송곳

First attested as Middle Korean 所乙串 (*swolGwoc) in the Hyang'yak chaejip wollyeong (鄕藥採集月令 / 향약채집월령), 1431, a phonetic transcription using Chinese characters; compare also Middle Korean 所乙古叱 (*swolGwoc) in the Umayangjeo yeomyeokbyeong chiryobang (牛馬羊猪染疫病治療方 / 우마양저염역병치료방), 1541.^[1]

In the Hangeul script, first attested as Middle Korean 솔〯옺〮 (swǒlwóc) in the Bullyu dugongbu si eonhae (分類杜工部詩諺解 / 분류두공부시언해), 3:5b^[1], 1481, from *솔〯— (*swǒl—, “narrow”, whence modern 솔다 (solda)) +‎ 곶〮 (kwóc, “skewer”).^[1]

The origin of the medial cluster /ŋk/, seen as far back as in Middle Korean 송곳 (swongkwos) in the Sinjeung yuhap (新增類合 / 신증유합), 28a, 1576, remains unclear. It may either reflect an alternate derivation *손곶 (*swonkwoc) as in *솔〯— (*swǒl—, “narrow”) +‎ -ㄴ (-n, realis adnominal suffix) +‎ 곶〮 (kwóc, “skewer”) or perhaps some assimilatory effect /l > ŋ/; compare Middle Korean ᄃᆞᆯᄋᆡ〮- (tòlóy-), ᄃᆞᇰᄀᆡ〮- (tòngkóy-, “to pull”).

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ˈsʰo̞(ː)ŋɡo̞t̚]
• Phonetic hangul: [송(ː)곧]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

송곳 • (songgot)

1. awl, gimlet