𐰞𐱃𐰆𐰣:𐰖𐰃𐱁

Old Turkic

Etymology

From 𐰞𐱃𐰆𐰣 (altun, “gold”) +‎ 𐰖𐰃𐱁 (yïš, “mountain”), Literally, “golden mountain”.

Proper noun

𐰞𐱃𐰆𐰣:𐰖𐰃𐱁 (altun:yïš)

1. the Altai Mountains
   • 8th century CE, Tonyukuk Inscription, IN8:

     𐰞𐱃𐰆𐰣:𐰖𐰃𐰾𐰑𐰀:𐰆𐰞𐰺𐱃𐰢𐰔

     altun:yïšda:olurtumuz

     Thus we stayed at the Altai Mountains.

References

• Aydın, Erhan (2016) “Altun Yış”, in Eski Türk Yer Adları [Old Turkic Place Names] (in Turkish), Istanbul: Bilge Kültür Sanat, →ISBN, page 33
• Tekin, Talât (1968) “altun yïs”, in A Grammar of Orkhon Turkic (Uralic and Altaic Series; 69), Bloomington: Indiana University, →ISBN, page 301