Semitic Etymological Database
Reconstruction
“The origin of Proto-MSA *ṣaγlaf(-at)- ‘leaf’ is uncertain.1418 Leslau’s comparison with Hbr. sāˁīp ‘twig’ (HALOT 762) and Arb. saˁaf- ‘(leaves of) palm branches’ (Lane 1365) is, at the very best, highly tentative”. (Kogan 2015:543)