դարբին

Armenian

Etymology

Inherited from Old Armenian դարբին (darbin).

Pronunciation

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Noun

դարբին • (darbin)

1. blacksmith, smith

Declension

Derived terms

• Դարբինյան (Darbinyan)

References

• “դարբին”, in Žamanakakicʻ hayocʻ lezvi bacʻatrakan baṙaran [Explanatory Dictionary of Contemporary Armenian] (in Armenian), Yerevan: Academy Press, 1969–1980
• Aġayan, Ēduard (1976) “դարբին”, in Ardi hayereni bacʻatrakan baṙaran [Explanatory Dictionary of Contemporary Armenian] (in Armenian), Yerevan: Hayastan
• Malxaseancʻ, Stepʻan (1944–1945) “դարբին”, in Hayerēn bacʻatrakan baṙaran [Armenian Explanatory Dictionary] (in Armenian), Yerevan: State Publishing House

Old Armenian

Etymology

The origin is disputed. The only explanation to account for both root and suffix both phonetically and semantically is found in Nielsen 2023, which explains it as a borrowing from an unattested Urartian equivalent of Hurrian Hurrian tabrinni (“smith”). Cognate with Sumerian 𒁾𒉄 (/⁠tabira, tibira⁠/, “joiner, craftsman, sculptor”), likely itself a loan from Hurrian 𒋰𒄿𒊑 (tab-i-ri /⁠tabiri⁠/, “metal founder, caster, (copper)smith”). Alternatively derived from Proto-Indo-European *dʰh₂ebʰ- (“to put together, fit”) + unparalleled **-rin(o/eh₂) < *-ro- (Caland adjectivalizer) + *-i(H)no (material adjectivalizer), as a cognate of Latin faber and Proto-Slavic *dobrъ. Even without a PIE derivation, it could still be related to faber as a Mediterranean-Pontic substrate word, together with broader cognates like Latin ferrum (“iron”).

• Nielsen: Hurian 𒋰𒄿𒊑 (/⁠tabiri, dabiri⁠/, “smith”) a deverbal noun from tab-/taw- (/⁠tab-, dab-⁠/, “to cast (metal)”) + -ir-i (agentive participle suffix); Armenian darbin borrowed before the Armenian *-br- > -rb- metathesis from Urartian **dabrinni equivalent to Hurrian tabrinni (“smith”) < 𒋰𒄿𒊑 (/⁠tabiri, dabiri⁠/, “smith (informal)”) + -r-inni (individualizing suffix).
• Martirosyan: Armenian darbin from oblique *dʰabʰ-r- + -*(s)neh₂- (“to swim; to float”); Hurrian 𒋰𒄿𒊑 (/⁠tabiri⁠/, “smith”) borrowed through Urartian from Armenian.

Noun

դարբին • (darbin)

1. blacksmith

Usage notes

In some attested passages Martirosyan sees the additional sense “heathen priest; poet”, which possibly originates from the Indo-European tradition.

Declension

Derived terms

Descendants

• Armenian: դարբին (darbin)

Further reading

• Petrosean, Matatʻeay (1879) “դարբին”, in Nor Baṙagirkʻ Hay-Angliarēn [New Dictionary Armenian–English], Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy
• Awetikʻean, G., Siwrmēlean, X., Awgerean, M. (1836–1837) “դարբին”, in Nor baṙgirkʻ haykazean lezui [New Dictionary of the Armenian Language] (in Old Armenian), Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy
• Ačaṙean, Hračʻeay (1971–1979) “դարբին”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Armenian Etymological Dictionary] (in Armenian), 2nd edition, a reprint of the original 1926–1935 seven-volume edition, Yerevan: University Press
• Martirosyan, Hrach (2010) Etymological Dictionary of the Armenian Inherited Lexicon (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 8), Leiden and Boston: Brill, page 234
• Fournet, Arnaud (2013) “About the Vocalic System of Armenian Words of Substratic Origin”, in Archív Orientalni‎, volume 81, number 2, pages 207–222

References