Basque etymology : Query result

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.