Proto-Tsezian: *biƛ̣ B
Meaning: 1 sheep 2 sheep (coll.) 3 small cattle
Tsezi: beƛ̣ 2
Ginukh: beƛ̣ 1
Khvarshi: beƛ̣ 2
Inkhokvari: bɨƛ̣ 3
Bezhta: biƛ̣ 1
Gunzib: biƛ̣ 1
Comments: PGB *biƛ̣, PTsKh *bɨƛ̣. In PTsKh the word has normally a collective meaning (only in Gin. it is used (in genitive) to denote a single sheep. For a single sheep there existed in PTsKh a derivate *bɨƛ̣-ʁu (Tsez. beƛ̣ʁu, Gin. beƛ̣ʁu, Inkh. bɨƛ̣ʁu, Khv. beƛ̣q̇u), where -ʁu goes back to PTs *ʁo(r) 'ram, sheep' q.v. There exists in PTs another stem, which is probably an old Ablaut variant of the same: PTs *bɔƛ̣e B > PTsKh *böƛ̣e (Tsez. miƛ̣i /with secondary nasalisation/, Inkh. beƛ̣e 'a gelt ram'); Gunz. bɔƛ̣e 'sheep-flock'.
