foot/leg
→
upper part (of a leg)
3 realizations
Related shifts
| ID | Meaning 1 | Direction | Meaning 2 |
| ACCEPTED Realization 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type | Semantic evolution | |
| Language | Akkadian | |
| Lexeme | pēmu | |
| Meaning 1 | foot/leg | |
| Direction | → | |
| Meaning 2 | thigh | |
| Reference | CAD: p 231 AHw.: 854 | |
| Comment | From Proto-Semitic *paˁm- - leg (see SED I No. 207). | |
| ACCEPTED Realization 2 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type | Semantic evolution | |
| Language | Classical Arabic | |
| Lexeme | fˁm | |
| Meaning 1 | foot/leg | |
| Direction | → | |
| Meaning 2 | to be full (of forearm, vessel); to be full-formed, thick in one's shanks (of woman) | |
| Reference | BK: 2 615 Lane: 2421 | |
| Comment | Probably derived from Proto-Semitic root *paˁm- - leg (see SED I No. 207). Cf. Akk. pēmu 'hip', Soq. faˁm ('upper part of the back leg of goats and sheep'. |
|
| ACCEPTED Realization 3 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type | Semantic evolution | |
| Language | Soqotri | |
| Lexeme | fáˁam | |
| Meaning 1 | foot/leg | |
| Direction | → | |
| Meaning 2 | upper part of the hind leg of an animal | |
| Reference | CSOL I: 532 | |
| Comment | From Proto-Semitic root *paˁm- - leg (see SED I No. 207). | |
The Proto-Semitic root *paˁm- was probably the main designation of "foot". The meaning "hip" in Akk., faˁm "upper part of the back leg of goats and sheep" in Soq., and the verbal root fˁm in Arb. "to be thick in one's shanks" (of women as well) seem to be innovative. In such conditions, one cannot exclude that the meanings "upper leg", "hip", "thigh" reflect the most primitive situation, whereas generalization to "foot" took place independently in continental MSA and Canaanite. (Kogan 2015:586-587)