Armenian edit

Etymology edit

Inherited from Old Armenian քիթ (kʿitʿ).

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

քիթ (kʿitʿ)

  1. nose
    մեծ քիթ ունենալmec kʿitʿ unenalto have a big nose
    քիթը կախելkʿitʿə kaxelto frown, to be gloomy
    քիթը քչփորելkʿitʿə kʿčʿpʿorelto pick one's nose
    քթից բերելkʿtʿicʿ berelto prevent someone from enjoying something
    քթից գալkʿtʿicʿ galto be unable to enjoy something
  2. (figuratively) the tip of something
  3. (figuratively) the prow of the ship
    Antonym: նավախել (navaxel)

Declension edit

Derived terms edit

Old Armenian edit

Etymology edit

The origin is usually considered unknown.[1][2]

Asatrian discovered a parallel in Khinalug кӏыт-ы́р (ḳɨt-ɨ́r, nose), for which a native Northeast Caucasian origin has been proposed (see there).[3] If it is indeed native, then քիթ (kʿitʿ) is a Northeast Caucasian borrowing. For other body part terms possibly borrowed from that family see մագիլ (magil).

Noun edit

քիթ (kʿitʿ)

  1. nose, snout, muzzle
    զքիթս ի վեր տանելzkʿitʿs i ver tanelto turn up the nose, to look scornful, haughty
    այսրէն ընդ քիթսն դառնալaysrēn ənd kʿitʿsn daṙnalto get into the nose, to go the wrong way in swallowing
    • 5th century, Bible, Job 40.26:[4]
      Եթէ կապիցե՞ս անուր ի քիթս նորա․ անցուցանիցե՞ս դանդանաւանդ ընդ կզակս նորա։
      Etʿē kapicʿe?s anur i kʿitʿs nora; ancʿucʿanicʿe?s dandanawand ənd kzaks nora.
      • Translation by Claude E. Cox
        Will you attach a ring in its snout? Will you pass a bit through its chin?
    • 5th century, Agatʿangełos, Patmutʿiwn Hayocʿ [History of the Armenians] 106:[5]
      Ես ետ հրաման բերել աղ եւ բորակ եւ բարկ քացախ, եւ ընկենուլ զնա յորսայս, եւ դնել փող եղեգան ի քիթս նորա, եւ արկանել զայն ընդ քիթս նորա։
      Es et hraman berel ał ew borak ew bark kʿacʿax, ew ənkenul zna yorsays, ew dnel pʿoł ełegan i kʿitʿs nora, ew arkanel zayn ənd kʿitʿs nora.
      • Translation by R. W. Thomson
        And he ordered salt and borax and rough vinegar to be brought, and for him to be turned on his back, his head to be placed in a carpenter's vice, and a reed tube to be put in his nose, and this liquid to be poured down his nose.
  2. (figuratively) edge of a pointed object

Usage notes edit

In Job, translates Ancient Greek μυκτήρ (muktḗr).

Declension edit

Derived terms edit

Descendants edit

  • Armenian: քիթ (kʿitʿ)

References edit

  1. ^ Ačaṙean, Hračʿeay (1979) “քիթ”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Armenian Etymological Dictionary] (in Armenian), 2nd edition, a reprint of the original 1926–1935 seven-volume edition, volume IV, Yerevan: University Press, pages 577–578
  2. ^ J̌ahukyan, Geworg (2010) “քիթ II”, in Vahan Sargsyan, editor, Hayeren stugabanakan baṙaran [Armenian Etymological Dictionary] (in Armenian), Yerevan: Asoghik, page 783
  3. ^ Asatrian, Garnik (2014) “‘Nose’ in Armenian”, in Iran and the Caucasus[1], volume 18, number 2, pages 147–148
  4. ^ Cox, Claude E. (2006) Armenian Job: reconstructed Greek text, critical edition of the Armenian with English translation (Hebrew University Armenian studies; 8), Leuven – Paris – Dudley, MA: Peeters, page 260
  5. ^ Thomson, R. W. (1976) Agathangelos, History of the Armenians[2], Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, pages 120–121

Further reading edit

  • Awetikʿean, G., Siwrmēlean, X., Awgerean, M. (1836–1837) “քիթ”, in Nor baṙgirkʿ haykazean lezui [New Dictionary of the Armenian Language] (in Old Armenian), Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy
  • Petrosean, Matatʿeay (1879) “քիթ”, in Nor Baṙagirkʿ Hay-Angliarēn [New Dictionary Armenian–English], Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy