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
accusative	*naḥašam	*naḥašayna	plural stem + *-īna
genitive	*naḥašim
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)

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.

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