ḫīluwa
‘(a tree or wooden object)’
- Language
- Cuneiform Luwian
- Class
- Base
- Grammar
- subst
- ID
- 1247
1. Individual Anatolian Languages
1.1 Cuneiform Luwian
ḫīluwa
‘(a tree or wooden object)’1.1.1Transmission
Attestations of this word are limited to a single NS copy of the Ištanuwa festival, where it occurs repeatedly in the incipits of various strophes of the same song.
[E.R.]
1.1.2Forms
| nom./acc. pl. | GIŠḫi-e-[lu-w]a | KUB 35.136 | (CTH 773, NS) |
| KBo 30.180 iv 3’ | (CTH 773, NS) | ||
| GIŠḫi-i-e[l]-wa | KBo 30.180 iv 3’ | (CTH 773, NS) | |
| KBo 43.219, 2’ | (CTH 773, NS) | ||
| GIŠḫi-i-lu-wa | KBo 30.180 iv 11’ | (CTH 773, NS) | |
| KBo 43.219, 6’ | (CTH 773, NS) | ||
| GIŠḫi-i-lu-[wa] | KUB 35.136 iv 15’ | (CTH 773, NS) | |
| GIŠḫi-el-[wa] | DBH 46/2.107, 5’ | (CTH 773, LNS) |
The last attestation of the table follows Melchert (pers. comm.); cf. Akdoğan 2016a:64f.
[E.R.]
1.1.3Graphic Features
Checked against the photographs in the Mainzer Fotoarchiv. – Reading in KUB 35.136 + KBo 30.180 iv 3’ against Starke 1985b:327.
[E.R.]
1.1.3.1Phonological Interpretation
The spelling varies in that the root vowel changes between e and ī. This is probably only an allophonic feature (due to a lowering before l), similar to the same phenomenon before /r/ suggested for ḫi-e-ru-un in Rieken 2017a:27 n. 8.
Laroche in DLL:45 lists GIŠḫīlu- together with GIŠilu-, implying that the stems are variants of the same lexeme. However, Starke 1990a:540 n. 1992 (followed in CLL:68) argues plausibly that the switch occurs regularly in each of the four strophes and that, therefore, the use of the two words in the same context is due to the intended rhyme. [+ Outdated Otten 1953a:44 n. 106, Kammenhuber 1955c:54, Kronasser 1956a:89f., who mention the word pair in the context of the discussion of additional ḫ- in CLuw. ḫišḫiya- ‘to bind’ vs Hitt. išḫāi-/-i(ya)-(ḫi); cf. the skeptical comment in Weitenberg 1984a:291 and 474 n. 764.]
[E.R.]
1.1.4Meaning
The determinative GIŠ allows for the interpretation as either a wooden object or plant (thus Tischler 2001a:49; no semantic interpretation in Kronasser 1956a:89f., DLL:45, Weitenberg 1984a:291, Starke 1990a:540 n. 1992, CLL:68, Ünal 2007a:213). CLL:70, s.v. GIŠḫiyaluwant(i)-, favors the second option, translating the word as ‘rich in ḫ. trees’. This seems to be contextually supported by the reference to the height of the GIŠḫīluwa, which affects the speaker of the song text: zīla aruwa awiḫa ‘Subsequently(?), I came high.’ Alternatively, the context suggests a wooden device for ascending, see under GIŠilu-. [+ Bossert’s equation with GIŠIG ‘door’ and (bīt) ḫilani ‘gate’ is without foundation and rightly rejected by Weitenberg 1984a:291.]
[E.R.]
1.1.5Stem
GIŠḫīluwa can be the nom./acc. pl. of either a neuter u-stem GIŠḫīlu- (cf. nom./acc. pl. n. taparuwa) or a neuter a-stem GIŠḫīluw(a)- (cf. Weitenberg 1984a:291). Most scholars opt for the first alternative without comment, e.g., DLL:45 and CLL:70. If the rhyme with nom./acc. pl. n. aruwa from the u-stem aru- ‘high’ were indicative, GIŠḫīlu- would, in fact, be preferable. However, this is a very weak argument.
[E.R.]
1.1.6Derivatives
1.1.6.1Uncertain Derivatives
1.1.7Origin
No etymology possible.
[E.R.]