Armenian

Noun

կիրճ • ‎(kirč)

1. narrow pass, defile
2. gorge, ravine

   Հրազդանի կիրճ‎ ― Hrazdani kirč ― Hrazdan River gorge

Declension

Old Armenian

Etymology

J̌ahukyan following Bailey derives from Iranian, together with կարճ ‎(karč, “short”). Compare Khotanese [script needed] ‎(ke̮ca, “cleft, ravine”), for which Bailey reconstructs *kart-čā- or *kirsta-, from the base kart- ‎(“to cut”), whence Persian کارد ‎(kârd, “knife”).

Noun

կիրճ • ‎(kirč)

1. narrow pass, defile

   առնուլ, ունել զկիրճս‎ ― aṙnul, unel zkirčs ― to hold or defend a pass, to be master of the communications, to hold the roads, to close the passage

2. strait, channel (of a sea)
3. narrow part of a river

Declension

Descendants

• Armenian: կիրճ ‎(kirč)

References

• Petrosean, H. Matatʿeay V. (1879), “կիրճ”, in Nor Baṙagirkʿ Hay-Angliarēn [New Dictionary Armenian–English], Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy
• Awetikʿean, G.; Siwrmēlean, X.; Awgerean, M. (1836–1837), “կիրճ”, in Nor baṙgirkʿ haykazean lezui [New Dictionary of the Armenian Language] (in Old Armenian), Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy
• J̌axǰaxean, Manuēl (1837), “կիրճ”, in Baṙgirkʿ i barbaṙ hay ew italakan [Armenian–Italian Dictionary], volume II, Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy, page 782b
• Ačaṙean, Hračʿeay (1973), “կիրճ”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Dictionary of Armenian Root Words] (in Armenian), volume II, 2nd edition, Yerevan: University Press, published 1926–1935, page 595b
• Malxaseancʿ, Stepʿan (1944), “կիրճ”, in Hayerēn bacʿatrakan baṙaran [Armenian Explanatory Dictionary] (in Armenian), volume II, Yerevan: State Publishing House, page 441c
• Bailey, H. W. (1979), “ke̮ca”, in Dictionary of Khotan Saka, Cambridge, London, New York, Melbourne: Cambridge University press, page 65a
• J̌ahukyan, Geworg (2010), “կիրճ”, in Sargsyan, Vahan, editor, Hayeren stugabanakan baṙaran [Armenian Etymological Dictionary] (in Armenian), Yerevan: Asoghik, ISBN 978-9939-50-121-5, page 407a