καρφί

Greek

Etymology

Inherited from Ancient Greek καρφίον (karphíon), diminutive of κάρφος (kárphos).

Cognate with Mariupol Greek карфи́ (karfí).

Noun

καρφί • (karfí) n (plural καρφιά)

1. nail (metal fastener used for joining wood, etc)
2. (in abbreviated form) rivet

   καρφί για μέταλλα ― karfí gia métalla ― rivet

3. informer, snitch, grass (UK), ratfink (US)
4. (volleyball) spike

Declension

declension of καρφί

case     \     number	singular	plural
nominative	καρφί •	καρφιά •
genitive	καρφιού •	καρφιών •
accusative	καρφί •	καρφιά •
vocative	καρφί •	καρφιά •

Synonyms

• (nail): πρόκα f (próka, “nail”)
• (nail): ήλος m (ílos, “nail, pin”)
• (informer): ρουφιάνος m (roufiános)

Coordinate terms

• πριτσίνι n (pritsíni, “rivet”)
• νύχι n (nýchi, “finger nail, toe nail”)

Derived terms

• κάρφωμα n (kárfoma, “nailing”)
• καρφάκι n (karfáki, “tack”)
• καρφίτσα f (karfítsa, “pin, brooch”)
• καρφοβελόνα f (karfovelóna, “nail”)
• καρφωτής m (karfotís, “informant”)
• καρφωτός (karfotós, “nailed”)
• καρφώνομαι (karfónomai, “to nail”)
• καρφώνω (karfóno, “to stick”)
• καρφί για μέταλλα n (karfí gia métalla, “rivet”)
• ξυλόκαρφο n (xylókarfo, “wooden peg”)

• μια στο καρφί και μια στο πέταλο (mia sto karfí kai mia sto pétalo, “belt and braces”)

Adverb

καρφί • (karfí)

1. straight, directly
2. directly, straight away

Further reading

• καρφί on the Greek Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^el
• καρφί - Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής [Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek], 1998, by the "Triantafyllidis" Foundation.

Pontic Greek

Etymology

Inherited from Ancient Greek καρφίον (karphíon), diminutive of κάρφος (kárphos).

Noun

καρφί (karfí) n

1. nail (metal fastener used for joining wood, etc)

Descendants

• → Laz: კარჶი (ǩarfi, “nail”)

References

• Tursun, Vahit (2021) “καρφί”, in Romeika – Türkçe Sözlük : Trabzon Rumcası, 2nd edition, Istanbul: Heyamola Yayınları, page 293b, glossed as çivi