סמל

From the verb סמל (“to symbolize”). Compare Phoenician 𐤎𐤌𐤋 (sml, “symbol”).

The sense of "symbol" was strengthened due to phono-semantic matching of English symbol.^[1]

• (סֵמֶל, sémel)
  • (Modern Israeli Hebrew) IPA^(key): /ˈsemel/

סֵמֶל • (sémel) m (plural indefinite סְמָלִים) [pattern: קֵטֶל]

1. symbol
2. emblem
3. coat of arms

סִמֵּל • (simél) (pi'el construction)

1. defective spelling of סימל

Developed from the acronym סמ״ל, which designated סֶגֶן מִחוּץ לַמִּנְיָן, a calque of English non-commissioned officer. The initials were set in the nominal template commonly used for profession holders. While the derived word is common in the relevant context, both the acronym and its full term fell out of use (see usage notes below).

• (Modern Israeli Hebrew) IPA^(key): /saˈmal/

סַמָּל • (samál) m (plural indefinite סַמָּלִים, feminine counterpart סַמֶּלֶת) [pattern: קַטָּל]

1. (military) sergeant

The term is used today as a word in its own right. The original acronym, as well as the full term which it represented (see etymology above), fell out of use. Also, the original intended meaning is never used today. In the Israeli Defense Forces, the currently used term for non-commissioned officer is מש״ק‎ (=מְפַקֵּד שֶׁאֵינוֹ קָצִין).

• סמל ראשון
• רב סמל
• רב סמל ראשון
• רב סמל מתקדם
• רב סמל בכיר