A terrifying etymology: on the origin of Old Uyghur bäliŋ täg

Old Uyghur bäliŋ täg behaves in a peculiar way. In the published Old Uyghur texts it never appears without the postposition täg, yet denominal verbs are formed by means of the usual suffixes. What is more, bäliŋ and täg are often spelled as one word. They were clearly perceived as inseparable by some scribes. The divergent semantics of the adjective (‘terrifying, dreadful’) and the adverb (‘suddenly, all at once’) are remarkable as well. The article examines the uses of bäliŋ täg in Old Uyghur and cites several examples. It becomes apparent that adjective and adverb are sometimes easy to confuse. Only by analyzing several examples in context is it possible to determine the exact meaning. Nearly all instances suggest the interpretation as an adverb. Cognates in Modern Turkic languages are being adduced, too. Finally, a new etymology is being proposed.