Etymology Map
Back to all words

Komuz

3 stages from Old Turkic to English.

Today it means a fretless three-stringed lute of Kyrgyzstan

Where does the word "komuz" come from? It comes from Old Turkic qobuz, passing through Kyrgyz before entering English (1900s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
qobuz
Old Turkic · medieval
"stringed instrument"
a general name for stringed instruments among the early Turks
2
Stage 2 of 3
komuz
Kyrgyz · medieval
"three-stringed lute"
accompanied reciters of the Kyrgyz 'Manas' epic
3
Stage 3 of 3
komuz
English · 1900s
"Kyrgyz lute"
entered English through ethnomusicology and Kyrgyz music
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Read the full story

Komuz’s story begins in Old Turkic: qobuz meant “stringed instrument.” A general name for stringed instruments among the early Turks. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Kyrgyz as komuz. Accompanied reciters of the Kyrgyz 'Manas' epic. It reached English by 1900s as komuz. Entered English through ethnomusicology and Kyrgyz music. Today, komuz means a fretless three-stringed lute of Kyrgyzstan.