Proto-North Caucasian: *bǖnŁ_e (~-a)
Meaning: eight
Notes: Reconstructed for PEC (however, a possibility should be considered of comparing this root with PWC *p(:)ǝƛ̣́ǝ 'four' q.v.). Lak. maIj- is probably a transformation of *maIlj- < *mali- (the source of pharyngealization is not clear). In Khin. the root has been transformed under the influence of the numeral "seven" (Khin. jiḳ). In Darg. k: is the normal reflex of *Ł; however, the reduction of initial labial and the source of *-ħ- is not yet clear (maybe *k:aħ- < *k:aI- is a result of a secondary transformation of *aIk:- which, in its turn, had been formed under analogy of *-arʁI- 'seven' from the original *mak:- ?).
A very probable parallel is Hurr. miri - a numeral from the first ten (it can be either 'five', 'six' or 'eight'). If it denotes 'eight', it matches very well with PEC *bǖnŁ_e ( > *mǖŁ_e > miri with a regular reflex -Ł- > -r-).
See Trubetzkoy 1922, 242.
