birkum

birkum

Akkadian

Etymology

From Proto-Semitic *birk- (“knee”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbir.kum/

Noun

birkum m (construct state birki, pronominal state birka, plural birkū)

1. knee
2. lap
3. euphemism for male or female genitals

Alternative forms

• birku (non-mimated form)
• burkum, burku (non-mimated form)

Cuneiform spellings

Sumerograms	Phonetic
𒄭 (ḪI)	𒁉𒅕𒆪𒌝 (bi-ir-ku-um)

Related terms

• bēl birkim (“runner, henchman”)