qele(/i)-
‘enclosure (?)’
- Language
- Lycian
- Grammar
- subst, c.
- ID
- 1200
1. Individual Anatolian Languages
1.1 Lycian A
qele(/i)-
‘enclosure (?)’1.1.1Transmission
This lexeme is found once is a grave inscription of Pinara.
[D.S.]
1.1.2Forms
| gen. adj. nom. sg. c. | qelehi | N 322.2 (Pinara) |
1.1.3Meaning
The genitival adjective qelehi modifies kumaza, i.e. ‘the sacrificing priest of the qele(/i)-’. Neumann 1979b:270 compares Lyc. qele(/i)- to the Hittite grain god Ḫalki- and suggests accordingly that it refers to a divine name. However, his comparison is outdated on phonological grounds (contra Melchert 1988b:224, DLL:55); see Reconstruction. Based on the possible derivative qelidele/i- ‘of the pen (?)’, one could suggest that the base qele(/i)- refers to an enclosure for (small) cattle. Therefore, the qelehi kumaza would be the one responsible for sacrificing the animals pertaining to a specific enclosure, i.e. ‘the sacrificing priest of the enclosure’. This hypothesis must be considered tentative until further evidence.The whole onomastic material adduced in Neumann 2007a:300 does not lead anywhere.
[D.S.]
1.1.4Stem
The stem of the base of qelehi could be a mutated common gender stem, i.e. qele/i- c., or a neuter stem, i.e. qele- n. Indirect evidence for a stem qele/i- can be adduced from the personal name Zuwiqele/i- (see under Compound); cf. also under Reconstruction.
[D.S.]
1.1.5Compounds
- Zuwiqele/i- (PN) (cf. Carruba 1979b:85f., Neumann 2007a:300)
1.2 Lycian B
*qele(/i)-
‘enclosure (?)’1.2.1Derivatives
2. Reconstruction
2.1Reconstruction
The Lycian word qele(/i)- can be traced back to a root beginning with *Hu̯- or *ku̯- (before back vowels); cf. Kloekhorst 2008a:124 and Sideltsev & Yakubovich 2016a:121 respectively. Therefore, the etymology of Neumann 1979b:270 regarding Hitt. dḪalki- ‘grain god’ is outdated. If Lyc. qele(/i)- refers to some kind of enclosure, a connection with the root *ku̯el- ‘to turn’ becomes very attractive. For a Palaic cognate see kuwalima- ‘enclosure for sheep (?)’. The exact word formation of Lyc. qele(/i)- cannot be ascertained, but since the root vowel cannot be *e, an action noun of the type *ku̯ólo- would be a preferable hypothesis.
[D.S.]
For the lemma head see PAnat. *ku̯el-.