disc▪ Orel&Stolbova1994#1609: protSem *ʕaḳrab‑ ‘scorpion’, protWCh *ḳur˅b‑, both from hypothetical AfrAs *ḳurab‑ ‘insect’. The basis for reconstruction in WCh is only 1 lang, the AfrAs dimension therefore doubtful. The authors explain the initial consonant in Sem as a prefix *ʕa‑.
▪ Lipiński2001 thinks (with Diakonoff) the etymon may be segmented into a root plus AfrAs »key consonant« ‑b for strong and/or dangerous animals, cf. also ↗ʔarnab, ↗dubb, ↗ḏiʔb, ↗ḏubāb, ↗kalb, ↗labb, ↗ṯaʕlab.