[tlhIngan Hol] Klingon Word of the Day: Hun (noun)

[Steven Boozer]

Klingon word: Hun
Part of speech: noun
Definition: *Khrun*, type of animal
Source: tlhIngan-Hol Mailing List -  ghunchu'wI' - 22 August 2011
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nom leng Hun nom lengqu' lut 
Stories travel faster than a *khrun*  (PB)

(PB2 p.134 note):  A *khrun* ({Hun}) is an animal native to Kronos, used as a riding animal ... As is suggested by the figure of speech in line 4, it is very fast.

(ghunchu'wI', 8/21/11):  I didn't read that section of the opera myself, but I think I heard someone say it was a fast animal.  The *khrun* is described in other resources as a Klingon riding animal. Note: this isn't the way we saw it in the draft of the opera.  After being reminded that the name of the animal had been given a tlhIngan Hol rendering in Keith DeCandido's book "A Burning House", Marc Okrand decided to use the already published spelling.

(Marc Okrand to ghunchu'wI', 8/21/11):  Thanks for the note about *khrun*.  I have no idea where that spelling came from, but I think I'll go along with Keith DeCandido's book ["A Burning House"] and use {Hun} (not *{'IHrun} as the Klingon version.  A while back, I provided Keith with some Klingon words for a novel he was working on, but I honestly don't remember this one. Nevertheless, {Hun} it is.

SEE ALSO:
lIt 			get on(to), [also mount (an animal)?]  (v)
lItHa' 			get off,  [also mount (an animal)?]  (v)
SeD 			drive (a land vehicle) (v)
  -  "{SeD} does not only refer to a vehicle that is motorized, it could be horse ... it's not your power." (qep'a' 2021 Q&A)

Sargh 			*sark* (n)
  -  A Klingon riding animal, similar to an Earth horse. [TNG "Pen Pals"; STEnc (1994))

tlhonghaD 		*klongat* (n)
  -   "A beast native to Qo'noS that is much larger than a targ and more difficult to subdue. Sometimes used as a riding beast." (KEBH: first referenced in Keith R.A. DeCandido's novel  "Honor Bound"). 

?mInHor 		*minn'hor* (n)
  -   "A burden beast, prized in good times for its strength and its ability to plow a field." (Michal Jan Friedman's novel "Kahless" [p.43]).  An ox-like (carnivorous??) animal used for riding.  "The *minn'hor* is a beast of burden (similar to cattle), the milk of which is used to make cheese." (Felix, 7/25/2016)  There is also an omnivorous riding animal called a *s'tarahk* mentioned in the novel.

tangqa' 			*tangkar* (bull-like animal)  (n)
  -   "In the epic, Gilgamesh and Enkidu battle the Bull of Heaven. The Klingon translation (allegedly found on a barren planetoid) contains the phrase: {QI'tu' tangqa'}.  Although {QI'tu'} "heaven" is a familiar enough term, {tangqa'} is clearly something new.  Maltz graciously provided the following brief explanation: "There's this Klingon animal, you see, which is kind of bull-like. It's called a {tangqa'}.  Both male and female ones are called {tangqa'}.  So it doesn't really mean 'bull.'  But it certainly looks like one.  Or more like a bull than anything else." (word supplied by MO, HQ 9.4)

But whatever animal you choose, don't forget your {ba'qIn} "saddle" :

PICARD: 	Then I have enough time to back to the ship and get my saddle. 
TROI: 		Your saddle? 
PICARD: 	Yes. A saddle is a very personal thing. It has to be broken in, used, cared for. 
LAFORGE: 	You keep a saddle on board the Enterprise? 
PICARD: 	Oh yes, yes. I never know when I'll have the opportunity to ride. 
TROI: 		I see. 
PICARD: 	It's perfectly normal. Most serious riders do have their own saddles. 
TROI: 		Of course. 
   	[ .... ]
RIKER: 		Geordi, what happened to the Captain? 
LAFORGE: 	Oh, he went back to the ship to get his saddle. 
RIKER: 		His saddle? 
LAFORGE: 	Any serious rider would have his own saddle. 
  	 [ .... ]
WORF: 		Captain, you keep a saddle on board?! 
RIKER: 		Mister Worf, I'm surprised at you. 
CRUSHER: 	Anyone who is an experienced rider naturally has his own saddle. 
TROI:		It's perfectly normal. 
PICARD: 	Actually, it came in handy. I only wish I'd had the opportunity to use it on a horse. 
WORF: 		Of course.   [TNG "Starship Mine"]

--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons