meldaki-

This lexeme is found on a fragment interpreted previously by Starke 1985a:393 as Luwian, but now interpreted as Palaic for reasons given below.

[D.S.]

Checked against the photographs in the Konkordanz.

[D.S.]

Despite the break right before the sign 〈mi〉, the word is very likely complete. The root shape meld- is an adequate Indo-European root, which finds a potential cognate in Luwian milda- ‘illness’. Then, a suffix -aki- can be separated, which is present in Palaic, e.g. in ariyaki- c., [x-]˹a˺-ra-ki=ga (KUB 35.163 ii 21), but not in Luwian. Furthermore, since Luwian does not have the phoneme [g], the word can hardly be attributed to this language. Therefore, Pal. meldaki- could refer to a disease on etymological grounds. Since the fragmentary state of the fragment does allow contextual verification, no meaning will be given.

[D.S.]

For the Palaic suffix -aki- see under Meaning.

[D.S.]