals and water, from Arabic عَجَب ʕajab marvel and Greek σάνδαλον barge. In Turkish gastronomy, many dishes take poetic/jocular names.