Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/ǵómbʰos

This Proto-Indo-European entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

From a virtual root *ǵembʰ- +‎ *-os, but the root's precise identity is debated. Most likely it meant “to bite” and is the source of at least Sanskrit जम्भति (jámbhati, “to snap at; to snatch with the mouth (chomp)”), जम्भयति (jámbhayati, “to crunch, crush”), Lithuanian žem̃bti (“to cut slantwise, sharpen”) and Albanian dhemb (“to ache”). Furthermore, this appears to be a nasal-infixed form (perhaps *ǵ-né-bʰ-ti ~ *ǵ-m̥-bʰ-énti) of the poorly attested root *ǵebʰ-, possibly found in Proto-Celtic *gobbos (“muzzle, snout”), Gaulish *gauta (“cheek”) (inferred only from descendants of Vulgar Latin *gauta, including Occitan gauta/jauta and French joue), Proto-Germanic *kaflaz (“jaw, jowl”), German Kiefer (“jaw”), Proto-Slavic *zȍbь (“fodder, oats”), *zobъ (“peck; beak, mouth; goiter”), Serbo-Croatian gȕbica (“snout, muzzle”), Lithuanian žė̃bti (“jaw, jowl”), and Avestan 𐬰𐬀𐬟𐬀𐬭𐬆 (zafar^ə, “mouth”). As these are all nouns, the verbal function of the original root is only hypothetical.

*ǵómbʰos (non-ablauting)

1. tooth

   Synonym: *h₃dónts

2. row of teeth
3. peg

• Proto-Albanian: *dzamba
  • Albanian: dhëmb
• Proto-Balto-Slavic: *źámbas (see there for further descendants)
• Proto-Germanic: *kambaz (see there for further descendants)
• Proto-Hellenic: *gómpʰos (see there for further descendants)
• Proto-Indo-Iranian: *ȷ́ámbʰas (see there for further descendants)
• Proto-Tocharian: *këmë
  • Tocharian A: kam
  • Tocharian B: keme
• Unsorted formations:
  • Armenian:
    • Old Armenian: ծամեմ (camem, “to chew, ruminate”)
      • Armenian: ծամել (camel)

• Mallory, J. P., Adams, D. Q., editors (1997), Encyclopedia of Indo-European culture, London, Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, page 594