Reconstruction:Proto-Georgian-Zan/c₁ic₁-

This Proto-Georgian-Zan entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Georgian-Zan

Etymology

This root can be safely reconstructed only at a Georgian-Zan level. Svan ჩინჩ (činč) and ჩიმჩ (čimč), both meaning “moth”, are probably loanwords (Klimov, 1998) from Mingrelian. In Georgian this root is reflected in the first part of the compound ციცინათელა (cicinatela, “firefly”). Despite the superficial similarity, Latin cicindela (“firefly”), from the verb candeo (“to shine”), is unrelated. Compare also Udi цӏецӏ (c̣ec̣, “moth”) and Armenian ցեց (cʻecʻ, “moth”), although Ačaṙean derives the Armenian word from Akkadian 𒌨𒈨 (ṣāṣu).

Root

*c₁ic₁-

moth
kind of small insect

Descendants

⇒ Old Georgian: ციცინათელაჲ (cicinatelay)
- Georgian: ციცინათელა (cicinatela)
Zan:
- Laz: ჩიჩი (çiçi)
- Mingrelian: ჩინჩი (činči), ჩიჩი (čiči)
  - → Svan: ჩინჩ (činč), ჩიმჩ (čimč)

References

Klimov, G. A. (1998) Etymological Dictionary of the Kartvelian Languages (Trends in linguistics. Documentation; 16), New York, Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter, page 272
Fähnrich, Heinz (2007) Kartwelisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch [Kartvelian Etymological Dictionary] (Handbuch der Orientalistik; VIII.18) (in German), Leiden, Boston: Brill, page 578
Fähnrich, Heinz, Sarǯvelaʒe, Zurab (2000) Kartvelur enata eṭimologiuri leksiḳoni [Etymological Dictionary of the Kartvelian Languages] (in Georgian), 2nd edition, Tbilisi: University Press, pages 597–598
Ačaṙean, Hračʻeay (1971–1979) “ցեց”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Armenian Etymological Dictionary] (in Armenian), 2nd edition, a reprint of the original 1926–1935 seven-volume edition, Yerevan: University Press