Number: 2443
Proto-Semitic: *hVm-
Meaning: large wild cat
Akkadian: umāmu (emammu, emāmu) 'Tiere, Getier' OB on [AHw. 1412]. Meaning correspondence 'wild animal' ~ 'lion' can be illustrated by Gez. ʔarwe vs. Hbr. ʔaryē (cf. No. ...). At the same time, note that the meaning 'lion' for emāmu in the date formules of Zimri-lim of Mari was established in [Dossin 167] (with reference to [Landsberger Fauna 30] where additional arguments in favour of this meaning are given).
Arabic: hawwām- 'lion' [BK 2 1460], [Fr. IV 419], [TA XXXIV 127].
Tigre: hǝmmäm 'leopard' [LH 7].
Notes: Different strategies of triconsonantization in various languages (though Akk. and Tgr. exhibit a remarkable similarity). It is difficult in the present context to avoid mentioning of Akk. ūmu 'ein Mytischer Löwe' [AHw. 1420]. The term is known exlusively from SB lexical lists (= Sum. UG). It is always written with u4 and, possibly for this reason, united by von Soden with ūmu 'day' (as well as ūmu 'Sturm'). A priori, this equation does not look very convincing semantically but the whole problem requires further study so that direct inclusion of ūmu into the pesent root would be clearly premature.