Etymology

A derivation from 𐰋𐰃𐱅𐰃 ‎(biti-, “to write, inscribe”). Cognate to Old Uighur [script needed] ‎(bitig, “inscription, scripture”), Karakhanid [script needed] ‎(bitig, “anything written; book, letter...”), Old Anatolian Turkish [script needed] ‎(biti, “letter, written document”), Bashkir бетеү ‎(betew, “amulet”). See also Mongolian бичиг ‎(bičig), a Turkic borrowing.