Hey, there--

I don't know if you take requests, but I got into quite the conversation yesterday about the origins of the word "frecha", ie the type of girly-girl rendered heroic in Ofra Haza's "shir ha-frecha." (peh-resh-chet-heh) I've been told that it comes from Arabic, and am curious to know if there's any connection to perach (flower) and/or if there's a good story there. You seemed to be the man for the job--any interest?

Thanks!
d
Danya | Homepage | 08.22.06 - 9:11 am | #

I don't understand - what is the Or HaChaim's opinion, aside from his disagreeing with the rest?
toby | 08.22.06 - 1:39 pm | #

Toby - it seems that the Ohr HaChaim argues that tzahov indeed means "gold," as per Sifri, rather than Ibn Ezra's "off-white."
Alex | 08.22.06 - 4:33 pm | #

Danya - Turns out there is an interesting story, and it deserves its own post. My new Arabic etymological dictionary helped out with this one. For now I'll just say that frecha is either related to the Arabic word for joy - farcha, or the word for a young chick - think of efroach in Hebrew. And both are related to perach.

Toby - I've fixed the post so it's more clear.

Alex - That's the explanation I was trying to get across. Basically, the Sifra's explanation is the one accepted by the Halacha, for example as brought by the Rambam. That's why the Or HaChaim seems to have difficulty accepting a different explanation.
Dave (Balashon) | Homepage | 08.23.06 - 7:19 am | #

Thanks! That's a lot easier to understand.
toby | 08.23.06 - 8:16 am | #

I wrote a poem pertaining to this word once - D'Bir, Holy Of Holies
liorah | Homepage | 08.23.06 - 8:40 am | #

Ooh, kewl. Look forward to the post!
Danya | Homepage | 08.28.06 - 12:09 pm | #