Ancient Greek edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

The word is generally considered to derive from Proto-Indo-European *smei- (to carve, cut), as could be σμίλη (smílē, knife, wood-carving knife, scalpel, chisel). Compare Lithuanian smailus (sharp, acute) and Proto-Germanic *smiþaz (carpenter, craftsman, smith).[1] According to others, both words are of obscure etymology and thus could be Pre-Greek.[2]

Pronunciation edit

 

Noun edit

σμῐνύη (sminúēf (genitive σμῐνύης); first declension

  1. two-pronged mattock

Inflection edit

Derived terms edit

References edit

  1. ^ Pokorny, Julius (1959) “smēi- : smɘi- : smi-”, in Indogermanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch [Indo-European Etymological Dictionary] (in German), volume 3, Bern, München: Francke Verlag, page 968
  2. ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “σμῑ́λη, σμινύη”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN

Further reading edit