Proto-North Caucasian: *Hrimq̇_wV̆
Meaning: ashes, soot
Notes: Reconstructed for the PEC level. Lak. ḳa ( = ḳʷa) is a regular reduction < *mVḳʷa which is a normal structural correspondence for the PL and Khin. forms (the PEC structure *HRVNCV̆). A very similar word is attested in Akhvakh (raq̇ʷa 'soot'), but its phonetic structure and the reflex of *q̇_w is irregular. Is it possible to think of a loanword (Akhv. < Lezg.)?
