עזה

Etymology
Commonly explained as a feminine of, but as can be seen from the 🇨🇬 transliteration and 🇨🇬, its initial sound was originally 🇨🇬 *ḡ, from 🇨🇬 *ḡ, so the origin was likely another root. Alternatively compare, meaning amongst other things words related to “bridge”, a reference to Gaza’s strategic position as the main crossing point on the trade route to Egypt.

Compare also transliterations of the Bronze Age Canaanite name into 🇨🇬 including   in Papyrus Anastasi I and    in the Annals of Thutmosis III, and 🇨🇬 in the Amarna Letters (e.g., EA289 line 17, with variant spellings).

Proper noun

 * 1) Gaza