Russian edit

Etymology edit

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *degъtь, from Proto-Balto-Slavic *degut(j)as, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰegʷʰ-. Cognate with Slovak decht.

Likely a Baltic borrowing (cf. Lithuanian degùtas : dègti; Latvian deguts (birch tar) : degt). Absent in the South Slavic languages. Compare жечь (žečʹ).

Non-Slavic cognates include Ancient Greek θεπτανός (theptanós), Latin foveō (warm), Sanskrit दहति (dahati, burn).

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

дёготь (djógotʹm inan (genitive дёгтя, nominative plural дёгти, genitive plural дёгтей)

  1. tar, pitch

Usage notes edit

In the oblique cases, the г used to be pronounced like х: дёгтя = djóxtja. This pronunciation is now considered dated.

Declension edit

Related terms edit