Reconstruction:Proto-Iranian/márgaH

This Proto-Iranian 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-Iranian

Etymology

Unknown; perhaps borrowed from Semitic, compare Old Babylonian 𒈥𒄖𒌋 (mar-gu-u /⁠marġû⁠/, “field”), Arabic مَرْج (marj, “meadow”), and Afroasiatic terms Dangaléat mórgó (“field”), Oromo marga (“grass”).

Noun

*márgaH f

1. meadow, forest
2. grass

Descendants

• Central Iranian:
  • Avestan: 𐬨𐬀𐬭𐬆𐬖𐬀 (mar^əγa)
• Northeastern Iranian:
  • Sogdo-Bactrian:
    • Bactrian: μαργο (margo /⁠marǧ⁠/)
    • Proto-Sogdic:
      • Sogdian: (/⁠marǧ⁠/, “meadow, forest”)

        Manichaean script: 𐫖𐫡𐫄 (mrǧ)

        Sogdian script: 𐼺𐽀𐼲 (mrɣ), 𐼺𐽀𐼲𐼰 (mrɣʾ)

        Syriac script: ܡܪܓ (mrğ)

      • Yagnobi: марғ (marġ, “grass”)
• Southeastern Iranian:
  • Proto-Pathan:
    • Pashto: مرغه f (marğa, (dialectal) mërğë, “fodder; meadow”)
    • Waneci: مرغه (murğa, “plain, meadow”)
  • Sanglechi: ميرغ (mērğ) (< *márgyaH)
  • Proto-Shughni-Yazghulami-Munji: *mǣrğǣ
    • Proto-Munji-Yidgha:
      • Munji: مرغۆ (murğo), ميرغه (mīrğa)
      • Yidgha: ميرغو (mīrğo)
    • Proto-Shughni-Yazghulami: *mǣrğ́
      • Proto-Shughni-Roshani: *mȫrǰ
        • Shughni: морҷ (mōrǰ, “type of grass”)
• Northwestern Iranian:
  • Kurdish: (< *márgyaH)
    • Northern Kurdish: mêrg f (“meadow, prairie”)
    • Central Kurdish: مێرگ (mêrg, “meadow”)
  • Medo-Parthian:
    • Kermanic: morq (Abyanehi), marq (Jowshaqani)
    • Parthian: 𐫖𐫡𐫃 (mrg /⁠marγ⁠⁠/)
      • → Old Armenian: մարգ (marg) (see there for further descendants)
      • → Classical Syriac: ܡܪܓܐ (margā)
• Southwestern Iranian:
  • Old Persian: *margā
    • Middle Persian: (/⁠marw⁠/, “herbage, grass”)

      Manichaean script: 𐫖𐫡𐫇 (mrw)

      Book Pahlavi script: [Book Pahlavi needed] (mlw')

      • Bakhtiari: مرغ (marğ, “grassland”)
      • Classical Persian: مرغ (marğ)
        • Iranian Persian: مرغ (marğ)
        • Tajik: марғ (marġ)
        • ⇒ Classical Persian: مرغزار (marğzâr)
          • Iranian Persian: مرغزار (marğzâr)
          • Tajik: марғзор (marġzor)
          • → Kermanic: marğzār (Farizandi)
          • → Northern Kurdish: mêrgezar f (calque)
          • → Pashto: مرغ زار (marğzār)

Further reading

• Edelʹman, D. I. (2015) Etimologičeskij slovarʹ iranskix jazykov [Etymological Dictionary of Iranian Languages] (in Russian), volume 5, Moscow: Vostochnaya Literatura, pages 231–234
• “marġû B”, in The Assyrian Dictionary of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago (CAD)‎^[1], volume 10, M, part 1, Chicago: University of Chicago Oriental Institute, 1977, page 278f
• Orel, Vladimir E., Stolbova, Olga V. (1995) Hamito-Semitic Etymological Dictionary: Materials for a Reconstruction (Handbuch der Orientalistik; I.18), Leiden, New York, Köln: E.J. Brill, page 378: “1741 *marVg- “field””