# թոնձ
## Old Armenian
### Alternative forms

* թանձր (tʻanjr) — misspelling

### Etymology

The origin is unknown.

### Noun

թոնձ • (tʻonj)
* pelican
    Synonym: հաւալուսն (hawalusn)
** 5th century, Łazar Pʻarpecʻi, Patmutʻiwn Hayocʻ [History of Armenia] 7:այլ եւ զջրասուզակ մամռախնդիր խօզակեր մեծանձունք եւ յաղթամարմինք հաւքն, փորն եւ թանձրն եւ սագն, եւ կամ այլ բազում եւ անհամար ցամաքայնոցն եւ ջրայնոցն ջոկք թռչնոցն։ayl ew zǰrasuzak mamṙaxndir xōzaker mecanjunkʻ ew yałtʻamarminkʻ hawkʻn, pʻorn ew tʻanjrn ew sagn, ew kam ayl bazum ew anhamar cʻamakʻaynocʻn ew ǰraynocʻn ǰokkʻ tʻṙčʻnocʻn.Translation by Robert W. Thomsonand the large and powerful aquatic birds that seek out weeds and feed on moss—the swan, duck, and goose, and many other numberless coveys of birds, terrestrial or aquatic.
** 6th century, Philo of Alexandria, Yałags ban unel ew anasun kendaneacʻd, aṙ Liwsimakʻos [De Animalibus] :Արդ զսոսա վասն զի քակել անհնա՛ր էր, որ ասին թոնձք, (լս. պեղականք) դիւրահնարաբար կլանեն յառաջագոյն, զի կոկորդին ջերմութեամբ հալեսցի, որ զպատեանսն պինդ պահէ սինձն, եւ սակաւ թուլացեալ արձակեսցին աղխքնArd zsosa vasn zi kʻakel anhnár ēr, or asin tʻonjkʻ, (ls. pełakankʻ) diwrahnarabar klanen yaṙaǰagoyn, zi kokordin ǰermutʻeamb halescʻi, or zpateansn pind pahē sinjn, ew sakaw tʻulacʻeal arjakescʻin ałxkʻnTranslation by Abraham TerianIt is impossible to pry open what are called shellfish [in the margin glossed with "pelicans"]. Whatever is snared is absorbed easily, since it dissolves by the warmth of the gullet. What keeps the shells tight is an elastic, which when relaxed, releases the clasp, so that they open wide to engulf food.

#### Usage notes

* Attested only in Pʻarpecʻi and Philo, in the former spelled as թանձր (tʻanjr), which should be emended to թոնձ (tʻonj) or *թանձ (*tʻanj).
* Has been mistakenly translated as "duck" and "shellfish".

### References

* ↑ Ačaṙean, Hračʻeay (1973) “թոնձ”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Armenian Etymological Dictionary] (in Armenian), 2nd edition, a reprint of the original 1926–1935 seven-volume edition, volume II, Yerevan: University Press, pages 196–197
* ↑ J̌ahukyan, Geworg (2010) “թոնձ”, in Vahan Sargsyan, editor, Hayeren stugabanakan baṙaran [Armenian Etymological Dictionary] (in Armenian), Yerevan: Asoghik, page 271b
* ↑ Łazar Pʻarpecʻi (1904) G. Tēr-Mkrtčʻean and St. Malxasean, editors, Patmutʻiwn Hayocʻ ew tʻułtʻ aṙ Vahan Mamikonean [History of Armenia and Letter to Vahan Mamikonian] (Patmagirkʻ hayocʻ; I.4), Tiflis: Aragatip Mnacʻakan Martiroseancʻi, page 10
* ↑ Thomson, Robert W. (1991) The History of Łazar Pʿarpecʿi (Columbia University Program in Armenian Studies. Suren D. Fesjian Academic Publications; 4)‎, Atlanta, Georgia: Scholars Press, page 43
* ↑ Awgereancʻ, Mkrtičʻ (1822) Pʻiloni Ebrayecʻwoy bankʻ erekʻ čʻew i loys əncayealkʻ. A. B. Yałags naxaxnamutʻean. G. Yałags kendaneacʻ [Philonis Judaei sermones tres hactenus inediti. I et II De Providentia, et III De Animalibus], Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy, page 140
* ↑ Terian, Abraham (1981) Philonis Alexandrini de Animalibus: The Armenian Text with an Introduction, Translation and Commentary (Studies in Hellenistic Judaism; 1)‎, Chico, California: Scholars Press, page 81

### Further reading

* Awetikʻean, G., Siwrmēlean, X., Awgerean, M. (1836) “թոնձ”, in Nor baṙgirkʻ haykazean lezui [New Dictionary of the Armenian Language] (in Old Armenian), volume I, Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy, page 818b
* Norayr N. Biwzandacʻi (1880) Haykakan baṙakʻnnutʻiwn [Armenian Lexicology] (in Armenian), Constantinople: P. Kʻiriščean, pages 115–116
* Petrosean, Matatʻeay (1879) “թոնձ”, in Nor Baṙagirkʻ Hay-Angliarēn [New Dictionary Armenian–English], Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy, page 228a