*čert-

1 to cut (off edges), make notches 2 to click 3 to pinch 4 to pinch (a musical instrument)

Proto-Turkic: *čert-
Altaic etymology: Altaic etymology
Proto-Altaic: *č`ire
Russian meaning: 1 обрезать (края), делать зарубки 2 щелкать 3 щипать 4 играть на щипковом инструменте
Turkic: *čert-
Tungus-Manchu: *čire-
Comments: VEWT 105, EDT 428, Федотов 2, 87-88. The semantic development here is 'to make notches, indents' > 'break the edge', 'pinch' (whence 'to click with fingers') - not onomatopoetic, as suggested by Clauson.
Karakhanid: čert- 1 (MK)
Tatar: čirt- 2, 3, čärdäk-lä- 'to hew'
Uzbek: čert- 2, 4
Azerbaidzhan: čärt- 1, 2
Turkmen: čirt- 1, 3
Khakassian: sirte- 2
Shor: širte- 2
Oyrat: čert- 1, 2
Halaj: čirt- 2
Chuvash: śart 'a dent for inserting bottom into banded vessels'
Kirghiz: čert- 2, 4
Kazakh: šert- 2, 4
Noghai: šert- 2, 3, 4
Bashkir: sirt- 2, 3
Balkar: čert- 'to mark'
Karakalpak: šert- 2, 4
Kumyk: čert- 1, 2, 4