Number: 2463
Proto-Semitic: *ḳunḳān-
Meaning: kind of worm/insect
Akkadian: ḳūḳānu (gūḳānu, guḳḳānu) 'an insect; a disease' SB [CAD ḳ 312], 'ein Worm; eine Krankheit' [AHw. 928]. As an animal name only in Uruanna III 213ff. (ḳu-ḳa-ni/nu ḳaḳḳari = išḳippu, ḳu-ḳa-ni A.S̆À = mubattir eḳli), cf. [Landsberger Fauna 129]. The name of the disease (eyes, internal organs) presumably represents a semantic evolution of the faunal term ("Es sei dahingestellt, ob der Name der Augenkrankheit ... auf einen Wurm als wirklichen oder vermeintlichen Erreger zurückgeht" [ibid.]).
Judaic Aramaic: ḳuḳyānē 'name of parasite worms' [Ja. 1340], ḳūḳā(ʔ)nē 'Bandwürmer, Fischwürmer' [Levy WTM IV 274]. Considered an Akkadism in [AHw. 928] which does not seem very convincing.
Modern Aramaic: Cf. N.-Syr. ḳinâ 'a gnat, mosquito' [M 281]
Geʕez (Ethiopian): ḳʷǝnḳʷǝne 'woodworm, moth' [LGz. 435].
Tigre: ḳǝnḳǝn 'wood-fretter, weevil' [LH 252], ḳänḳän 'ver qui ronge le bois', ḳunḳun 'insecte ailé qui mange le grain' [ibid.].
Amharic: č̣ǝč̣č̣an 'kind of small ant' [K 2241].
Harari: ḳǝñḳiñ 'earwig' [LHar. 127].
Gurage: End. ḳǝnḳān 'worm that eats wood' [LGur. 488].
Notes: Most probably derived from this nominal root are End. Gog. Sod. ḳǝnäḳḳänä, Wol. Zwy. ḳǝnäḳänä, Muh. Msq. ḳʷǝnäḳḳʷänä, Sel. ḳinäḳänä 'to be worm-eaten' [LGur. 488]. It is very difficult to agree with [LGz. 435] where a reverse development (Eth. faunal terms derived from verbs meaning 'to gnaw') is proposed (the Akk. and Jud. forms are strangely omitted). Cf. possibly Arb. ḳinḳin- 'sorte de coquillage marin' [BK 2 825], [Fr. III 508], [LA XIII 350] (semantically not fully satisfactory).
