τεμπεσίρι
Greek
editEtymology
editFrom Ottoman Turkish تباشیر (tebeşir, “chalk”), itself from Persian تباشیر (tebâšir, “chalk, clay; bamboo sugar”), ultimately from Hindi तबाशीर (tabāśīr, “tabasheer; bamboo manna”).
Pronunciation
editNoun
editτεμπεσίρι • (tempesíri) n (plural τεμπεσίρια)
- a piece of chalk used for writing on a blackboard (dated)
- Synonym: κιμωλία (kimolía)
- cue chalk used in billiards
- (informal) the act of buying on credit
- Synonym: βερεσέ (veresé)
Usage notes
editThe literal meaning borrowed from Ottoman Turkish "chalk" is used commonly in reference to billiard cue chalk only. The figurative sense of "buying on credit" is also in use and originates from the custom of shopkeepers keeping track of items bought on credit with a chalk and blackboard; when used in that sense, the noun is uncountable.
Declension
editDeclension of τεμπεσίρι
singular | plural | ||
---|---|---|---|
nominative | τεμπεσίρι • | τεμπεσίρια • | |
genitive | τεμπεσιριού • | τεμπεσιριών • | |
accusative | τεμπεσίρι • | τεμπεσίρια • | |
vocative | τεμπεσίρι • | τεμπεσίρια • | |
The plural forms are used only for the literal meaning of "chalk, cue chalk". |
Derived terms
edit- γράφω τεμπεσίρι (gráfo tempesíri, “to not care about something that has been lent or is owed”) (literally: "to write (with) chalk")
- έχω την πλάκα, έχω και το τεμπεσίρι (écho tin pláka, écho kai to tempesíri, “to have all tools necessary for an activity, usually one carried out with proficiency”) (literally: "to have the blackboard and to have the chalk, too")
Further reading
edit- τεμπεσίρι, in Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής [Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek], Triantafyllidis Foundation, 1998 at the Centre for the Greek language