Unless < *liḥ(a)y-(at-) 'cheek, jaw', No. ; on h_ < SEM *ḥ and *ɣ see Introduction (another explanation is that lah_û is an early W. SEM borrowing)

    Metathetic from -t- infixed stem (cf. constr. *maltǝʕōt in Ps 58.7). Cf. lōăʕ, a hapax in Pr 23:2, translated as 'gullet' in [KB 532]; the context, however, allows for both interpretations, 'gullet' and 'jaw', the latter supported by the meaning 'jaw' attested in PB [Ja 700]

    Related with suffixed -n and a highly specified meaning shift? Note also what looks a variant root with an enigmatic -d as a third radical: luɣd- (also luɣdūd-, liɣdīd-) 'lobe de l'oreille, le bas de l'oreille; chair tendre entre le palais et le canal de la déglutition' [ibid. 1005]

    The first -n- may be explained as a nominal suffix (see Introduction), while the second -n probably reflects the PSEM dual suffix *-āni/*-ayni non-productive in MSA. Note a meaning shift

    Note that Leslau unconvincingly considers HBR mǝtallǝʕōt (below) related to GEZ maltāḥt 'jaw' (see discussion in [LGz 319]), while Maizel compares these forms as variant roots [Maizel 255].

    Cf. a variant root in ARM MAʕL nīʕa 'Kiefer' [Berg 61] (related [ibid.] to ARM lōʕā).

    Cf. *liḥ(a)y-(at-) 'cheek, jaw', No. .

    [Holma 31]: AKK, ARB (laḥy-), HBR (lǝḥī); [KB 654]: HBR, GEZ (maltāḥt); [Brock 361]: SYR, JUD, HBR (lōăʕ), AKK (lūʔu, lētu)