կոճ-

The origin is uncertain. Similar development of senses (see կոճ (koč)) is found in Latin truncus and Ancient Greek ἀστράγαλος (astrágalos). Martirosyan assumes the basic meaning to be ‘to beat, break’ and derives կոճ- (koč-) from կոծ- (koc-, “to beat”).

կոճ- • (koč-)

1. to break; to chop off, to lop off, to cut off

   *կոճեմ ― *kočem ― to strike; to break; to cut off

   կոշկոճեմ ― koškočem ― to beat

2. tree trunk with branches lopped away

   կոճ ― koč ― log, beam

   կոճղ ― kočł ― tree trunk

3. protruding bony part on the body (because of the likeness to a rough piece of wood or to a trunk of a tree)

   կոճ ― koč ― anklebone, knucklebone

4. spherical parts on plants

   կոճակ ― kočak ― bud, germ

   կոճղէզ ― kočłēz ― bulbous root

   կոճ վրացի ― koč vracʿi ― hellebore

   կոճապղպեղ ― kočapłpeł ― ginger

5. other small spherical objects

   կոճակ ― kočak ― button

• Ačaṙean, Hračʿeay (1971–1979), “կոճ”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Dictionary of Armenian Root Words] (in Armenian), 2nd edition, reprint of the original 1926–1935 seven-volume edition, Yerevan: University Press
• Martirosyan, Hrach (2010) Etymological Dictionary of the Armenian Inherited Lexicon (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 8), Leiden, Boston: Brill, page 370