𐫗𐫍𐫗𐫃

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word 𐫗𐫍𐫗𐫃. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word 𐫗𐫍𐫗𐫃, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say 𐫗𐫍𐫗𐫃 in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word 𐫗𐫍𐫗𐫃 you have here. The definition of the word 𐫗𐫍𐫗𐫃 will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of𐫗𐫍𐫗𐫃, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

Middle Persian

Etymology

From Proto-Iranian *ni-θanga-, from the preverb *ni- (down) and the verb *θanǰáyati (to pull, draw). Nyberg explains the literal meaning as ‘the dragger, the crawler’. Perhaps cognate with Manichaean Parthian 𐫗𐫟𐫗𐫐 (nxnk), but the reading and meaning of the latter are uncertain.

Has also been compared to Sanskrit निहाका (nihākā, a storm, whirlwind?; an iguana, the Gangetic alligator?), but the meaning and origin of the latter are uncertain.

Noun

𐫗𐫍𐫗𐫃 (nihang)

  1. crocodile or hippopotamus

Descendants

Taking Manichaean Middle Persian as representative for all Middle Iranian:

  • Persian: نهنگ (nehang, nahang, crocodile; whale)
  • → Aramaic
    Classical Syriac: ܢܗܢܓ (nahang)
  • Old Armenian: նհանգ (nhang)

References

  • Nyberg, H. S. (1974) A Manual of Pahlavi, Part II: Glossary, Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz, page 138b
  • Durkin-Meisterernst, Desmond (2004) A Dictionary of Manichaean Middle Persian and Parthian (Corpus Fontium Manichaeorum; 3.1), Turnhout: Brepols, page 242a
  • Cheung, Johnny (2007) Etymological Dictionary of the Iranian Verb (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 2), Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, pages 391–392
  • Bailey, H. W. (1979) Dictionary of Khotan Saka, Cambridge, London, New York, Melbourne: Cambridge University press, page 190b
  • Ačaṙean, Hračʻeay (1977) “նհանգ”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran (in Armenian), 2nd edition, a reprint of the original 1926–1935 seven-volume edition, volume III, Yerevan: University Press, page 458b
  • Hübschmann, Heinrich (1897) Armenische Grammatik. 1. Theil: Armenische Etymologie (in German), Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel, page 205
  • Cabolov, R. L. (2010) Etimologičeskij slovarʹ kurdskovo jazyka (in Russian), volume II, Moscow: Russian Academy Press Vostochnaya Literatura, page 16