[tlhIngan Hol] Klingon Word of the Day: qew

[Steven Boozer]

Klingon word: qew
Part of speech: verb
Definition: use the third (ring) finger
Source: HQ:v10n2p7
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qung wejDIch qew 
cover the third hole (in a musical instrument) with the 
 (tip of the) ring finger. (HQ 10.2)

(HQ 10.2:7-9):  the word {nItlh} "finger" means any finger, including the thumb. A hand has {vagh nItlhDu'} (five fingers), not {loS nItlhDu'} (four fingers) and a thumb. 
    There is a specific word referring to each of the five fingers, and these words are nouns derived from verbs by means of the suffix {-wI'} (thing which does); there are two pairs for thumb. The Federation Standard translation of the verbs is a little strained, but they mean something like "use (the specific finger)". 
    The associated 'finger nouns' would be literally, though quite awkwardly, thing which is used in a thumb-like manner or perhaps thing which thumbs or even "thumber"; "thing which is used in an index finger-like manner"; and so on. 
    The verbs and the associated nouns are: {Sen} "use the thumb", {SenwI'} "thumb";  {rIl} "use the thumb", {rIlwI'} "thumb";  {SIq} "use the index finger", {SIqwI'} "index finger, first finger";  {qay} "use the second finger", {qaywI'} "second finger";  {qew} "use the ring finger", {qewwI'} "ring finger, third finger";  {qan} "use the pinkie", {qanwI'} "pinkie, little finger".  […]  
    The 'finger verbs' are used when talking about specific ways of using a particular device (weapon, computer control panel, even musical instrument) or when describing specific ways to use fingers (as in movements in some martial arts). … When used with nouns with the locative suffix {-Daq}, the finger verbs mean "point (with a specific finger) at or towards". … 
    There are some special uses of the reflexive forms of the finger verbs. For example, while {ghIchwIj vISIq} means "I touch my nose with my index finger" and {ghIchwIjDaq jISIq} means "I point at my nose with my index finger", the phrase {ghIchwIjDaq jISIq'egh} (with {-'egh} oneself), literally "I use at myself my index finger at my nose", is used for "I pick my nose with my index finger". Similarly, {nujDajDaq rIl'egh ghu}, literally "at his/her mouth, the baby uses at him/herself his/her thumb", is used for "the baby sucks its thumb".

PUN:  Lake Keuka, one of the Finger Lakes in New York state.

SEE:
qewwI'  	ring finger,  third finger (n) 

MNEMONIC:  You wear a diamond wedding ring on your {qewwI'}, which sounds vaguely like "carat". (taD)

qewwI'wIj DarIQmoHpu' 
you injured my ring finger. (HQ 10.2:7)

rIQ qewwI'wIj 
my ring finger is injured. (HQ 10.2:7)

qung wejDIch HengmeH qewwI' lo' 
(in order) to finger the third hole, he/she uses the ring finger. (HQ 10.2:7)

SEE ALSO:
Heng 		finger holes in a musical instrument (v)
'uy 		press down (v)
QoH 		tap [with finger] (v)

Qeb 		ring [for finger] (n)
nItlh		finger (n)

--
Voragh, Ca'Non Master of the Klingons
    Please contribute relevant vocabulary from recent qep’a’mey 
    or qepHommey. I’ve fallen woefully behind in updating my files.