This study aims to uncover the characteristics and essence of the forgotten Kyrgyz tradition of kyl chainoo (horsehair chewing). Additionally, it seeks to explore the layers of meaning behind the idiom kyl chainoo, rooted in this tradition and absent from dictionaries. As no prior theoretical research exists on the kyl chainoo tradition, the study relies on written, visual, and oral sources. Based on these materials, the unique features of the tradition have been documented for the first time. To analyze the structure and meaning of the idiom, 189 sample sentences were collected and examined from 54 printed works and 70 websites. Using contextual analysis and lexicography methods, it was found that 168 out of 189 instances of the expression kyl chainoo in the sample sentences were idioms. Analysis of 168 sample sentences revealed various idiom forms, along with diverse layers of meaning.

Kyrgyzes, kyl chainoo, tradition, idiom, er saiysh