One of the four widespread designations of camel in individual languages; the similarity between these designations must be due to diffusion from an Arabian source.
*gʷafl-/*gVfn- - stuffed skin given in place of her young one to a bereaved mother-animal
(EDG 266, DRS 170, Kogan 2015: 554)
MSA + Southern EthS. The ultimate origin of this peculiar areal isogloss is obscure.
Any connection with Arb. ǯafn- ‘scabbard, sheath’? (Kogan 2015: 554)