[tlhIngan Hol] Klingon Word of the Day: roSHa'moH

Steven Boozer sboozer at uchicago.edu
Tue Dec 20 11:39:06 PST 2016


> Klingon Word of the Day for Monday, December 19, 2016
> 
> Klingon word: roSHa'moH
> Part of speech: verb
> Definition: paralyze
> Source: KGT

(HQ 10.2:10-11):  {roS} "use the third toe" is phonetically identical to {roS} "lick" as well as the {roS} found in {roSHa'moH} "paralyze". The verb for paralyze consists of three elements: the verb {roS} (of unclear meaning), {-Ha'} undo, {-moH} cause. Thus it may be literally translated as "cause to no longer {roS}" or "cause to un-{roS}" or the like. A verb {roS} having anything to do with general mobility does not occur except in {roSHa'moH}. If the toe verb {roS} is the same verb, "paralyze" means "cause to not use the third toe". Perhaps mobility of the third toe was associated somehow with mobility in general. Indeed, there is an idiomatic expression {pe'vIl roS} "he/she uses his/her third toe forcefully" which conveys the idea that he or she is particularly agile or nimble or spry.

(TKW 147):  After being paralyzed from the waist down as the result of an accident, Worf at first felt his life had ended and decided to commit ritual suicide ({Heghbat}).



--
Voragh
tlhIngan ghantoH pIn'a'
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons






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