ܢܶܦܛܳܐ [†] npṭʾ nep̄ṭā naphtha νάφθα
Many scholars claim the Indo-European origin of the term, precisely from Ir. *nafta-, comparable with Av. napta- moist (AirWb 1039), OP *nafta- (Hinz 1975, 171, though he hesitates to connect this word with NP naft), OInd. nabh-, nábhate to burst, be turn or rent asunder (so Horn 232; Laufer 1919, 506; Brandentein 1940, 345 ff.; Frisk II 249; etc.). See also MP naft [npt'] moist, damp; naphtha (CPD 57); NP naft, nift naphtha, combustible matter (Steingass 1414). However, it is more likely that the word was borrowed from Akkad. napṭu naphtha (cf. AHw 742). Huyse 1993, 90 and n. 16: “Zu der Frage, ob naphtha nun letzten Endes iranischer oder semitischer Herkunft sei, äussert sich an unerwarteter Stelle R.J. Forbes, Studies in Ancient Technology. I. Leiden 21964: 12–13, 41–42 und entscheidet sich wohl richtig für ein akkadisches Lehnwort”; in favour of the Semitic origin also Salonen 1974, 143 and Leonid Kogan (personal communication). The word is largely attested in Indo-European and Semitic languages: cf. Arab. nafṭ, nifṭ id. (Steingass 1416); Gr. νάφθα (Frisk II 249: ← Pers.), Lat. nap(h)tha (Amm. Marc.; Lat. ← Gr.); Arm. LW nawth (← Ir.; cf. Schmitt 1983, 91; Hübschmann AG 202–203, no. 436). As to the Elam. proper noun Naptaš cf. Gershevitch 1969b, 212; see, in general, Vassoevič – Vassoevič 1979 ● Philox 531, 19; MS 2, 70, 26; Dn 3, 46; Duv B 2, 37pu; Med 101, 20; Bh chr 109, 12 ◆ LS 436a; PS Suppl. 214