حريف

(Inglese)

From حَرْف (ḥarf, “sharp edge”) from the root ح ر ف (ḥ r f), or probably from Aramaic חריף / ܚܪܝܦ (ḥarrīp̄) found in broader meaning, also literally “sharp”, of smell, high-pitched voices, “current” in application to a silver coin etc., from the cognate root ח־ר־ף / ܚ ܪ ܦ related to sharpness, probably related to Proto-Semitic *x̣arb- (“sharp blade”) whence Arabic حَرْب (ḥarb, “war”), حَرْبَة (ḥarba, “spear”), and also conceivable in the source of Aramaic-borrowed حُرْف (ḥurf, “cress”), since cress is described as of mustard- to radish-like, slightly pungent to peppery taste and smell. Compare also Hebrew חריף (kharíf, “spicy, sharp”).