"DELLEK" Word on the Meaning Dimensions of Azerbaijan Turkish and the Provision in Anatolia Cover Image

"Dellek” Kelimesinin Azerbaycan Türkçesindeki Anlam Boyutları ve Anadolu’daki Karşılığı Üzerine
"DELLEK" Word on the Meaning Dimensions of Azerbaijan Turkish and the Provision in Anatolia

Author(s): Mahmut Sarıkaya
Subject(s): Semantics, Sociolinguistics, Turkic languages
Published by: Karadeniz Araştırmaları Merkezi
Keywords: Dellek; Natır; Azerbaijan Turkish;

Summary/Abstract: The word "dellek" can mean barber, circumcisionist, and dentist, and can even refer to male servants who would wash and massage male customers in Turkish bath houses. Delleks would draw blood, cut for jaundice, and cut palates, as well as treat grapes and warts. The word comes to us from an earlier form, "tellak", carrying the same set of meanings. One might infer that delleks treated and beautified the human body, and were masters in their own right. Their female counterparts were referred to as "natır." Like delleks, natırs engaged in a wide range of activities, including scrubbing, massaging, make-up, eyebrow trimming, waxing, manicuring, pedicuring, tattooing, piercing, preparing nose and earrings, and assembling bridal head gear for weddings. Both terms not only are commonplace throughout many aspects of society, but they also refer to a collection of occupations whose lexical roots are self-explanatory. This study will look at their usage in the context of the Azerbaijani language, with a particular focus on their various meanings.

  • Issue Year: 2019
  • Issue No: 64
  • Page Range: 685-693
  • Page Count: 9
  • Language: Turkish