בלשן

Hebrew

Etymology 1

Most likely from Akkadian 𒂗𒋗𒉡 (bēlšunu, literally “their lord/master/owner”), from 𒂗 (bēlum, “lord, master, owner”), cognate to בַּעַל (bá'al, “master, owner”).

Proper noun

בִּלְשָׁן • (bilshán) m

1. Bilshan

Etymology 2

From a Midrashic interpretation of מָרְדֳּכַי בִּלְשָׁן (mordokhái bilshán, “Mordecai [and] Bilshan”), from Ezra 2:2 and Nehemiah 7:7, as referring to one person, with בִּלְשָׁן (bilshán) meaning “one who knows many language” and coming from לָשׁוֹן (lashón, “language”) with the root ל־שׁ־ן, because Mordecai is said to have known seventy languages. The first vowel was changed to match the noun pattern forming names of professions.

Noun

בַּלְשָׁן • (balshán) m (feminine counterpart בַּלְשָׁנִית)

1. linguist

Derived terms

• בַּלְשָׁנוּת (balshanút)