Lemizh / English dictionary

cnàzd.

to make feathers;
to write or draw something (e.g. a letter, a sketch)-fact about something-acc to someone-dat with a pen or quill (the fact object also needs an inner fact; see unit 14, Objects related to language and the last exercise there)

cnùzd. pen, quill (see usage notes)

Usage notes

The two meanings have quite different plot usages: thus, cnÌzd. (inner acc) can mean ‘something about which is written with a pen or [in historical contexts] a quill’ but in most cases means ‘birds’ feathers’. The inner fact cnàzd. mostly refers to writing or drawing with a pen or quill as opposed to making feathers, while cnùzd. (inner ins) most often means ‘pen, quill’, not ‘an instrument for making feathers’.

Etymology

< NLem cOnzd‑a
< LMLem cÒ‑nezd‑yr, compound of
  LMLem cÒ‑yr ‘awn’
< MLem cOO‑yr
< OLem zhö‑
< PLem *dzō‑ ‘grain, seed’
< PIE *dʰóh₁n‑eh₂
 —and—
  LMLem, MLem nezd‑yr ‘bird’
< OLem nizd‑ ‘nest’
< PLem *nizd‑
< PIE *nisd‑ós

Cognates

Lit dúona ‘bread’; Eng nest