Number: 168
Proto-Semitic: *šVpp-
Meaning: kind of snake, worm
Hebrew: šǝpīpōn 'horned viper' [KB 1628], pB. 'a species of serpents, adder' [Ja. 1616]. Hapax in Gn 49.17 (yǝhī dān nāḥāš ʕălē däräk // šǝpīpōn ʕălē ʔōraḥ 'let Dan be a snake on the road // š. on the way').
Judaic Aramaic: šǝpīpōnā 'a species of serpents, adder' [Ja. 1616], špypwn 'serpent' [Sok. 563] (probably a Hebraism).
Syrian Aramaic: šappāpā 'serpens; gryllus' [Brock. 793], 'animalia reptantia, locusta reptans' [PS 4257].
Arabic: siff- 'serpent; espèce de serpent tacheté de blanc et de noir' [BK 1 1096], [LA IX 154] (also suff-).
Tigre: sǝf 'millepede' [LH 200].
Tigrai (Tigriñña): wäsfat 'intestinal worm, hook-worm' K 1748
Notes: Cf. phonetically and semantically close forms with -b-, which should probably be united into a separate root: Akk. šibbu 'a snake' MB on [CAD š2 375], [AHw. 1226]; Gyt. sība 'kind of worm' [LGur. 531], Cha. Eža šiba, Enm. šība, Gyt. šīb_a, End. šī̃wä 'kind of worm' [ibid. 571]; Mhr. šǝbšīb 'red waterworm' [JM 392], Hrs. šebšebēt 'small red worm, centipede' [JH 123], E. Jib. šǝbšéb 'red waterworm' [JM 392]. [KB 1629]: Hbr., Akk. (šibbu), Arb.
