Reconstruction:Proto-Georgian-Zan/c₁ic₁-

This root can be safely reconstructed only at a Georgian-Zan level. Svan ჩინჩ (činč) and ჩიმჩ (čimč), both meaning “moth”, are probably loanwords (Klimov, 1998) from Mingrelian. In Georgian this root is reflected in the first part of the compound ციცინათელა (cicinatela, “firefly”). Despite the superficial similarity, Latin cicindela (“firefly”), from the verb candeo (“to shine”), is unrelated. Compare also Udi цӏецӏ (c̣ec̣, “moth”) and Armenian ցեց (cʿecʿ, “moth”), although Ačaṙean derives the Armenian word from Akkadian 𒌨𒈨 (ṣāṣu).

*c₁ic₁-

1. moth
2. kind of small insect

• Mingrelian: ჩინჩი (činči), ჩიჩი (čiči)

⇒ Svan: ჩინჩ (činč), ჩიმჩ (čimč)

• Laz: ჩიჩი (čiči)
• Old Georgian: ციცინათელა (cicinatela)
  • Georgian: ციცინათელა (cicinatela)

• Klimov, G. A. (1998) Etymological Dictionary of the Kartvelian Languages (Trends in linguistics. Documentation; 16), New York, Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter, page 272
• Fähnrich, Heinz (2007) Kartwelisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch [Kartvelian Etymological Dictionary] (Handbuch der Orientalistik; VIII.18) (in German), Leiden, Boston: Brill, page 578
• Starostin, S. A. (2005), “*ćić-”, in Kartvelian etymological database compiled on the basis of G. Klimov's and Fähnrich-Sarjveladze's etymological dictionaries of Kartvelian languages
• Ačaṙean, Hračʿeay (1971–1979), “ցեց”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Dictionary of Armenian Root Words] (in Armenian), 2nd edition, reprint of the original 1926–1935 seven-volume edition, Yerevan: University Press