karcolni

Karcolni is a Hungarian verb meaning to scratch, to carve, or to inscribe by scraping or cutting a surface with a sharp object. The term covers both the act of making superficial scratches and the more deliberate incising of materials such as wood, metal, glass, or walls. It can describe marks made by tools in crafts or by vandalism, as well as the creation of intentional inscriptions or drawings.

Etymology and form: Karcolni is formed from the noun karc, meaning scratch or nick, with the common infinitive suffix -olni. The word is used as a transitive verb in everyday Hungarian, and it participates in standard conjugation patterns for -ni verbs. The related noun karcolás denotes the act or result of scratching, while karcoló refers to a person who scratches or engraves.

Usage and examples: The verb is predominantly transitive, taking a direct object that is the surface being scratched or inscribed. Examples include: A fa felületébe karcolta a nevét (He carved his name into the surface of the wood). A gyerekek a padra karcoltak üzeneteket (The children scratched messages onto the desk). In artistic or craft contexts, karcolni may describe deliberate etching or scoring as part of a design process.

Related terms: karcolás (the act or result of scratching/etching), karcoló (an engraver or scriber). The sense remains close to physical interaction with a surface, rather than metaphorical or idiomatic uses.