בלשן
Hebrew
editEtymology 1
editMost 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
editבִּלְשָׁן • (bilshán) m
Etymology 2
editFrom 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
editבַּלְשָׁן • (balshán) m (feminine counterpart בַּלְשָׁנִית)
Derived terms
edit- בַּלְשָׁנוּת (balshanút)