[Lexicog] Semantic extensions

[Chaz and Helga Mortensen]

> In N. Embera the basic term "tooth" also means:
>
> - a knife blade
    - a bird's beak
    - snake venom

The word for "nose" also means the front end of something, like a canoe. And
headwaters are referred to as "the river's nose". Anything pointed, whether
sharp or not, is called by a derivative of "nose". For example, the land
between the confluence of two rivers is called by the same word as a stick
or log which has a pointed end.

The "rear end" of something understandably is used for the human posterior
as well as the end of a canoe, butt of a rifle, etc. Probably the most
interesting use of this word is for "ridge between two river basins".

"Face" refers to the human face, appearance, the side of an object (like a
box). There are all kinds of compounds and idioms using "face". 'Face-mercy'
means "please", 'face-other' means "different-looking", 'face-go around'
means "get dizzy" or "be confused".

"Eye" is extended to round objects. The human posterior, mentioned above, is
actually a combination of "hip" plus "eye". Round object?! A kernel of corn,
a star, the sun, all have "eye" as one element.

"Mouth" also refers to openings but it must be used in combination with
another noun or derivational noun root. The human mouth is "lip mouth",
river mouth is "river mouth" (surprise), and so on.


> ----Chaz Mortensen
>
>



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