Semitic etymology : Query result

Number: 1992

Proto-Semitic: *ʔi(-)bar-(at-)

Afroasiatic etymology: Afroasiatic etymology

Meaning: membrum virile; (membrum, limb)

Hebrew: PB ʔēbär 'limb, part; membrum genitale' [Ja 9]

Aramaic: PHL ʔbr 'penis' [HJ 7] (meaning uncertain)

Judaic Aramaic: ʔēbārā, ʔēbǝrā 'limb; membrum genitale' [Ja 44]; ʔbr 'limb' [Sok 33]

Syrian Aramaic: ʔebrā 'membrum' [Brock 3]

Mandaic Aramaic: ʕbra 'arm, limb, membrum' [DM 341]

Arabic: ʔibrat- 'pénis, verge' [Blachère 7]

Modern Arabic: DAT_ burrat 'gland du pénis' [GD 145], (redupl.) barbūr [GD 147], OMN barbur 'penis' [RO 55]

Notes: C. SEM only.

One wonders whether the ARB DIAL examples retain the original SEM root with no *ʔi- (see AFRASIAN) or the latter was lost in these dialects.

To distinguish from both *ʔa/ibr- 'pinion, wing', No. (see AFRASIAN) and *ʔi(-)bVr(r)-at- 'thigh(bone); shin(bone); forearm', No. .

It is hard to say whether the meaning 'member, limb' is a secondary development in HBR and ARM or the terms with this meaning should be separated from what then are to be regarded as homonyms meaning 'membrum virile', and related to *ʔi(-)bVr(r)-at- 'thigh(bone); shin(bone); forearm' (No. ).

Cf. metathetic ARB ʔirb- 'membre du corps, surtout la main ou la verge' [BK 1 23] and wirb-, warb- 'membre du corps' [ibid. 2 1516]; cf. also *rib(Vb)y-at-, *ʔa-rib(Vb)y-at- 'part of body below the navel' (No. ).

[DRS 5]: HBR, PHL, ARB CLASS