Armenian

Alternative forms

Noun

ծիտ • ‎(cit)

1. sparrow
2. (informal) bird
3. (slang) attractive woman

Declension

Synonyms

• (sparrow): ճնճղուկ ‎(čnčłuk)
• (bird): թռչուն ‎(tʿṙčʿun)

Derived terms

References

• Ačaṙean, Hračʿeay (1973), “ծիտ”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Dictionary of Armenian Root Words] (in Armenian), volume II, 2nd edition, Yerevan: University Press, published 1926–1935, pages 458–459

Old Armenian

Etymology

Ačaṙean connects with synonymous Middle Armenian չիտ ‎(čʿit), ջիտ ‎(ǰit), and derives all from Kartvelian, comparing Georgian ჩიტი ‎(čiṭi, “small bird; sparrow”), Mingrelian ჩიტი ‎(čiṭi, “small bird; sparrow”). On the other hand, Čubinov takes the direction of the borrowing to be the opposite, but this is rejected by Ačaṙean, because in Armenian the word is used post-classically and infrequently and now is present in Eastern dialects only.

J̌ahukyan agrees with the Kartvelian origin of the Middle Armenian forms, but prefers an onomatopoeic origin for ծիտ ‎(cit). This is suggested already by Nor baṙgirkʿ haykazean lezui and accepted by de Lagarde.

J̌ahukyan remarks that derivation from Proto-Indo-European *ǵīd-, from a supposed by-form with *ǵ- of the root *geH- ‎(“to sing, cry”), is less likely; compare from this root especially Lithuanian gaidỹs ‎(“rooster”), giedóti ‎(“to sing”).

Noun

ծիտ • ‎(cit)

1. sparrow
   • 11th century, Grigor Magistros, Grigor Magistrosi tʿłtʿerə [The letters of Grigor Magistros] 71

     […] ի ծայրս երգից ծտից լինել գուշակեն […]

Declension

Synonyms

• ճնճղուկ ‎(čnčłuk)

Derived terms

• ծտիկ ‎(ctik)

Descendants

• Armenian: ծիտ ‎(cit)

References

• Petrosean, H. Matatʿeay V. (1879), “ծիտ”, in Nor Baṙagirkʿ Hay-Angliarēn [New Dictionary Armenian–English], Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy
• Awetikʿean, G.; Siwrmēlean, X.; Awgerean, M. (1836), “ծիտ”, in Nor baṙgirkʿ haykazean lezui [New Dictionary of the Armenian Language] (in Old Armenian), volume I, Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy, page 1016b
• Łazarean, Ṙ. S. (2000), “ծիտ”, in Tʿosunean G. B., editor, Grabari baṙaran [Dictionary of Old Armenian] (in Armenian), volume I, Yerevan: University Press, page 610a
• Ačaṙean, Hračʿeay (1973), “ծիտ”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Dictionary of Armenian Root Words] (in Armenian), volume II, 2nd edition, Yerevan: University Press, published 1926–1935, pages 458–459
• Ačaṙean, Hračʿeay (1977), “չիտ”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Dictionary of Armenian Root Words] (in Armenian), volume III, 2nd edition, Yerevan: University Press, published 1926–1935, page 629a
• Čubinov, David (1887), “ჩიტი”, in Gruzinsko-russkij slovarʹ [Georgian–Russian Dictionary], Saint Petersburg: Imperial Academy of Sciences, page 1579a
• de Lagarde, Paul (1877) Armenische Studien (in German), Göttingen: Dieterich, § 1053, page 70
• J̌ahukyan, Geworg (2010), “ծիտ”, in Sargsyan, Vahan, editor, Hayeren stugabanakan baṙaran [Armenian Etymological Dictionary] (in Armenian), Yerevan: Asoghik, ISBN 978-9939-50-121-5, page 363a