The origin of Proto-MSA *lˁb ‘to suck’ is unknown. Hardly any connection with either Hbr. lˁb ‘to make sport of’ (HALOT 532), Syr. lˁb ‘delectatus, gavisus est; avidus fuit’ (LSyr. 386), Arb. lˁb ‘to play, to joke (of children)’ (WKAS L 779) or luˁāb- ‘saliva, spittle’ (ibid. 809).