ܟܘܣܐ

Disputed:

• Most likely a metathesis of ܣܲܘܟܵܐ (sawkā, “twig”), from Aramaic סַוְכָּא (sawkā, “branch, bough, twig”), with the usage for “hair” seen in the cognate Turoyo ܣܰܘܟܐ (sawko, “hair”); compare also in Classical Syriac ܣܘܟܬܐ (sawkəṯā, “branch”).
• Also proposed is Classical Syriac ܩܘܨܬܐ (qawṣəṯā, “curl”), but very unlikely and posing many issues.
• Also proposed to be derived from the verb ܟܵܣܹܐ (kāsē, “to hide, conceal”).
• Also suggested to be a borrowing from Russian коса́ (kosá, “braid”).

This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.

• (Standard) IPA^(key): [kaw.sɑː]
• (Urmia) IPA^(key): [t͡ʃoːsɑː]
• (Tyari) IPA^(key): [kɑwːsɑː]

ܟܲܘܣܵܐ • (kawsā) m

1. (uncountable) hair (collection on head)

   ܟܲܘܣܝܼ ܐ݇ܟܘܿܡܵܐ ܝܠܹܗ. ― kawsī kōmā ìlēh. ― My hair is black.

• ܟܲܘܣܵܐ ܕܣܵܒ݂ܬܵܐ (kawsā d-sāḇtā, “candy floss, fairy floss, cotton candy”, literally “grandmother’s hair”)
• ܚܘܵܪܟܲܘܣܵܐ (ḥwārkawsā, “elder, elderly woman”, literally “one of white hair”)
• ܣܲܘܟܲܬ݂ ܟܲܘܣܵܐ (sawkaṯ kawsā, “hairbrush”)

• ܡܸܙܬܵܐ (miztā, “strand of hair”)
• ܣܲܥܪܵܐ (saˁrā, “hair”) (formal)
• ܣܥܲܪܬܵܐ (sˁartā, “strand of hair”) (formal)