Ortzikara is a Basque word meaning the time when a storm is brewing. Not only is it a useful term, but I feel that there is something ominous in the very sound. It's the sort of word that a high priest intones over a human sacrifice. That may be only my gloomy imagination, or it may be because Basque words all sound a trifle odd; but ortzikara is certainly a more frightening word than nibble.I remembered ortzikara today because I am staying fifty miles from a range of invisible mountains. Not that they are diaphanous, but that they are hidden in a summer haze except when a storm is coming. Then they appear, towering gloomily on the horizon, and distant thunders roll over the plain.
It is just beginning to rain.
I should mention that I found ortzikara on the erudite Omniglot blog, here.
The Inky Fool was just laying out his picnic
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Oh, Dogberry, that's not fair: I don't have time for another blog!!
ReplyDeleteI am only forgiving you because it's great, and so are the comments and commenters (nearly as good as yours) and I now have a word for that lovely murky light and slightly damp scent before a storm.
You're right. It's a great word, full of meaning. I am saying it to my computer screen to try it out.
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