[Tlhingan-hol] Klingon Word of the Day: chut

[Steven Boozer]

> Klingon Word of the Day for Wednesday, August 07, 2013
> 
> Klingon word: chut
> Part of speech: noun
> Definition: law
> Source: TKD (83 KE, 140 EK)

AFAIK never used in canon - anything in paq'batlh? - but there is an interesting scene in "Star Trek: Klingon!" (KCD; pp. 23f. in the novelization): 

    Then speaking to Pok, but looking directly into Vok's face,
  [K'Tar] said, "Throw this {veQ} out." 
    Pok stood and moved toward Vok, reaching for the unwanted
  guest.
    "{bIyem'a'!}" Vok said.
    Pok stopped short of grabbing Vok...
    "The celebration," Vok said, "was declared a {lop'no}.
  You have invited the spirits of all our Klingon ancestors.
  Tradition dictates that all are welcome to the {lop 'no}.
  Even ancient rivals. Even me, K'Tar."
    "{Chut Quj [sic]}," K'Tar said.
    "{Luq ratlh [sic]}," Pok said, almost spitting his words
  at Vok. 

?{chut Quj} "play by the rules (of the law)"?  (K'Tar might really have said {chut QIj}, "He explained the law" as the authors/editors often changed I's to u or added extraneous u's in other places; e.g. {Quapla'} instead of {Qapla'}.)


TKW vii:  Though some, perhaps many, of a society's virtues are represented in its legal codes, a virtue [{ghob}] is not a law. A violation of a virtue need not carry with it any legal sanction.

Known Klingon laws, rights, etc.: 

  The Klingon law of heredity - *g'now juk Hol pajhard* [sic!] "A son shall share in the honors or crimes of his father" - would have required the execution of Worf and his brother Kurn for the treachery of their father, Mogh, had not those charges proven false. (TNG "Redemption I")
  {bortaS Dib} "Right of Vengeance":  Although under discommendation, Worf invoked the Right of Vengeance after Duras had murdered his mate, K'ehleyr, killing him in a duel on Duras' ship the IKC Vorn in 2367. The Klingons declared the matter closed. "He has claimed the Right of Vengeance." (the Vorn's first officer?, TNG "Reunion") "A Klingon who denies himself the Right of Vengeance is no Klingon at all." (Kor to Worf, DS9 "The Sword of Kahless")

"You'll find there are many rules and regulations. They will be posted. Violation of the smallest of them will be punished by death." (Kor, TOS "Errand of Mercy")

 
Related words:

HeS 			crime (n)
paQDI'norgh 	teachings (n)
DIb 			privilege, right (n)
ruv 			justice (n)
teblaw' 		jurisdiction (n)

loHwI'  		magistrate (n) [i.e. a judge]
'oDwI'  		arbitrator,  arbiter
yoj 			judgment (n)
bo'DIj 		court [of law] (n)
meqba' 		mek'ba [type of legal proceeding] (n)

mub 			be legal (v)
Hat 			be illegal (v)
HeS 			commit a crime (v)
ghIpDIj 		court martial (v)
noH 			judge, estimate (v)
'oD 			arbitrate, mediate (v)
loH  			administer (v)


--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons