Kurdish

Part of speech: adjective, noun

Definitions

1. A branch of the Indo-Iranian languages spoken primarily by the Kurdish people
2. Relating to the ethnic group originating from the regions of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey
3. Denoting the cultural, linguistic, and historical attributes of the Kurdish population

Etymology: The name is a straightforward compound: "Kurd" plus the suffix "-ish", so "Kurdish" simply means "of or relating to the Kurds." The suffix has a long pedigree. It descends from a Proto-Indo-European root "*-iskos," passed through Proto-Germanic and Proto-West Germanic forms, and reached English as Old English "-isc," which is also the source of the familiar "English" and "Danish" ending. Because the suffix is so productive, it attaches to people's names to mark their language or character, which is why "Kurdish" sits alongside "Irish," "Turkish," and "Scottish." The adjective is the older and more basic use; the noun for the language arose by the same ellipsis that turns "English" into a name for a tongue.

Synonyms: Kurd language, Kurdish language