šamaššammum

Akkadian

Etymology

From šaman (“oil”) +‎ šammum (“plant”). Compare Old Aramaic שושמא (šūššmā), shortening of שומשומא (šumššemā), and Classical Syriac ܫܘܫܡܐ (šūšmāʾ, šuššəmāʾ).

Pronunciation

• (Old Babylonian) IPA^(key): /ʃa.maʃˈʃam.mum/

Noun

šamaššammum m (plural šamaššammū)

1. (often plural) an oil-producing plant and its seeds, probably sesame (or flax, linseed).

Alternative forms

• šamšamum, šamšamu (non-mimated)

Cuneiform spellings

Logograms	Phonetic
𒊺𒄑𒉌 (ŠE.GIŠ.I₃) 𒊺𒉌𒄑 (ŠE.I₃.GIŠ)	𒊭𒈠𒊭𒈬 (ša-ma-ša-mu) (plural) 𒊭𒈦𒌑𒈬 (ša-maš-šam-mu) (plural)