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
So this word ლეკვი leḳvi puppy ultimately is connected not only to more familiar words like English wolf, Latin lupus, and Russian волк, it is also indirectly related to the name of Georgia itself.
November 10, 2025 at 10:47 AM
So this word ლეკვი leḳvi puppy ultimately is connected not only to more familiar words like English wolf, Latin lupus, and Russian волк, it is also indirectly related to the name of Georgia itself.
Several Indo-European branches featured an L-initial form for wolf, including Hellenic, Italic and Paeonian, a poorly attested Paleo-Balkan language. So it may have been a feature of that region's IE languages. Other IE words often preserved the initial *w:
November 10, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Several Indo-European branches featured an L-initial form for wolf, including Hellenic, Italic and Paeonian, a poorly attested Paleo-Balkan language. So it may have been a feature of that region's IE languages. Other IE words often preserved the initial *w:
The word is in turn a loan from a late Indo-European form *lúkʷos, whose metathesis probably reflects some kind of taboo deformation: across languages, it is common for speakers to alter a taboo word for wild animals. Cf. Slavic медведь for bear, lit. 'honey-eater'.
November 10, 2025 at 10:14 AM
The word is in turn a loan from a late Indo-European form *lúkʷos, whose metathesis probably reflects some kind of taboo deformation: across languages, it is common for speakers to alter a taboo word for wild animals. Cf. Slavic медведь for bear, lit. 'honey-eater'.
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.
So ultimately this word for a shape-shifting mythological creature comes from some form of verb of motion. In western Georgia, another name for such a creature is found: მგელკაცა mgelḳaca lit. 'wolf-man', probably a calque of Greek λυκάνθρωπος, whence English lycanthrope.
October 27, 2025 at 11:42 AM
So ultimately this word for a shape-shifting mythological creature comes from some form of verb of motion. In western Georgia, another name for such a creature is found: მგელკაცა mgelḳaca lit. 'wolf-man', probably a calque of Greek λυκάνθρωπος, whence English lycanthrope.
In later times, in the verse epic about King Teimuraz written by King Archil of Kakheti in 1684, we see this word used as a metaphor for the psychological loss of control:
October 27, 2025 at 11:40 AM
In later times, in the verse epic about King Teimuraz written by King Archil of Kakheti in 1684, we see this word used as a metaphor for the psychological loss of control:
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.
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.
But when did Kartvelian languages come into contact with Akkadian? Akkadian had already become a trade language in eastern Anatolia by the late 3rd mill. BCE, and ceased to be spoken there after the Fall of Assyria. Probably the word spread through trade and diplomatic networks such as these:
October 15, 2025 at 12:34 PM
But when did Kartvelian languages come into contact with Akkadian? Akkadian had already become a trade language in eastern Anatolia by the late 3rd mill. BCE, and ceased to be spoken there after the Fall of Assyria. Probably the word spread through trade and diplomatic networks such as these:
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.
In both Greek and Mesopotamian art, the κάλαθος and the 𒄭𒆷𒌅 ḫallatum became metaphors for prosperity, which is the origin of our modern notion of the cornucopia. Here for example is King Ashurbanipal of Assyria holding aloft a basket representing wealth:
September 29, 2025 at 6:24 PM
In both Greek and Mesopotamian art, the κάλαθος and the 𒄭𒆷𒌅 ḫallatum became metaphors for prosperity, which is the origin of our modern notion of the cornucopia. Here for example is King Ashurbanipal of Assyria holding aloft a basket representing wealth:
In Greek the word is fairly old; it is already attested in the 5th century BCE play 'The Birds' by Aristophanes, but has no agreed upon origin; Beekes suggests it is 'pre-Greek'. A more plausible alternative is Akkadian 𒄭𒆷𒌅 ḫallatum, a kind of basket used to ship goods.
September 29, 2025 at 6:23 PM
In Greek the word is fairly old; it is already attested in the 5th century BCE play 'The Birds' by Aristophanes, but has no agreed upon origin; Beekes suggests it is 'pre-Greek'. A more plausible alternative is Akkadian 𒄭𒆷𒌅 ḫallatum, a kind of basket used to ship goods.
The Old Georgian word is in turn a late Byzantine borrowing from Greek κάλαθος, which probably referred to a specific type of basket with 'top hat' and a narrow base. Though few/no wicker originals survive, we see them depicted on ancient Greek pottery for storing wool:
September 29, 2025 at 6:22 PM
The Old Georgian word is in turn a late Byzantine borrowing from Greek κάλαθος, which probably referred to a specific type of basket with 'top hat' and a narrow base. Though few/no wicker originals survive, we see them depicted on ancient Greek pottery for storing wool:
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.
Why is this? That is because while humans cannot eat chaff, animals often can, and they are regularly used as fodder in animal husbandry. These practices began to spread to Central Asia and India some time in the 4th millennium BCE, and perhaps took with them their vocabulary:
September 22, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Why is this? That is because while humans cannot eat chaff, animals often can, and they are regularly used as fodder in animal husbandry. These practices began to spread to Central Asia and India some time in the 4th millennium BCE, and perhaps took with them their vocabulary:
The most likely answer is not the innovation of agriculture/animal husbandry in Mesopotamia and the Caucasus, since here economic practices had developed long before reconstructible protolanguages came into being. Instead, it was probably the *spread* of such practices to Central Asia.
September 22, 2025 at 11:36 AM
The most likely answer is not the innovation of agriculture/animal husbandry in Mesopotamia and the Caucasus, since here economic practices had developed long before reconstructible protolanguages came into being. Instead, it was probably the *spread* of such practices to Central Asia.
So it seems likely that a root that looked something like *tVb-/*tVp/*tVv- referring to the processing of grains into edible seed parts and inedible husks spread anciently over a region from Mesopotamia perhaps even all the way to East Asia. But what triggered this spread?
September 22, 2025 at 11:35 AM
So it seems likely that a root that looked something like *tVb-/*tVp/*tVv- referring to the processing of grains into edible seed parts and inedible husks spread anciently over a region from Mesopotamia perhaps even all the way to East Asia. But what triggered this spread?
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.
In modern Georgian, although one can nowadays say ასასინი asasini 'assassin', this normatively refers to the medieval sect. There is no one standard word to refer to modern politically-motivated killings. One can say პოლიტიკური მკვლელი ṗoliṭiḳuri mḳvleli 'political killer':
September 16, 2025 at 11:31 AM
In modern Georgian, although one can nowadays say ასასინი asasini 'assassin', this normatively refers to the medieval sect. There is no one standard word to refer to modern politically-motivated killings. One can say პოლიტიკური მკვლელი ṗoliṭiḳuri mḳvleli 'political killer':
The root *ḳal-/*ḳl- is an old one in Kartvelian, as it has cognates in both Georgian and in Svan ჭაუ č̣aw. The Svan word under regular rules of palatalization and shift of *l > /w/:
*ḳal > *č̣al > ჭაუ č̣aw
Svan words are often disguised by sound-changes like this; cf. 'man':
*ḳal > *č̣al > ჭაუ č̣aw
Svan words are often disguised by sound-changes like this; cf. 'man':
September 16, 2025 at 11:17 AM
The root *ḳal-/*ḳl- is an old one in Kartvelian, as it has cognates in both Georgian and in Svan ჭაუ č̣aw. The Svan word under regular rules of palatalization and shift of *l > /w/:
*ḳal > *č̣al > ჭაუ č̣aw
Svan words are often disguised by sound-changes like this; cf. 'man':
*ḳal > *č̣al > ჭაუ č̣aw
Svan words are often disguised by sound-changes like this; cf. 'man':
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.
This reflects a straightforward functional fact about fruit: they are seen not just for their fleshy outer rind for eating, they are also seen as a source for the seeds that become enveloped in it. Many, many languages around the world lexicalize this fact.
September 9, 2025 at 10:57 AM
This reflects a straightforward functional fact about fruit: they are seen not just for their fleshy outer rind for eating, they are also seen as a source for the seeds that become enveloped in it. Many, many languages around the world lexicalize this fact.
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.
The word is first attested in Davit Chubinashvili's 1840 Georgian-Russian-French trilingual dictionary with the meaning 'brazier, stove':
September 1, 2025 at 12:29 PM
The word is first attested in Davit Chubinashvili's 1840 Georgian-Russian-French trilingual dictionary with the meaning 'brazier, stove':