[tlhIngan Hol] Klingon Word of the Day: puj

[Steven Boozer]

Klingon Word of the Day for Thursday, January 14, 2021

Klingon word: 	puj
Part of speech: 	verb
Definition: 	be weak
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bIpuj 
You are weak. KLS

tlhIngan yoH HoS verengan yoH puj 
The Klingon is braver than the Ferengi (slang) KGT

tlhIngan yoH HoS Hoch yoH puj 
Klingons are the bravest of all (slang) KGT

puj; bIQ rur 
weak as water KGT

puj verengan; bIQ rur 
the Ferengi is as weak as water (HQ 13.1:9) 

DuHIv jagh Dangu'laHbe'bogh, vaj bIwunchoH 'ej bIpujchoH 
Attack by unknown enemy leaves you vulnerable and weak. MKE

moratlh | DaH bIHaw'laHtaHbe' | puj 'uSDu'lIj 
Now, Morath | You can run no more, | Your legs are weak. PB

qanjIt qan vemmoH moratlh, vavDaj ghaH qanjIt'e' puj tIqDu'Daj 'ach Hem 
Morath wakes his father, the old Kanjit, his hearts weak, but proud. PB

puj ghaH 'ach batlh Heghpu' tlhInganvam 
For no matter his faults, at least this Klingon brother died with honor. PB

CULTURAL NOTES:

(KGT 42):  … in an archaic form of Klingon, {ru'} meant something like "ready to collapse or die". It was used to describe weakened prey or a weakened enemy ... The modern meaning of {ru'}, derived from the earlier senses, is "be temporary" .
 
(KGT 87):  Prior to the preparation of this dish, the worms are fed only {'Iw puj} (diluted blood; literally, weak blood), which the worms find unappetizing and therefore consume only when they are nearly starving.

 (KGT 196):  "Mistakenly calling someone a {Suy} (merchant) when the intent is to be insulting and call him or her a {Suy'} will have the effect of making the speaker appear to be foolish and, therefore, weak and hardly in a position to be ridiculing someone else.

(KGT 165):  a society that is judged to be falling apart may have {tlhamHom} (little gravity) or {tlham puj} (weak gravity)

(KGT 35):  The Klingons equate water with weakness. Anything is better than water; the less waterlike, the better.

(KGT 161):  because of the Klingon association of water with weakness (as opposed to the strength of blood or ale, for that matter)

(TKW 34):  Just as blood is used figuratively to refer to power, water carries the opposite and negative connotation of lack of control. Strength cannot coexist with weakness within an individual or a successful society.

(KGT 167):  Since Klingons consider self-control a great virtue, declaring oneself to be cursed is comparable to an admission of weakness and utterly uncharacteristic (though not unknown). To say that someone else is cursed, on the other hand, is to attribute weakness to that person.

(KGT 151):  not only is being under a doctor's care considered a sign of weakness, but it is also regarded as a relinquishing of self-control.

Okrand sent Glen Proechel a "get well" letter when he was hospitalized for heart and kidney failure. "I don't know that this makes that phrase the 'official' way to wish someone health in Klingon, but it is consistent with the idea that sickness is considered a weakness and a Klingon needs to be ordered to stay healthy." (Proechel, 3/1998)

(CK):  As you practice speaking, remember: Speak Klingon boldly; do not be meek or hesitant. This could be interpreted as a sign of weakness, a less than admirable trait among Klingons." 

"Ah, sentimentality, mercy - the emotions of peace. Your weakness, Captain Kirk." (Kor, TOS "Errand of Mercy")

SEE:
puj  		weakness (n)

 - nItebHa' molor HI''a' SuvvIpghach puj je HarghmeH yeq chaH 
   United to do battle together! Against the tyrant Molor! Against
   fear and against weakness! PB

pujmoH  	weaken (v) 

 - pujchuqmoH 
   they weaken each other (st.k 11/1997)

 - pujnISmoH 
   he/she needs to weaken [somebody]. (st.k 11/1997)

 - jaghpu'ra' bopujmoHtaHvIS, ghur tuqmeyraj quv. 
   Honor will rise in your houses as you bring your enemies to their knees. MKE

pujwI'  		weakling (n) 

pujwI' HIvlu'chugh quvbe'lu' 
There is no honor in attacking the weak. TKW

(KGT 152):  This word [{Hom}] literally means bone, but its slang usage is no doubt influenced by the noun suffix -{Hom}, a diminutive that adds a meaning of smallness or lack of importance... There are a number of standard counterparts to {Hom}, such as {pujwI'} (weakling), {langwI'} (one who is thin), and {runwI'} (one who is short).

When Seven of Nine was "possessed" by the personality of the Son of K'Vok when a Borg vinculum--the device which connects and processes the thousands of disparate minds on a Borg cube--was infected with a virus and malfunctioned, she says to B'Ellana, "You wear the uniform of a Starfleet *pu-cha*." (i.e. {pujwI'} ??; VOY "Infinite Regress")

ra’Duch puj 	scalene triangle (n)

--
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.