 He invented words such as "ḥatzil" (חציל) for an eggplant (aubergine) and "ḥashmal" (חשמל) for electricity.As no Hebrew equivalent could be found for the names of certain produce endemic to the New World, he devised new Hebrew words for maize and tomato, calling them "tiras" (תירס) and "ʿagbaniyyah" (עגבניה), respectively.The latter word is derived from the shape of the vegetable, which resembled buttocks (ʿagaḇīm), and which was originally thought by the new immigrants to enhance one's love-life.