The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.
Appendix II
Semitic Roots
ENTRY:
bdw.
DEFINITION:
West Semitic, to be(come) desolate, desert; noun *badw-, desert. Bedouin, from Arabic badawyn, Bedouins, plural of badaw, nomadic, Bedouin, from badw, desert, nomads, Bedouins.