tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Wed Mar 12 09:14:18 2003
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Re: Klingon WOTD: ru' (v)
>This is the Klingon Word Of The Day for Wednesday, March 12, 2003.
>
>Klingon word: ru'
>Part of Speech: verb
>Definition: be temporary
As used in canon:
boq ru' "coalition" [i.e. "temporary alliance" (MO, HQ 4.4)]
mu'mey ru' "temporary words" (i.e. nonce or made-up words) KGT
>Additional Notes:
>KGT p. 42. In an archaic form of Klingon, {ru'} meant something like
>"ready to collapse or die." It was used to describe weakened prey or a
>weakened enemy, but it was also applied to food (particularly fresh
>organs) meant to be eaten while still alive or recently so, the
>implication being that if it were not eaten quickly, it would soon be no
>good. Upper-class Klingons still use the word in this latter sense,
>referring, for example to {qagh ru'} ("serpent worms about to
>die"). Except in upper-class settings, {qagh ru'} would be interpreted as
>"temporary serpent worms," which would not make much sense at all.
Speaking of {qagh}, don't wait too long to eat it:
The word {Qop} means "be worn out" and is usually applied to old weapons,
tools, mechanical devices, and the like. It is also used to mean "be dead",
but only in reference to an animal that one was expecting to eat live. If
a bowl of dead {qagh} (gagh, serpent worms) is placed before a Klingon,
the disappointed diner will probably criticize the cook for preparing
{qagh Qop} ("dead gagh"). (KGT 163)
>Opposite of {ru'Ha'}.
"Be permanent". Cf. also {SIQ} "endure" and {taH} "endure, continue, go on".
--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons