Ian D. Morris
Tidbits of wisdom on the origins of Islam
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Etymology

Quraysh and confederacy

March 26, 2014 9 Comments

The name of Muhammad’s tribe, as reported in the Arabic sources, is Quraysh. It’s a word of no certain origin, and the medieval scholars offer a number of speculative and conflicting etymologies, none of which is very plausible. That’s normal… Continue Reading →

Etymology, Syriac

Etymon! (gotta catch ’em all)

March 26, 2014 Leave a Comment

There is a hint, from biblical Hebrew, that the Arabic root qarasha, with the basic sense of ‘gather’ and therefore ‘earn’, is deeply atavistic. The word qeresh means ‘board’ or ‘plank’, especially in the instructions for building the tabernacle. This… Continue Reading →

Etymology, Hebrew

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