Kistian

English

Etymology

From Kist +‎ -ian, from the root of Georgian ქისტები (kisṭebi, “Ingush”).

Proper noun

Kistian

1. (obsolete) Synonym of Nakh, a language family.
   • 1877, Abel Hovelacque &c., The Science of Language, p. 136:

     The Kistian group comprises the Ingush or Lamur, Karabulak, Chechenze, Tush or Mosok... The various Kistian idioms are spoken altogether by about 140,000 individuals. Formerly the Circassians numbered about 500,000, but large numbers of them have in recent times migrated to European Turkey.

   • 1879, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 9th ed., Vol. X, "Georgia", p. 434:

     The Tush or Mosok appears to be fundamentally a Kistian or Tchetchenz idiom affected by Georgian influences.

Noun

Kistian (plural Kistians)

1. (uncommon) Synonym of Kist, a Caucasian people, particularly those resident in Georgia.

Anagrams

• Aitkins, kainits