खूँटी (khoontii)
noun
A small peg, hook, or pin used to hang things or stake something down; also used figuratively for a fixed anchor point, as in the idiom about tying an animal to its peg.
Sense
1
:
wall peg / hook
noun, feminine
Synonyms: कील (kiil, nail-like peg), हुक (huk, loanword, for a metal hook)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: In most Indian homes you will spot a row of these on the back of a door or inside an almirah -- coats, bags, keys, even the odd towel end up on a खूँटी (khoontii). It is a humble, everyday object, the kind of word that shows up in household instructions like 'hang it on the peg' (use khoontii par taang do).
Common Mistakes: 1) खूँटी (khoontii) is a small peg or hook fixed to a wall or post, distinct from कील (kiil) which leans toward a metal nail driven into wood or wall -- the two overlap but खूँटी (khoontii) is what you actually hang a coat or a bag on.
Sample Sentences:
अपना कोट खूँटी पर टांग दो।
Hang your coat on the peg.
(apnaa kot khoontii par taang do।)
दरवाज़े के पीछे एक खूँटी लगी है।
There is a peg fixed behind the door.
(darvaaze ke piichhe ek khoontii lagii hai।)
मैं रोज़ अपनी चाबियाँ इसी खूँटी पर रखता हूँ।
I put my keys on this same peg every day.
(main roz apnii chaabiyaan isii khoontii par rakhtaa hoon।)
बच्चा खूँटी पर लटके बैग तक हाथ नहीं पहुँचा पाया।
The child couldn't reach the bag hanging on the peg.
(bachchaa khoontii par latke baig tak haath nahiin pahunchaa paayaa।)
अलमारी के अंदर दो खूँटियाँ लगी हुई हैं, एक टॉवल के लिए और एक बैग के लिए।
There are two pegs fixed inside the almirah, one for a towel and one for a bag.
(almaarii ke andar do khoontiyaan lagii huii hain, ek toval ke lie aur ek baig ke lie।)
अगर यह खूँटी टूट गई होती, तो सारे कपड़े ज़मीन पर गिर जाते।
If this peg had broken, all the clothes would have fallen on the floor.
(agar yah khoontii toot gaii hotii, to saare kapde zamiin par gir jaate।)
क्या तुम दीवार पर एक खूँटी लगा दोगे?
Will you fix a peg on the wall?
(kyaa tum diivaar par ek khoontii lagaa doge?)
उसने चाहा कि छाता किसी खूँटी पर टांग दिया जाए ताकि वह सूख सके।
She wanted the umbrella to be hung on some peg so it could dry.
(usne chaahaa ki chhaataa kisii khoontii par taang diyaa jaae taaki vah sookh sake।)
चाबी का गुच्छा उस पुरानी खूँटी से लटक रहा था।
The bunch of keys was hanging from that old peg.
(chaabii kaa guchchhaa us puraanii khoontii se latak rahaa thaa।)
दुकान में हर आकार की खूँटियाँ बिकती हैं, लकड़ी की भी और लोहे की भी।
Pegs of every size are sold in the shop, both wooden and iron ones.
(dukaan men har aakaar kii khoontiyaan biktii hain, lakdii kii bhii aur lohe kii bhii।)
Sense
2
:
stake / picket (for tethering an animal)
noun, feminine
Synonyms: मेख (mekh, driven-in stake)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This is the peg driven into the ground to which a goat, cow, or buffalo is tied with a rope -- a very common rural and semi-rural image. It feeds directly into the well-known idiom अपनी खूँटी से बंधे रहना (apnii khoontii se bandhe rahnaa, 'to stay tied to one's own peg'), used for someone who sticks to their own limited world or habits and does not venture beyond it.
Sample Sentences:
गाँव में बछड़े को खूँटी से बाँध दिया जाता है।
In the village, the calf is tied to a stake.
(gaanv men bachhde ko khoontii se baandh diyaa jaataa hai।)
उसने खूँटी को जमीन में गाड़ा और बकरी को उससे बाँध दिया।
He drove the stake into the ground and tied the goat to it.
(usne khoontii ko jamiin men gaadaa aur bakrii ko usse baandh diyaa।)
भैंस खूँटी के इर्द-गिर्द घूमती रहती है।
The buffalo keeps wandering around the tether-peg.
(bhains khoontii ke ird-gird ghoomtii rahtii hai।)
पहले खेत में एक मजबूत खूँटी गाड़ लो, फिर गाय को बाँधना।
First drive a sturdy stake into the field, then tie the cow.
(pahle khet men ek majboot khoontii gaad lo, phir gaay ko baandhnaa।)
अगर खूँटी ढीली होती तो बकरी कब की भाग गई होती।
If the stake had been loose, the goat would have run away long ago.
(agar khoontii dhiilii hotii to bakrii kab kii bhaag gaii hotii।)
किसान चाहता है कि खूँटी इतनी गहरी गड़ी हो कि रस्सी न टूटे।
The farmer wants the stake to be driven deep enough that the rope won't break.
(kisaan chaahtaa hai ki khoontii itnii gahrii gadii ho ki rassii n toote।)
बरसात में खूँटी अक्सर उखड़ जाती है।
During the rains, the stake often comes loose.
(barsaat men khoontii aksar ukhad jaatii hai।)
वह हमेशा अपनी खूँटी से बंधा रहता है और कभी शहर देखने नहीं जाता।
He always stays tied to his own peg and never goes to see the city.
(vah hameshaa apnii khoontii se bandhaa rahtaa hai aur kabhii shahar dekhne nahiin jaataa।)
बछिया खूँटी से बंधी हुई घास चर रही थी।
The young cow, tied to the stake, was grazing on grass.
(bachhiyaa khoontii se bandhii huii ghaas char rahii thii।)
बकरी खूँटी के पास बैठी है।
The goat is sitting near the stake.
(bakrii khoontii ke paas baithii hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
खूँटी
(khoontii)
(sg.f.oblique):
खूँटी
(khoontii)
(pl.f.direct):
खूँटियाँ
(khoontiyaan)
(pl.f.oblique):
खूँटियों
(khoontiyon)