Geez

balaṣa - to be shrewd, cunning, smart (CDG 97)

Leslau states (CDG 97) that the meaning ‘cheat, shrewd’ is secondary to ‘exceed’.

PWS

*blṣ - to come out, to be prominent (EDA I 294)

Perhaps related to Akk. balāṣu ‘to thrust’, Arb. blṣ ‘to extort, despoiľ.