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

[Steven Boozer]

> Klingon Word of the Day for Monday, January 21, 2013
> 
> Klingon word:   ghIt
> Part of speech: noun
> Definition:     open, flat hand

  yuDHa'; ghIt rur 
  honest as an open hand KGT
  honest as an ax head KGT

N.B. {ghIt} is not the same as {toch} "palm (of hand)".

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.

KGT 69:  To challenge one to a duel to the death, one hits one's adversary with the back of the hand ({chap}). If one is hitting someone for some other reason, such as simple enjoyment, one uses the fist ({ro'}).

KGT 74f.:  The general term for a percussion instrument of any kind is {'In}. Some types of {'In} are struck with the hand, either palm ({toch}) or fist ({ro'}), depending on the particular instrument. To hit the instrument with the palm is {weq}; to strike it with the fist is {tlhaw'}.

Related nouns:

ghop  	hand
chap  	back (of hand)
toch  	palm (of hand) 
nItlh  	finger (n)
ro' 	 	fist


--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons