Unraveling Hebrew שַׁעַטְנֵז

Hebrew שַׁעַטְנֵז, which refers to a mixed fabric, occurs only in Lev 19:19 and Deut 22:11 in prohibitions of various mixtures. Its meaning is clear, but its etymology has hitherto eluded a convincing explanation. I propose that, as a word denoting a hybrid of materials, שַׁﬠַטְנֵז is a lexical blend. Its two source words are שַׁאַת* and ﬠִנְז*, the early Hebrew forms of the Semitic words for “ewe” (*taᵓat) and “goat” (*ᶜanz/*ᶜinz), respectively. The resulting blend originally referred to a mixture of sheep and goat wool but was subsequently generalized to designate any mixed fabric, which is precisely what שַׁﬠַטְנֵז means in Lev 19:19 and Deut 22:11.