ὄστρακον

Ancient Greek

Etymology

Traditionally held to be related to ὀστέον (osteon, “bone”) and ὄστρεον (ostreon, “oyster”). Modern research considers it more likely to be Pre-Greek, which does not disclude a relation to ὄστρεον (ostreon).

Pronunciation

• (5th BC Attic): IPA: /óstrakon/

• (1st BC Egyptian): IPA: /óstrakon/

• (4th AD Koine): IPA: /óstrakon/

• (10th AD Byzantine): IPA: /óstrakon/

• (15th AD Constantinopolitan): IPA: /óstɾakon/

Noun

ὄστρακον (genitive ὀστράκου) n, second declension; (ostrakon)

1. earthen vessel
   1. fragment of such a vessel, potsherd
   2. earthen castanet
2. the hard shell of animals such as mollusks and turtles
   1. mother of pearl
   2. eggshell

Inflection

Second declension of ὄστρακον, ὀστράκου

Case / #	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	ὄστρακον	ὀστράκω	ὄστρακᾰ
Genitive	ὀστράκου	ὀστράκοιν	ὀστράκων
Dative	ὀστράκῳ	ὀστράκοιν	ὀστράκοις
Accusative	ὄστρακον	ὀστράκω	ὄστρακᾰ
Vocative	ὄστρακον	ὀστράκω	ὄστρακᾰ

References

• LSJ
• Robert S. P. Beekes (2009) Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Brill Academic Publishers)