Reconstruction:Proto-Semitic/naḥaš-

This Proto-Semitic entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Semitic

Etymology

Perhaps prefixed from a term which is reconstructible for East Cushitic, Somali yexaas (“crocodile”).

Noun

*naḥaš- m

1. predatory cat, probably a lion

Inflection

Declension of *naḥaš-

Case	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	*naḥašum	*naḥašāna	plural stem + *-ūna
Genitive	*naḥašim	*naḥašayna	plural stem + *-īna
Accusative	*naḥašam
possessive forms
1st person	*naḥašī / *naḥašVya	—	*naḥašVni
2nd person m	*naḥašVka	*naḥašVkumā / *naḥašVkumay	*naḥašVkum(ū)
2nd person f	*naḥašVki		*naḥašVkin(ā)
3rd person m	*naḥašVšu	*naḥašVšumā / *naḥašVšumay	*naḥašVšum(ū)
3rd person f	*naḥašVša		*naḥašVšin(ā)
Note: the endings -m and -na are dropped in the bound form, which may also undergo syncopation of an unstressed final vowel where possible. Note: the ending -V before the possessive endings responds to case: *naḥašuya for nom. case, *naḥašiya for gen. case, *naḥašaya for acc. case, etc. Declension of 2sg m. possessive form (your/thy m.) *naḥaš- Singular Dual Plural Nominative *naḥašuka *naḥašāka plural stem + *-ūka Genitive *naḥašika *naḥašayka plural stem + *-īka Accusative *naḥašaka Declension of 2sg f. possessive form (your/thy f.) *naḥaš- Singular Dual Plural Nominative *naḥašuki *naḥašāki plural stem + *-ūki Genitive *naḥašiki *naḥašayki plural stem + *-īki Accusative *naḥašaki

Descendants

• East Semitic:
  • Akkadian: 𒌨𒈤 (nēšum, “lion”)
• West Semitic: “snake”, probably a cobra by comparison of its hood to the lion’s mane
  • Central Semitic:
    • Arabic: حَنَش (ḥanaš), from older *نَحَش (*naḥaš) with irregular ش (š) due to imitation or dissimilation pressure; a regular reflex for “lion” is also transmitted, as نَهَّاس (nahhās), نَهُوس (nahūs), مِنْهَس (minhas)
    • Northwest Semitic:
      • Canaanite:
        • Hebrew: נָחָשׁ (nakhásh, nāḥāš)
      • Ugaritic: 𐎐𐎈𐎌 (nḥš /⁠naḥašu⁠/)

References

• Militarev, Alexander, Kogan, Leonid (2005) Semitic Etymological Dictionary, volume II: Animal Names, Münster: Ugarit-Verlag, →ISBN, pages 210–211 Nr. 159