𐰇𐰭𐱁-

üŋüş- is a hapax legomenon attested in Irk Bitig 44, where it describes the hare’s skin after an attack by a falcon. It should be distinguished from the immediately preceding ügüş-, which is used of the falcon’s claws: the manuscript writes different medial consonants, g in ügüşüpän and ŋ in üŋüşüpän. Its probable meaning is “to become thoroughly lacerated, to be torn open”. “To be flayed” is possible as a contextual exaggeration but is too narrow and too strong as the principal gloss.

The verb is probably formed from üŋ- “to hollow out, gouge, dig into” with -(U)ş-. The base verb is independently attested in the Karakhanid textual tradition and implies penetration or gouging into an object. In this exceptional derivative, -ş- apparently gives the action a distributed or total character: the skin is gouged and torn in several places.