աղիջ

Old Armenian

Alternative forms

• աղիճ (ałič)

Etymology

As noted by Martirosyan, numerous etymologies have been proposed, none of which is unproblematic. According to him the form աղիջ (ałiǰ) is secondary and the word goes back to Proto-Armenian *ałǰ- (“girl”), which is an old feminine. After that two origins seem the most probable:

1) The word basically means ‘female grinder’ and derives from Proto-Indo-European *h₂l-i(e)h₂-, from *h₂l- (“to grind”), whence աղամ (ałam), since the labour of grinding was mainly performed by women. This derivation was originally proposed by Meillet. Typologically compare Ancient Greek ἀλετρίς (aletrís, “female slave who grinds corn”), from ἀλέω (aléō, “to grind”), a cognate of աղամ (ałam).

2) According to J̌ahukyan, the word basically means ‘young female’, from Proto-Indo-European *plH-i(e)h₂- and related to ուլ (ul).

For the sense development “girl” → “prostitute” see the notes in բոզ (boz).

Noun

աղիջ • (ałiǰ)

1. virgin, girl
2. prostitute (attested only in the spelling աղիճ (ałič))

Usage notes

Աղիջ (Ałiǰ) is attested only once; it is commonly used in its diminutive form աղջիկ (ałǰik).

Derived terms

• աղճիկ (ałčik)
• աղճկամարդ (ałčkamard)
• աղջիկ (ałǰik)
• աղջկական (ałǰkakan)
• աղջկամարդ (ałǰkamard)
• աղջկորդի (ałǰkordi)

References

• Ačaṙean, Hračʻeay (1971–1979) “աղիջ”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Armenian Etymological Dictionary] (in Armenian), 2nd edition, a reprint of the original 1926–1935 seven-volume edition, Yerevan: University Press
• J̌ahukyan, Geworg (1963) “Stugabanutʻyunner [Etymologies]”, in Patma-banasirakan handes [Historical-Philological Journal]‎^[1] (in Armenian), number 4, Yerevan: Academy Press, pages 87–88
• Martirosyan, Hrach (2010) “aɫiǰ”, in Etymological Dictionary of the Armenian Inherited Lexicon (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 8), Leiden and Boston: Brill, page 35