Memory of ancient people preserved in Armenian language.

 Memory of ancient people preserved in Armenian language.

Armenians during their long history had interaction with various neighbouring people and tribes. Those people had different cultures, mentality and physical phenotypes. Some Armenian simple words are derived from the name of this people. Lets see them. I will start from most recent to more olders.

The word part'ev ( պարթև) in Armenian means tall, athletic, stately figure. The term is derived from the name of Parthians.

The word xuž /xužan (խուժան) meaning hooligan, wild, barbaric derived from the name of Khuzestan in Iran. The name Khuzh/khuz is the Persian distorted name of the Elamite term Susa. Most probably it do not reflect a direct Armenian Elamite contacts but rather is intermediated by the Persian.

The word xalt (խաղտ) means rude, tough, hard. Most probably derived from the name of Chaldes people living in the northwestern regions of historic Armenia. This land name is first attested in Urartian as Halitu. In Armenian period Khaltik is a region near Black sea coast corresponding roughly to modern Rize province. This shift of location probably reflects a migration in antique period. Jahukyan thinks the term is not related to ethnic group but is derived from IE.

The word korč ( կորճ ) meaning crooked, rough, uneven. According Acharyan the term is derived from Korchayk lands in southern parts of historic Armenia. Those regions were inhabited by the carduchi or kordvaci people from which the land name Korchayk is derived. Jahukyan has differen opinion on this word.

The word xor (խոռ) is rare attestation. Means stingy, avaricious. Most probably derived from the name of Hurrians. The name of the patriarch Khor son of Hayk is also derived from the Hurrians name. Possibly reflects the fact that Hurrians were more involved in trading and money lending activities.

There are other possible examples like hska/skai but its possible link to Saka people is less secure.