[tlhIngan Hol] Klingon Word of the Day: baS

[Steven Boozer]

Klingon word: 	baS
Part of speech: 	noun
Definition: 	metal
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'ej bejtaHvIS baS moj jIb 
his hair … turned to steel before his eyes  (PB)

(KGT 79):  The closest to a general term in this realm may be the verb {raQ}, which means "manipulate by hand, handle".  It can be applied to carving, sculpting, metalworking, and the like…

CULTURAL NOTES:

(KGT 97):  Pots that may be put on top of a fire in order to heat their contents are made of metal (baS)... 

(KGT 27):  In some regions, a {bargh} [flat-bottomed pot] made of metal is a {mIv} (which also means helmet, even though, historically speaking, helmets are not necessarily made of metal)…

(KGT 99):  Each dish is brought to the table (raS) on a platter ('elpI'), usually made of metal.

(KGT 42):  Among the upper classes, the word {tu'lum} [teacup] is used with some frequency, though, strictly speaking, this archaic word used to mean only a cup made of metal.

  Bloodwine is transported and stored in metal barrels (DS9 "Apocalypse Rising", "Warriors of the Empire", et al.)
 
(KGT 67):  Included in this category is the {ghanjaq}, often translated as mace, a club with a metal head, sometimes sporting spikes (DuQwI'mey).

 (KGT 67):  As protection against these various weapons, a warrior often carried a shield, or {yoD}, basically a large plate of metal... (Although the Federation Standard word "shields" refers to both the old hand-held protective armor, and the force field protecting a vessel--the newer meaning clearly based on the older--in Klingon, there is no connection between the two.

USEFUL MNEMONIC: 
"bash" (the sound metal makes when you hit it) or "base metal"

SEE:
baS Ha’on  		staple (n)
baS laSvargh  		foundry (n)
baS SIrgh  		wire (n) 
baS 'In  			bell (percussion instrument made of metal)

SEE ALSO:
jey' 			tin (n)
   jey' Sorpuq 		   bronze (n)
ngIDvoS 		lead (n)
Sorpuq 			copper (n)
velSo’ 			chromium (n)
   velSo’ ‘uSqan 		   stainless steel (n)
‘uSqan 			iron (n)

Qu 			cast [metal] (v)
   QumeH ngaSwI’ 	   mold (for casting) (n)
pet 			be welded (together) (v)
tet 			melt (v)

--
Voragh, Ca'Non Master of the Klingons
    Please contribute relevant vocabulary from the last year or two. I’ve fallen 
    behind in updating my files and adding cross-references for related words.