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 (cʻecʻ, “moth”), although Ačaṙean derives the Armenian word from Akkadian 𒌨𒈨 (ṣāṣu).

*c₁ic₁-

1. moth
2. kind of small insect

• ⇒ Old Georgian: ციცინათელაჲ (cicinatelay)
  • Georgian: ციცინათელა (cicinatela)
• Zan:
  • Laz: ჩიჩი (çiçi)
  • Mingrelian: ჩინჩი (činči), ჩიჩი (čiči)
    • → Svan: ჩინჩ (činč), ჩიმჩ (čimč)

• 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
• Penrixi (Fähnrich), Hainc, Sarǯvelaʒe, Zurab (2000) Kartvelur enata eṭimologiuri leksiḳoni [Etymological Dictionary of the Kartvelian Languages] (in Georgian), 2nd edition, Tbilisi: Tbilisi Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani State University Press, pages 597–598
• Ačaṙean, Hračʻeay (1971–1979) “ցեց”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Armenian Etymological Dictionary] (in Armenian), 2nd edition, a reprint of the original 1926–1935 seven-volume edition, Yerevan: University Press