[labarna]

I haven't seen it in my texts, and actually perusing the dictionaries and sign-lists right now, I think I'm getting a sense for how the derivation came about.

I modern reading of the signs that make up the word they're talking about "irrû" in Akkadian, are: ḪUL₂.GIL₂, but the context of its use suggests a bitter cucumber like plant (also a tangled plant, because "irrū" means intestines).

As to the name "joy plant" if you were to read the signs as ḪUL₁!.GIL₁! (notice the 1's) then that would be correct, but instead they are the second versions of each sign, and cannot be read as "joy" or "plant".

[benbreen]

That's very helpful and interesting, thank you!