Ancient Greek edit

Etymology edit

A foreign word. Used by Eupolis in his work Marikas to attack Hyperbolus.

Possibly from Old Persian marīkā, which may be from Sanskrit मर्य (márya, young man, lover).

Pronunciation edit

 

Noun edit

μᾰρῐκᾶς (marikâsm (genitive μᾰρῐκᾶ); first declension

  1. (derogatory) catamite (a passive male sexual partner); debauchee
    Synonyms: βάταλος (bátalos), κίναιδος (kínaidos), λάσταυρος (lástauros)
  2. a term of endearment used for a male child
  3. (rare) a male given name

Inflection edit

References edit

  • “Old Persian Marika-, Eupolis Marikas and Aristophanes Knights”, in Classical Quarterly[1], volume 35, number 1, 1985 May, pages 38–42

Further reading edit