בלשן

Most likely from Akkadian 𒂗𒋗𒉡 (bēlšunu, literally “their lord/master/owner”), from 𒂗 (bēlum, “lord, master, owner”), cognate to בַּעַל‎ (bá'al, “master, owner”).

בִּלְשָׁן • (bilshán) m

1. Bilshan

From a Midrashic interpretation of מָרְדֳּכַי בִּלְשָׁן‎ (mordokhái bilshán, “Mordecai [and] Bilshan”), from Ezra 2:2 and Nehemiah 7:7, as referring to one person, with בִּלְשָׁן (bilshán) meaning “one who knows many language” and coming from לָשׁוֹן‎ (lashón, “language”) with the root ל־שׁ־ן‎, because Mordecai is said to have known seventy languages. The first vowel was changed to match the noun pattern forming names of professions.

בַּלְשָׁן • (balshán) m (feminine counterpart בַּלְשָׁנִית‎)

1. linguist

• בַּלְשָׁנוּת‎ (balshanút)