gurta-

Attested in the annals of Muršili II (NS), in the Deeds of Šuppiluliuma I (LNS) as well as in further historical fragments (NS).

[Zs.S.]

acc. sg. c.	gur-ta-an	KBo 4.4 ii 61	(CTH 61, NS)
dat.-loc. sg.	gur-ti	KBo 5.6 iii 33	(CTH 40, LNS)
abl.	Égur-da-az	Bo 3948 ii 1	(CTH 215, NS)
	Égur-da-˹az?˺	KBo 8.19 obv. 10	(CTH 215, NS)

Attestations following HED K:275f. (cf. also Friedrich 1952a:119; HEG A-K 658f.) checked against the photos of the Konkordanz (no photo is available in the case of Bo 3948).

[Zs.S.]

There is a widespread opinion that this word means ‘citadel, fortress, acropolis’ (e.g. Friedrich 1952a:119; Beckman 1983a:162 n. 391; HEG A-K:658, Tischler 2008a:95, Tischler 2016a:179; Melchert 1994a:260 [but cf. below]) or, additionally, also ‘city, town’ (Ünal 2007a:372, Ünal 2016a:299; EDHIL:475). However, Melchert 2012a:214 rightly pointed out that the word can only mean ‘city, town’ and not ‘acropolis, citadel’, otherwise it would not have appeared in the phrase šarāzzi gurti ‘into the upper citadel/walled city’ (KBo 5.6 iii 33).

[Zs.S.]

Derivatives:

1. gurtawann(i)-

Rejected derivatives:

1. †kurtalli-

There is a general agreement that this word is of Luwian origin based on its Luwian derivatives gurtawann(i)- and kurtalla/i- (see s.vv.) and its exclusively late attestation (Melchert 1994a:260 and EDHIL:495 [“quite possible”]), and it was accordingly listed among the Luwianisms of Hittite by Melchert 2005a:450 (but not by van den Hout 2007a). Nevertheless, Lipp 2009a I:300 rightly pointed out that these circumstances do not exclude that the word is ultimately of Hittite origin (note that kurtalla/i- probably does not exist, see s.v.).

An assured etymology would help to clarify this issue, but such does not exist. The traditional etymology holds that this word is a Luwian reflex of PIE *g^hr̥d^hó- ‘enclosure vel sim.’ (for a full list of references see Simon 2016d:190 n. 1), but this is not possible phonologically (EDHIL:495, for a more detailed discussion see Simon 2016d:190f. with refs.). Setting aside other doubtful etymologies (see the detailed discussion in Simon 2016d:192–196 with refs.), the only remaining one is the proposal of Sturtevant 1933a:157, 119, who suggests a -tó-participle from PIE *k^u̯er- ‘(ab)schneiden, schnitzen’. This was discussed in detail and supported most recently by Simon 2016d:196f., who, however, also pointed out that this solution allows both a Hittite and a Luwian derivation. Thus, if this etymology can be upheld, even if there must have been a Luwian word *kurta- due to the attested derivatives, it still cannot be excluded that gurta- of the Hittite texts is a genuine Hittite word.

[Zs.S.]

Possible derivatives:

1. γrds
2. qrds