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

[Steven Boozer]

Klingon Word of the Day for Wednesday, July 09, 2025

Klingon word: yIvbeH
Part of speech: noun
Definition: sleeveless shirt (regional)
_______________________________________________

(KGT 29-30):  In the First City, and in most places in the Empire, {wep} means jacket, coat and {yIvbeH} means tunic -- that is, a shirt or shirtlike garment with or without sleeves.  In the Vospeg (voSpegh) region, on the other hand, {yIvbeH} refers only to a sleeveless shirt (thus retaining much of the word's original meaning, a sleeveless protective garment worn by warriors), {wep} means a shirt with sleeves, and any jacket or coat is a {cheSvel}, a word that elsewhere refers to a specific style of coat associated with, not surprisingly, the Vospeg region.

SEE:
yIvbeH  			tunic,  blouse,  shirt (n)
(KGT 57f):  Klingons are not now and never have been ones to shy away from injury, considering it nothing more than a natural consequence of battle. On the other hand, lessening the severity of an injury was seen as a means to prolong a battle. Accordingly, the traditional warrior's tunic (yIvbeH) was made of a material (what it was is now unknown) resistant to puncture, just to add a little protection. Accompanying sleeves (tlhaymey), originally not parts of the tunic itself, were generally made of animal pelts (veDDIrmey), skin (DIr) with fur (veD) still attached. (In modern usage, the word {yIvbeH} in most places means any shirt, with or without sleeves.)

yIvbeHlIj neH DapoSmoH vIneH 
The only thing I want you to open is your blouse. (ST5 notes)

SEE ALSO:
yIvbeH SeQHa'  		T-shirt,  t-shirt (n) (TNK)


--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons