A Comparative Grammar of the Modern Aryan Languages of India v1.c6.9

v1.c6.9

There are, however, instances where the sibilant forms the first member of a nexus in the middle of a word, and in going out has affected, not only the letter to which it was joined, but also the initial. Thus, Skr. पुष्प “flower,” becomes in Pr. पुप्फ, but in Old H. पुझप, and finally फुत or फूप. Skr. कस्तूरी “civet,” S. ख्युरी; Skr. वाष्प “vapour,” H. भाफ, and the same in P., B., and O., where both letters are aspirated. The form बाफ also occurs in B. and H., and in S., G., and M. it is the only form in use. The Skr. कच्छू “a scab,” is perhaps the origin of H. खाज “itch”; also खुजली “a diminutive,” where there has been epenthesis of u, as described in § 34; S. खाजी, M. खाजणें “to scratch,” B. खसु. Skr. कूप “a well,” is S. खूह and खुझ; Skr. कुसुम “saffron,” = S. खुझंबो; Skr. कांस “cough,” H., P., and S. खांसी, खांसना, खांसणु.