Number: 2133
Proto-Semitic: *ḳapy-
Meaning: occiput, back of the head
Syrian Aramaic: ḳāp(ǝ)yā, ḳǝpāyā, ḳapāyā 'postica pars cervicis' [Brock 683]
Arabic: ḳafan 'derrière du cou, nuque; derrière de la tête, occiput' [BK 2 792]
Geʕez (Ethiopian): ḳāf 'shoulder blade' [LGz 423].
Cf. kup, kop 'top of skull' [ibid. 289] (a variant root?)
Harari: ḳafät 'forehead' [LHar 122]
East Ethiopic: SEL WOL ZWY ḳäfät do. [LGur 373]
Mehri: ḳǝfē 'back' [JM 226]
Jibbali: ḳéfɛ́ do. [JJ 142]
Harsusi: ḳefē do. [JH 74]
Notes: Meanings very diverse, the AFRASIAN data supporting 'occiput, back of the head', which is the only one to account for such semantic shifts as 'back of the head' > 'head' > 'forehead' (ETH EAST) and 'back of the head' > 'back' (MSA).
[Brock 683]: SYR, JUD (ḳǝpāyā, not in [Ja]; translated as 'Umgebung, Zubehör (eig. was darin ist)' in [Lewy IV 353])
