libittum
Akkadian
Etymology
From a reconstructed Proto-Semitic *labin(a)t (“brick”); diffusing to other Semitic languages via the Akkadian term seems difficult to account and there has been no compelling reason to assume the Akkadian is the original source. More distantly a possible connection to Proto-Semitic *laban- (“dairy”) with compared developed verbal senses, to strain milk or yogurt of its whey, to thicken or coagulate, to solidify, to dry out, to become firm or solid pieces; hence the connection to drying and solidifying of bricks. Compare Eblaite 𒇷𒁀𒌈 (li-ba-tum /libittum, libattum/), Ugaritic 𐎍𐎁𐎐𐎚 (lbnt, “brick”), Hebrew לְבֵנָה (“sun-baked or dried-out brick”), Aramaic לְבִינְּתָּא (/ləḇinṯā, ləḇittā/), Classical Syriac ܠܒܬܐ (/ləḇettā/), Arabic لِبْنَة (libna) and لَبِنَة (labina).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /liˈbit.tum/
Noun
libittum f (construct state libitti, plural libnātum) (from Old Akkadian on)
- mudbrick, brick
- (often in the plural) brickwork
- slab, cake, block (of material other than mud, like metal, stone, potash, dung, etc.)
Alternative forms
- libittu (non-mimated)
- labittu (El-Amarna)
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References
- “libittum”, in The Assyrian Dictionary of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago (CAD), Chicago: University of Chicago Oriental Institute, 1956–2011
- Huehnergard, John (2011) A Grammar of Akkadian (Harvard Semitic Studies; 45), 3rd edition edition, Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns
- Agmon, Noam & Bloch, Yigal. (2013). Statistics of Language Morphology Change: From Biconsonantal Hunters to Triconsonantal Farmers.
- Kaufman, Stephen A. (1974) The Akkadian influences on Aramaic. (Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. Assyriological Studies, No. 19.), Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press, →ISBN, page 66