Number: 2338
Proto-Semitic: *ʕabVw-
Meaning: kind of fish
Akkadian: abūtu 'a fish' OB on [CAD a1 93], [AHw. 9]. // For a detailed discussion v. [Salonen Fischerei 150]. According to Salonen, a. denoted two different fish species, a sea fish (Polydactylus tetradactylus) and a freshwater one (Barbus Xanthopterus). The Akk. word is thought to be borrowed from its Sum. designation UBI which needs to be proved in view of the Soq. parallel below. // According to [AHw.], another fish name abūtānu (OB on) is derived from the present term whereas in [CAD a1 48] this word is rendered as abbuttānu and derived from abbuttu 'a characteristic hair style' (v. discussion in [Salonen 1970 149], supporting the latter approach).
Soqotri: ʕāba 'a carp-like fish' [NP 52], ʕába 'a small blue and red fish' [ibid. 53].
