Proto-Afro-Asiatic: *Haǯam- ~ *ǯVHVm-
Meaning: hippopotamus/elephant
Notes: *ǯ- in the reconstructed form is confirmed by two Ch. examples. In PCh., acc. to Stolbova 1996, 74-75, lanyngeals have disappeared in *HVCVCV roots (*HVCVC > *CVCV), i.e. *ǯV(HV)m- may reflect *(HV)ǯVm-. As for Sem., one cannot rule out an exotic restructuring in Eth.: *ḥarmad_ <*ḥad_mar- <*ḥad_Vm, with metathesis and insertion of -r- under the influence of Gz. harmās 'elephant' (LGz., 219) from Sem. *ha/irmī/āS- (*-S reflecting either *-š < Afras. *-s, or *-s < Afras. *-c) 'elephant, rhinoceros, buffalo' (Arb. hirmīs- 'rhinocéros; buffle; lion féroce' BK 2 1415). Cf. *ǯiHun- ~ *ǯinaH- 'elephant' (3636).
