Talk:ناب

etymology of sense "older female camel"

"The sense of a mature elder camel seems to stem from a long thick rump likened to a long thick tooth."

What is the source of this speculation?

As far as I understand it, domesticated female camels are often bred at the age of 3-4 years (a year or so after sexual maturity) and this may be before the emergence canines (by 7 years) in the female. By this time, she may already have been bred for her second calf. Perhaps it is the emergence of the permanent (non-deciduous) canines in the female camel around 7 years that is being referred to, or some aspect of dentition wear? (Permanent incisors already in full wear while permanent canines are freshly emerging?) Mardinli Deli (talk) 05:26, 12 November 2022 (UTC)

Lane mentions as much page 2870, under نيب top of the middle column; aged she-camel; "so called by the length of her tush" -Profes.I. (talk) 20:54, 12 November 2022 (UTC)

Now I understand what has happened! The editor who wrote "The sense of a mature elder camel seems to stem from a long thick rump likened to a long thick tooth." has misunderstood the word "tush" as /tʊʃ/ (that is, toches) not as /tʌʃ/, variant of "tusk". Hence the "long thick rump"! Mardinli Deli (talk) 22:13, 12 November 2022 (UTC)