According to the most widespread view, kārts is a nominal form of the stem of the verb kārt “to hang” (q.v.), in which case its original meaning was “hanging (piece of wood),” or maybe “piece of wood from which something hangs.” Another hypothesis derives kārts from the same stem as cirst “to chop wood,” i.e. Proto-Baltic *kart-, *kirt-, from Proto-Indo-European *ker- “to cut” with an extra -t, in which case the original meaning would have been “cut, chopped (piece of wood).” Note, however, that the latter hypothesis does not explain the level tone in kārsts (cirst has falling tone), whereas the former does (kārt, like kārts, has level tone). Cognates include Lithuanian kártis, Old Prussian kartans.