բաւիղ

• բաւիլ (bawil), բաւեղ (baweł)

The origin is uncertain.

J̌ahukyan derives բաւեղ (baweł) and բաւիղ (bawił) from Proto-Indo-European *bʰəw-elā and *bʰəw-ilā respectively, from *bʰewH- (“to be”), with Ancient Greek φωλεός (phōleós), φωλεά (phōleá, “den, lair”) as the closest cognates. Martirosyan formally amends J̌ahukyan's reconstruction to a more preferable *bʰow(H)-l-eh₂-, but overall is skeptical about it.

Hiwnkʿearpēyēntean proposed connection with the name of the city Babylon (ultimately from Akkadian 𒆍𒀭𒊏𒆠 (Bābilim)); dismissed by Ačaṙean and J̌ahukyan but considered attractive by Martirosyan. Compare especially Classical Syriac ܒܒܠ (bāḇel).

բաւիղ • (bawił)

1. labyrinth
2. dark, covered place

• բաւղակ (bawłak)
• բաւղակաձեւ (bawłakajew)

• → Armenian: բավիղ (baviġ) (learned)

• Petrosean, Matatʻeay (1879) “բաւիղ”, in Nor Baṙagirkʻ Hay-Angliarēn [New Dictionary Armenian–English], Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy
• Awetikʻean, G., Siwrmēlean, X., Awgerean, M. (1836–1837) “բաւիղ”, in Nor baṙgirkʻ haykazean lezui [New Dictionary of the Armenian Language] (in Old Armenian), Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy
• Ačaṙean, Hračʻeay (1971–1979) “բաւիղ”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Armenian Etymological Dictionary] (in Armenian), 2nd edition, a reprint of the original 1926–1935 seven-volume edition, Yerevan: University Press
• Martirosyan, Hrach (2010) “bawił”, in Etymological Dictionary of the Armenian Inherited Lexicon (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 8), Leiden and Boston: Brill, page 174
• Hiwnkʻearpēyēntean, Yovhannēs (1894) “բաւիղ”, in Stugabanakan baṙaran hayocʻ lezui [Etymological Dictionary of the Armenian Language]‎ (in Armenian), Constantinople: G. Paġtatlean Press, pages 22–23
• J̌ahukyan, Geworg (1991) “Stugabanutʻyunner [Etymologies]”, in Patma-banasirakan handes [Historical-Philological Journal]‎ (in Armenian), number 2, Yerevan: Academy Press, pages 36–37