Abkhaz, n. (and a.)
(æbˈhɑːz, ‖ apˈxas)
Also Abkhas.
[Prob. ad. Russ. abkhazskiĭ, perh. ult. f. Arab.; the people's name for themselves is apshua.]
(A member of) the Abkhasian people; their language. Also attrib. or as adj.
| 1838 Penny Cycl. XI. 177/2 The Abases, or Abkhases, occupy Abasia proper. 1845 Encycl. Metrop. XIX. 532/1 The territory of the Abkhasses. 1956 J. Lotz in Saporta & Bastian Psycholinguistics (1961) 5/1 Abkhaz, a language of the Caucasus, uses both tongue-raising and lip-rounding in its impressive array of palatalized, labialized, and labio-palatalized consonants. 1957 Encycl. Brit. I. 48/2 Abkhazia..was the home of the Abkhaz (Apkhaz) tribe (in Abkhaz Apsua, in Greek Abasgoi). 1960 Encycl. Islam (ed. 2) I. 100/2 The Abḵẖāz are mentioned in ancient times as Abasgoi (by Arrian) or Abasgi (by Pliny). 1972 Language XLVIII. 845 He attributes such systems to Caucasian languages, viz. Abkhaz and Adyge. 1975 Nature 6 Nov. 41/3 The environment but not the diet resembles that of Abkhasia, where longevity is reportedly geographic rather than specifically ethnic, affecting Russians, Abkhases and Jews who live in the area. |