Derived from Old Georgian სიცხჱ (sicxē), ultimately from Proto-Kartvelian *c₁x-; hence related to Mingrelian ჩხანა (čxana), Laz ჩხვაფა (çxvapa) and Svan იშხი (išxi, “burning”). Equivalent to modern ცხ-ელი (cx-eli, “hot”) + სი- -ე (si- -e, abstract noun-forming circumfix). As often occurs with this circumfix, its addition led to the loss of the adjective ending -ელი (-eli).