зурах

Mongolian

Etymology

From Proto-Mongolic *jïru-, with pre-breaking found in all modern languages.

Perhaps related to Proto-Turkic *yạŕ- (“to write”), Proto-Turkic *čïŕ- (“to draw”) or Proto-Tungusic *ńiru- (“to write”). (Can this⁽⁺⁾ etymology be sourced?)

Compare Buryat зураха (zuraxa), Kalmyk зурх (zurx), Mangghuer zhuru (“to write”), Middle Mongol جیروقسان (jiruqsan, “drawn”), Turkish yazmak, Turkish çizmek, Nanai ниру- (niru-), Yakut суруй (suruy).

Verb

зурах • (zurax) (Mongolian spelling ᠵᠢᠷᠤᠬᠤ (ǰiruqu), causative зуруулах, passive зурагдах)

1. to draw (produce a picture)
2. to write

   Synonym: бичих (bičix)

3. to streak (draw a line with a sharp object)
4. to describe

Derived terms

• зураг (zurag, “picture”)
• зураас (zuraas, “nick, line”)