# \*(ʾi-)š/sayb- ~ \*š/sabib-: 'tuft of hair'

> Proto-Semitic *(ʾi-)š/sayb- ~ *š/sabib-, 'tuft of hair': reflexes in 7 language(s).

A page of the Linear A Lexicon's research wiki, in [Wiki](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/index.md>) › [Kaphtor Semitic Roots](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/index.md>) › [š](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/shin/index.md>). Updated 2026-10-22.

## Root

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Reconstruction | \*(ʾi-)š/sayb- ~ \*š/sabib- |
| Meaning | 'tuft of hair' |
| Basis | SED |
| SED | SEDonline semet 93 |

## Reflexes

| Language | Form | Sources | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arabic | ʔisb- 'pubis, hair around the private parts and the anus' \[BK 1 31\]; sayb- 'hairs of the tail of the horse' \[BK 1 1173\]; sabīb- 'hair of the tail, or of the mane, or of the forelock (of the horse)' \[ibid. 1039\]. Cf. (dial.) sabāsib- (pl.) 'dishevelled hair'. Cf. sbt (i/u) 'shave (head), let hair down'. | BK 1 31; BK 1 1173; BK 1039 |  |
| Mehri | mǝnsōb \[JM 299\] | JM 299 |  |
| Soqotri | mǝ́nsub \[JJ 192\] (cf. also \[LS 268; SSL LS 1467\]); QALAN-V ʔǝ́nsöb \[SSL 4 96\] | JJ 192; LS 268; SSL LS 1467; SSL 4 96 |  |
| East Ethiopic | SEL šǝbäññä, WOL šǝbǝññe \[LGur 571\], ZWY saʔbi \[ibid. 530\] | LGur 571; LGur 530 |  |
| Gurage | MUH MSQ šǝbǝññä, CHA šǝmnä, GOG šǝbuññä, EŽA šǝbǝnnä, SOD šǝmuñña \[LGur 571\], END šombä \[LGur 579\] | LGur 571; LGur 579 |  |
| Jibbali | mɔ́sɔ̄t \[JJ 192\] | JJ 192 |  |
| Harsusi | mensōb \[JH 97\] | JH 97 |  |

A form keeps its source's gloss only when the source is public domain or openly licensed.

## Linked from

- [š](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/shin/index.md>)

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Page: https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/shin/159_tuft_of_hair/
Licence: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Cite as: di Mino, Tom. 2026. Linear A Lexicon. Plasma AI. https://linear-a.ai/. Data: kaphtor, commit add28e94.