A proposal forthe etymology of Turkic yarγak

The paper aims to establish anetymology of yar gamma ak, first attested in the 14th century, based on data from several Turkic languages. While in older Turkic languages the term has meanings such as 'untanned leather', 'the leather fur worn by the Mongols', 'leather robe/clothing', in modern Turkic languagesit survives with meanings such as 'untanned leather', 'membrane', 'film', 'tanned leather', 'fur from foal skin or lambskin', 'tannedsheepskin or goatskin', 'dried skin', 'dried scab'. In addition, it is used metaphorically with meanings such as 'thin', 'skinny'; 'bare', 'bald', etc. in modern Turkic languages. The word has earlier been derived from*yar gamma a-, yaru-'to shine'. The proposals put for-ward in this study are as follows: 1. The origin of the word must beyari membrane', 'film', 'tanned leather', which is attested in older and modern Turkic languages: yari+gamma ak> yar gamma akwith vowel elision. 2. Based on the forms Middle Turkicyari gamma'leather strap',Altaykari gamma'untanned leather',and Yakutsariy'membrane', 'deerskin', the word must be connected with Proto-Turkic *yar & iuml;gamma< *yari gamma+ak. Furthermore, yar gamma akis derived with the denominal nominal suffix +gamma ak/+ak.