quzilqurt

Northern Kurdish

Etymology

Akin to Central Kurdish قوزڵقورت (quzillqurt), from a contraction of quz (“cunt”) and daqurtandin (“to swallow”). Compare Arabic زقوم. The word has to be initially an interjection which then evolved into either a name of certain plants or insects on those plants, depending on the dialect. The sense of insect is probably because of confusion with Turkic kızıl kurt, meaning "red worm". Compare Iraqi Arabic قزلقرت (qozalqort), borrowed from Kurdish.

Most probably not a direct Turkic loan because of the sheer vastness of the word throughout all Kurdish languages and dialects, existing in almost every part of Kurdistan.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /qʊzɪlˈqʊɾt/

Noun

quzilqurt f

A small, poisonous insect or an animal found in grassy areas. Known for being toxic, which can be fatal if ingested by animals.

Interjection

quzilqurt

(colloquial) An idiomatic phrase used to convey anger and frustration, implying the sentiment "eat quzilqurt (or something equally unpleasant)."

Usage notes

Poisonous beings, the effects of them or posion itself are used as interjections across Kurdish languages, compare jehr (“posion”), kul (“inflammation; or pain thereof”), (> qurreder, Zazaki kureder, an interjection similar to quzilqurt), pêmirin (“literally "with to die"; thing that causes death”)...