The meaning range points to these words are extensions fromProto-Semitic*dam-(“blood”), compare the PalestinianAramaic forms of itאדם /אידם /ܐܕܡ(ʾəḏem,“blood”). The semantic development could be any of the following:
“blood” → “red earth”, “red ochre” → “earthling”;
“blood” → “man”, as blood is a main ingredient of humans;
“blood” → “red earth”, “red ochre” → “the dye to paint idols” → hence “an idol” → “an effigy, a likeness” → “a man”;
“blood” → “blood sacrifice to appease an idol” → hence “an idol” → “an effigy, a likeness” → “a man”;
“blood” → “red” → “to show red blood in the face, e.g. to blush” → “a human”.
