Proto-Semitic root

*ṣVṣ-

‘salt-field, salt-works’ 1, ‘salt’ 2

di Mino’s gloss: salt-works, salt marsh; salt

In Linear A1 entry

SI+SEṣiṣethe salt-works (Ug. ṣṣ, WSem. ṣēṣūma 'salt marsh'), an establishment drawing grain, oil…SpeculativeSemitic3

Notes

A reduplication of *ṣV- (Watson 2020, 18), with Ug. /ṣēṣu/ or /ṣīṣu/ (Huehnergard 1987, 170, apud Watson 2020, 18 n. 17). Leslau derives the Ethiopic words from Cushitic (Bil. šəwa, Kham. čəwā, Qua. ṣ̌ewā) and finds Dillmann’s link with Ar. ṣawā ‘dry up’ unconvincing (LGz. 565); Watson 2020, 17–18 takes them for inherited Semitic. HALOT 1023 keeps Ug. ṣṣ apart from mlḥ(t) and prefers the conjecture ṣiyyûn at Jer 48:9.

Reflexes6 languages

Northwest Semitic2

Ugariticṣṣ, ṣṣ PN (n) (KTU 4.340; 4.344, totalled ảlp ttm kbd mlḥt; DULAT 781) 1qn ṣṣ b ṣṣ (KTU 5.26 rev. 1; Watson 2020, 16) 1syll. pl. ṣí-ṣú-ma, ṣi-e-ṣi-ma, glossing A.ŠÀ MUN(.MEŠ) (CAD Ṣ 150 ṣēṣūma; DULAT 781) 1gloss withheld
HebrewII ṣîṣ, Jer 48:9 (HALOT 1023) 2ṣyṣym beside mlḥ, Sir 43:19 (Watson 2020, 17) 2gloss withheld

Ethiopic and Modern South Arabian4

Geezṣew, ḍew (LGz. 565) 1, 2gloss withheld
Tigreč̣əwa (LGz. 565) 2gloss withheld
Tigrinyač̣äw (LGz. 565) 2gloss withheld
Amharicč̣äw (LGz. 565) 2gloss withheld

† Gloss withheld: the cited dictionary’s licence is closed, so its form and page stand without its gloss.