Proto-North Caucasian: *ʔwǝ̆lV
Meaning: hole
Notes: Reconstructed for the PEC level. The PL form is reduplicated (with the reduplication well preserved in Ag.). PN has a regular -r- before the diminutive *-iḳ; -r in Bacb. ʕür is probably an analogical back-formation (or a result of merger with PN *ōr 'pit', see below). The Avar word may be alternatively compared with PN *ōr 'pit' (Chech. or, obl. ōra-, Ing. or); a borrowing Nakh < Avar is also not excluded. However, Abayev (1989, 95) is certainly wrong in supposing that Chech., Av. or is borrowed from Osset. wärm 'pit, cellar' (a word of Iranian origin, borrowed in Georg. ormo).
