Proto-Lezghian: *p:ac̣V-j
Meaning: 1 small 2 kid 3 small sheep
Lezghian: bac̣i 2
Tabasaran: bic̣i 1
Agul: bic̣i-f 1
Rutul: bac̣i 3 (Khniukh.)
Tsakhur: bɨc̣ɨc̣ 2 (Khaid.)
Comment: Cf. also Lezg. Khl. p:ac̣i 'kid' (reflecting *p:-). The root contains a common PL diminutive morpheme *-j. Also derived from this root may be expressive forms: Bud. bic̣el, Kryz. mec̣ej 'penis (of a boy)'.
In Ag. Bursh. the adjective 'small' does not have the initial b-: Ag. Bursh. ic̣í-r. There exist also probably related forms in Tab.: Tab. c̣i-b 'few', Düb. c̣u-w id. This may be an indication that the initial *p:- in PL is a former class prefix (although loss of b- may be a secondary development in the Tab.-Ag. dialect area).
