It is important to differentiate between two aspects in comparative Semitics: the approach used by modern scholars to determine a meaning, and the history of the words within the language in question. In order to assess the contribution that comparative Semitics makes to the study of the lexicon, here a sample of Ugaritic terms in the same semantic field - gear used for leading or riding either horses or donkeys - is examined in respect of etymology. The results are set out as a table that shows whether Ugaritic itself, cognate languages or non-Semitic languages have helped to determine the meanings of the words in this semantic group. This paper has seven sections: (1) an introduction, (2) the importance of draught and riding animals in Ugarit, (3) a survey of previous studies, (4) a discussion of Ugaritic terms for horse-trappings, with and without context, (5) notes on some related terms and (6) on incorrectly identified terms and finally (7) some conclusions(1).
