A flat or accessible roof or housetop, typically the uppermost part of a building in ancient Israelite architecture; by extension, the upper platform or surface of an altar. In common usage, refers to the flat area on top of dwellings or temples, used for various domestic, social, or ritual activities.

Etymology Derived from the root גָּאָה (to rise, be high, be exalted), likely by reduplication to indicate 'the elevated place'. The derived noun גָּג refers specifically to the raised or upper surface. Root and lexical meanings are related but not identical: while the root indicates being elevated, the noun refers to a built structure's elevated, flat top.

Reflexes  · not yet grouped by proto-form

LanguageWordMeaningSegmentationRoot
Kikongo (Yombe dialect) koko top, summit, crown (of the head) -koko
Kongo koko top, summit kok
Lingala koko summit, highest part (esp. of a head, hill, etc.) -koko