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

[Steven Boozer]

> Klingon Word of the Day for Wednesday, February 27, 2013
> 
> Klingon word:   DeS
> Part of speech: noun
> Definition:     handle, ax handle

KGT 63:  The general term for ax is {'obmaQ}. Its handle is its {DeS} and its blade is its {ghIt}. These words, {DeS} and {ghIt}, when referring to humanoid anatomy, mean "arm" and "open, flat hand" (as opposed to a fist), respectively, suggesting that at one time the ax was considered an extension of the warrior himself.

Similar words:

ret'aq		handle, hilt (of knife) 
qengwI' naQ	[rifle stock? (cf. SkyBox S14)]
tIH			shaft (of spear)


Other anatomical nouns applied to inanimate objects are {DeSqIv} and {Ho'}:

KGT 97:  The smaller {nevDagh} [pot] is characterized by its V-shaped handles, termed {DeSqIvDu'} ("elbows"; note the {-Du'}, the plural suffix for body parts is used here even though the handles are not literally body parts).

KGT 152:  Grammatically, even as slang, {Ho'} ["idol, someone worthy of emulation"] follows the rules appropriate to its literal meaning. Thus, even though it may refer to a person, its plural is {Ho'Du'} (teeth), making use of the plural suffix for body parts ({-Du'}), not {Ho'pu'}, with {-pu'}, the plural suffix for beings capable of using language.

Can anyone think of any others?


--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons