Burushaski etymology :

Common Burushaski: *nV́nV

Sino-Caucasian Etymology: Sino-Caucasian Etymology

Meaning: 1 pupil of the eye 2 eye-ball

Yasin: -níni 1

Hunza: nána 2

Nagar: nána 2

Sino-Caucasian etymology :

Proto-Sino-Caucasian: *nănV

Meaning: child, pupil of the eye

North Caucasian: *nănV

Burushaski: *nV́nV

Basque: *nini

Comments and references : SCE 84.

North Caucasian etymology :

Proto-North Caucasian: *nănV

Sino-Caucasian etymology: Sino-Caucasian etymology

Meaning: child, doll

Proto-Avaro-Andian: *nani ( ~ -o-)

Proto-Tsezian: *nani

Proto-Dargwa: *nana

Proto-Lezghian: *nanij

Proto-West Caucasian: *nanawǝ

Notes: A common NC nursery word. Note its use in nearly all subgroups (PA, PD, PC, PL) to denote "pupil of the eye" (either in compounds with the word 'eye', or independently) - a common typological treatment of the pupil of the eye as "child in the eye" or "doll in the eye".

Avar-Andian etymology :

Protoform: *nani ( ~ -o-)

North Caucasian etymology: North Caucasian etymology

Meaning: pupil of the eye

Karata: nani-harḳa (Tok.)

Comments: Cf. also Anch. nani-harḳa id. The Kar. word is a compound with harḳa 'eye'; attested only in Kar., but having probable external parallels.

Tsezian etymology :

Proto-Tsezian: *nani

North Caucasian etymology: North Caucasian etymology

Meaning: doll

Bezhta: nani

Gunzib: nani

Comments: PGB *nani. Cf. also Bezht. Tlad. näni 'pupil of the eye'.

Dargwa etymology :

Proto-Dargwa: *nana

North Caucasian etymology: North Caucasian etymology

Meaning: pupil of the eye

Akusha: nana-ħuli

Comments: A compound with ħuli 'eye'. Other Darg. dialects use the simple root *nana with the meaning 'pupil of the eye': Ur., Muir., Sirg., Kait., Kub. nana.

Lezghian etymology :

Proto-Lezghian: *nanij

North Caucasian etymology: North Caucasian etymology

Meaning: 1 doll 2 pupil of the eye

Lezghian: nini 1

Tabasaran: (ulin) nini 2

Agul: nenej 2 (Khnov.)

Kryz: nanaj 2 (Al.)

Comment: Cf. also Lezg. wilin nini 'pupil of the eye' (wil 'eye').

Abkhaz-Adyghe etymology :

Proto-West-Caucasian: *nanawǝ

North Caucasian etymology: North Caucasian etymology

Meaning: child, baby

Adyghe: nānǝw

Ubykh: nanáw

Comments: A "children's word", but with direct EC parallels.

Basque etymology :

Proto-Basque: *niṅi

Sino-Caucasian etymology: Sino-Caucasian etymology

Meaning: 1 child, baby 2 pupil of the eye 3 doll 4 middle, center 5 embryo

Bizkaian: ñiñi 1, (Orozko) begi-nini 2

Gipuzkoan: ñiñi 1, nini 2, (Andoain) begi-nini 2

High Navarrese: nini-ko 5

Low Navarrese: nini 2, nini-ka 2, (Aldude) ñiñi 3

Salazarese: begi-nini 4

Lapurdian: ñiñi 1, nini-ko 2, ñiñi-ka 2, (Ainhoa) nini 1, begi-nini-ko 2, ñiñi-ku 2

Baztanese: nini 1, 2, 3, niñi-riku 2

Zuberoan: ñiñi 1, nini 2, begi-nini 2

Roncalese: ñiñi 1, begi-nini 2

Comments: Niniko, ninika are also used in some dialects for 'bud, (off-)shoot' (of plants). SAL beginini 'middle, center' is obviously a development from 'pupil (center) of eye'. NC parallels like Lezgi nini 'doll', wilin-nini 'pupil of eye' and Burushaski (Y) =nini 'pupil' indicate some considerable antiquity of this expressive word.

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