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

[Steven Boozer]

> Klingon Word of the Day for Monday, November 16, 2015
> 
> Klingon word: Ha'quj
> Part of speech: noun
> Definition: baldric, sash[] 

qorDu'Daj tuq 'oS Ha'quj'e' tuQbogh wo'rIv.  tuQtaHvIS Hem.
 ghaHvaD quHDaj qawmoH. 
The sash that Worf wears is a symbol of his family's house.
 He wears it proudly as a reminder of his heritage. S20

KGT 61:  In ancient times, a warrior often wore a {Ha'quj} (baldric), a belt across his chest to support a sword when it was not in use. The word survives today, meaning not only baldric but also sash, a common part of a warrior's uniform whether or not he carries a blade. Though originally utilitarian in nature, the {Ha'quj} has taken on symbolic functions as well, its ornamentation representing the family unit or house ({tuq}) of its wearer.

KGT 123:  [{Ha'qujlIj nge'}] is the Klingon equivalent of "wound one's pride". The sash represents a Klingon's heritage. If the sash is removed, so is the Klingon's ancestral identity, and, along with it, his or her dignity and self-esteem. It is generally used with a possessive pronominal suffix attached to {Ha'quj} (sash):  {Ha'qujwIj} (my sash), {Ha'qujlIj} (your sash), and so forth. Thus, the phrase {Ha'qujlIj nge'} (literally, "take away your sash") means "wound your pride".

Kang (TOS "Day of the Dove") and Kor (TOS "Errand of Mercy") wore their command sash over their left shoulder. This is called a *kli'lakh* "line sash" in fandom. The deluxe aluminum-and-leather sash he wore in Generations gave Michael Dorn fits: "It's freakin' heavy and can wreak havoc with your body posture," Dorn recalls. "It gave me back problems" (TV Guide [6/24/2006], there's a good close-up of Worf's line-badges. Other close-ups of Worf's various baldrics (he's had several) can be seen passim in TKW and KGT. Worf wears a fancier, silver cloth sash with added decoration on the symbols with his Starfleet dress uniform. (TNG "Liaisons")

The {ruStay} (*R'uustai* or "bonding ritual") involves the lighting of ceremonial candles and the wearing of a warrior's sash (with a {tlhIngan Degh} pinned to it) over a ceremonial cape. (TNG "The Bonding") 

SEE ALSO:
mong Ha'quj 	tie (article of clothing) (n) (TNK)
quH  			heritage (n)


--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons