[Tlhingan-hol] Klingon Word of the Day: 'etlh

[Steven Boozer]

Voragh:
>> ghob'etlh [a gutting tool] KCD

De'vID:
> Is this confirmed?  I have {ghab'etlh} in my notes, but no source
> other than KCD, so presumably this is what I heard or somebody else
> told me they heard.  I still have the game somewhere, but no means to
> run it any more.
> 
> The video of the game has been uploaded to YouTube, but unfortunately
> the recordings of the voiceover for the "information about an object"
> snippets aren't included.  The uploader apparently did transcribe what
> he/she heard though, which was *{Hob'eQ}:

I don't think it's ever been confirmed by Okrand.  I have both listed as alternate spellings, with my preference given to {ghob'etlh} because the last time this was an issue, qa'vaj played KCD and listed to the word carefully:

"It's definitely {ghob} by pronunciation. It sounds like /HHob'ek/."
 [qa'vaj, 1/2008]

which confirms what your YouTube uploader heard.

Etymologically, it may be {ghob + 'etlh} "ethics/virtue blade" in parallel with {batlh + 'etlh} "honor blade/sword".  There's also the verb {ghob}:

TKW vii:  A virtue is a particularly valued quality or a form of behavior that exemplifies moral correctness, as defined by a society... Indeed, the Klingon word {ghob} may be translated as "ethics" or "virtue", linguistic evidence that the concept is not unknown or never discussed among the Klingons themselves. It is probably significant that the Klingon word for "do battle", or "wage war" is likewise {ghob}.

In KCD we are told that it is "one of three weapons traditionally displayed on the {nuH bey'}" or "Pride of Weapons" (a ceremonial display of weapons) - along with a {betleH} and a {naQjej} - so that lends a tad more weight to the {ghob} "ethics/virtue" etymology.

However, {ghab} "meat from midsection of animal" + {'etlh} is also suggestive, especially in light of its description in KCD as "a gutting device":

  A gutting device, used in balance with a shield when practicing
  the Klingon warrior fighting style of {qIjatlh [?]}.  [KCD]



--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons