Ancient Greek edit

Etymology edit

An old cultural word, identical with Latin viscum (mistletoe), thus implying a pre-form *ϝιξ(ο-) (*wix(o-)). It has been compared with Proto-Slavic *višьňa (sour cherry) and Proto-Germanic *wīhsilō (sour cherry). Chantraine considers a common derivation from Proto-Indo-European *weyḱs-,[1] but, according to Beekes, given its structure and limited distribution it is likely a loanword from a European substrate.[2]

Pronunciation edit

 

Noun edit

ἰξός (ixósm (genitive ἰξοῦ); second declension

  1. European mistletoe (Viscum album)
    Synonym: ὕφεαρ (húphear)
  2. mistletoe berry
  3. birdlime prepared from the mistletoe berry
  4. oak gum, used for the same purpose
  5. (in general) any sticky substance
  6. (figuratively) skinflint, miser

Inflection edit

Derived terms edit

Descendants edit

  • Greek: ιξός (ixós)
  • Ottoman Turkish: اوكسه (ökse)

References edit

  1. ^ Chantraine, Pierre (1968–1980) “ἰξός”, in Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue grecque (in French), Paris: Klincksieck, page 465
  2. ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “ἰξός”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, pages 593–594

Further reading edit