Proto-Nakh: *baŁ- ( ~ -l-)
Meaning: 1 shoulder 2 shoulders
Chechen: bel-š 1
Ingush: bel-až 1
Batsbi: bali 2
Comments: 4th class in Chech., Ing., 3d class in Bacb. The Bacb. form is attested only in Kadagidze's dictionary, thus in PN both *-Ł- and *-l- are possible. The Chech.-Ing. form (cf. also Pharch. belǝž, Cheb. bališ, Shar. beliš etc.) is an historical plural. Another suffixed form (built from the same root) is *bal-Vm > Chech. bolam 'shoulder (from neck to arm), Ing. balam 'shoulder'.
