Etymology
The Old Turkic name was Türük, Kök Türük, or Türük.
They were known in historical Chinese sources as 突厥 (Pinyin: Tūjué, Wade-Giles: T'u-chüeh, Middle Chinese Guangyun: dʰuət-kĭwɐt). According to Chinese sources, the meaning of the word Tūjué was "combat helmet" (兜鍪; Pinyin: dōumóu, Wade-Giles: tou-mou), reportedly because the shape of the Jinshan (金山 jīnshān, Altai Mountains), where they lived, was similar to a combat helmet - hence they called themselves 突厥 (Tūjué / T'u-chüeh).
Göktürks is said to mean "Celestial Turks". This is consistent with "the cult of heavenly ordained rule" which was a pivotal element of the Altaic political culture and were inherited by the Göktürks from their predecessors in Mongolia. Similarly, the name of the ruling Ashina clan possibly derives from the Khotanese Sakā term for "deep blue", āššɪna. The name might also derive from a Tungusic tribe related to Aisin.
The word Türk meant "strong" in Old Turkic.
Read more about this topic: Göktürks
Famous quotes containing the word etymology:
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“The universal principle of etymology in all languages: words are carried over from bodies and from the properties of bodies to express the things of the mind and spirit. The order of ideas must follow the order of things.”
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