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: მეკვლეობა Meḳvleoba 'First-foot (tradition)', from Middle Georgian მეკვლე meḳvle hunter, tracker from Old Georgian ႩႳႠႪႨ ḳuali trace, step, from Georgian-Zan *ḳwal- step. It draws its name from superstitions surrounding the New Year's first visitor.
January 1, 2026 at 10:18 PM
Weekly Georgian Etymology: მეკვლეობა Meḳvleoba 'First-foot (tradition)', from Middle Georgian მეკვლე meḳvle hunter, tracker from Old Georgian ႩႳႠႪႨ ḳuali trace, step, from Georgian-Zan *ḳwal- step. It draws its name from superstitions surrounding the New Year's first visitor.
Reposted by Thomas Wier
Georgian has a pretty distinct word for 'Greek': berʒeni (ბერძენი).
It's been explained as deriving from a word for 'wise', with Greece thought of as the land of wise people, but a more plausible explanation is that it comes from the city of Byzantium, centuries before it became Constantinople.
It's been explained as deriving from a word for 'wise', with Greece thought of as the land of wise people, but a more plausible explanation is that it comes from the city of Byzantium, centuries before it became Constantinople.
December 29, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Georgian has a pretty distinct word for 'Greek': berʒeni (ბერძენი).
It's been explained as deriving from a word for 'wise', with Greece thought of as the land of wise people, but a more plausible explanation is that it comes from the city of Byzantium, centuries before it became Constantinople.
It's been explained as deriving from a word for 'wise', with Greece thought of as the land of wise people, but a more plausible explanation is that it comes from the city of Byzantium, centuries before it became Constantinople.
Weekly Georgian Etymology: დასი dasi 'group, troupe, choir, host', from Old Georgian ႣႠႱႨ dasi, via Old Armenian դաս das or directly from Indo-Iranian das- heap, arrange, perhaps from Indo-European dmH₂-sḱ- build. At Christmas time commonly used to refer to hosts of angels.
December 27, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Weekly Georgian Etymology: დასი dasi 'group, troupe, choir, host', from Old Georgian ႣႠႱႨ dasi, via Old Armenian դաս das or directly from Indo-Iranian das- heap, arrange, perhaps from Indo-European dmH₂-sḱ- build. At Christmas time commonly used to refer to hosts of angels.
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ზღარბი zğarbi 'hedgehog', from Middle Georgian გძღარბი gdzğarbi, from Old Georgian ႢႰႻႶႠႡႨ grdzğabi, compound of Kartvelian *grdz- long and ğab- jowl, from Arabic غَبْغَب ğabğab- chin. The Southern White-Breasted species is endemic to the Caucasus.
December 16, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ზღარბი zğarbi 'hedgehog', from Middle Georgian გძღარბი gdzğarbi, from Old Georgian ႢႰႻႶႠႡႨ grdzğabi, compound of Kartvelian *grdz- long and ğab- jowl, from Arabic غَبْغَب ğabğab- chin. The Southern White-Breasted species is endemic to the Caucasus.
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ტყვია ṭq̇via 'bullet', from Old Georgian ႲႷჃႥႨ ṭq̇wivi lead, from Kartvelian *ṭq̇wi- lead, poss. an ancient loan from a north Caucasian source: Lezgic *naIƛ̣:(ʷ)V blue, Abkhaz-Adyghean *ƛ̣ʷV blue, iron. Metals often get their names from their color.
December 9, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ტყვია ṭq̇via 'bullet', from Old Georgian ႲႷჃႥႨ ṭq̇wivi lead, from Kartvelian *ṭq̇wi- lead, poss. an ancient loan from a north Caucasian source: Lezgic *naIƛ̣:(ʷ)V blue, Abkhaz-Adyghean *ƛ̣ʷV blue, iron. Metals often get their names from their color.
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ქარი kari 'wind', from Old Georgian ႵႠႰႨ kari, from Proto-Kartvelian *kar- wind, to blow, poss. an ancient Steppe loanword: Altaic *găl- sky, wind, Dravidian *gāḷ- wind, air. Made famous in the poem by Galaktion Tabidze, ქარი ჰქრის 'The Wind Blows'.
December 2, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ქარი kari 'wind', from Old Georgian ႵႠႰႨ kari, from Proto-Kartvelian *kar- wind, to blow, poss. an ancient Steppe loanword: Altaic *găl- sky, wind, Dravidian *gāḷ- wind, air. Made famous in the poem by Galaktion Tabidze, ქარი ჰქრის 'The Wind Blows'.
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ბაჟე baže 'walnut sauce with garlic', from Megrelian ბაჟა baža, from Georgian ბაჟი baži toll, duty, tax, from Old Georgian ႡႠႯႨ baži, from Middle Persian bāǰ tax, from Old Persian 𐎲𐎠𐎪𐎶 tribute. It gets its name metaphorically from its enriched flavor.
November 25, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ბაჟე baže 'walnut sauce with garlic', from Megrelian ბაჟა baža, from Georgian ბაჟი baži toll, duty, tax, from Old Georgian ႡႠႯႨ baži, from Middle Persian bāǰ tax, from Old Persian 𐎲𐎠𐎪𐎶 tribute. It gets its name metaphorically from its enriched flavor.
Weekly Georgian Etymology: კეცი ḳeci 'ceramic pan', from Old Georgian ႩႤႺႨ ḳeci wine vessel, from Proto-Kartvelian *ḳec- ceramic vessel, loan from/into Nakh-Daghestanian *kɨ̄ṭV- vessel: cf. Chechen kad pot, Tsez ḳoṭi cup, Udi kot:o-war pan. Ancient pan-Caucasian Wanderwort.
November 17, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Weekly Georgian Etymology: კეცი ḳeci 'ceramic pan', from Old Georgian ႩႤႺႨ ḳeci wine vessel, from Proto-Kartvelian *ḳec- ceramic vessel, loan from/into Nakh-Daghestanian *kɨ̄ṭV- vessel: cf. Chechen kad pot, Tsez ḳoṭi cup, Udi kot:o-war pan. Ancient pan-Caucasian Wanderwort.
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.