Baṭn literally means “belly,” but applied to a landscape it denotes a low-lying inner area. Khabt indicates a sandy or level low stretch. The bodily term is transferred to the shape of terrain.
Ḥiqāf is a plural referring to dunes. ʿAqanqal strengthens the impression of large or complicated dune formations. Taken together, these words create a concrete desert topography, not merely the abstract word “desert.”
WordCentral image
BaṭnA low, inner part
KhabtSandy low ground or plain
ḤiqāfSand dunes
ʿAqanqalLarge or intricate dune formation