- ἔφηλις
- ἔφηλις, -ίςMeaning: technical term of uncertain meaning, etwa `rivet, butt' or `clinch'?; acc. to H. ἐφήλιδες περόναι, ἔπηλις τὸ πῶμα τῆς λάρνακος (S. Fr. 1046, hell.); usually metaph. as name of an effloresence(?) (Nic.), in this meamimg mostly in plur. (Hp., Thphr.), also explained as `freckles' and connected with ἥλιος (= αἱ τοῦ ἡλίου ἐπικαύσεις H.).Other forms: gen. -ιδος, -ίδος, pl. also -εις, Ion. ἔπηλις (after Hdn. Gr. 1, 91 barytone), -ιδος f.Origin: XX [etym. unknown]Etymology: On the ι(δ)-stem s. Schwyzer 450, 464f., Chantraine Formation 113f. - Because of the unclear meaning morphologically uncertain. There are three, or four explanations: 1. als hypostasis of ἐφ' ἥλου (ὤν): a) `what is upon a ἧλος (`pin')'; b) `upper (part of a) ἧλος'. 2. bahuvrihi: `equipped with a ἧλος'. 3. postverbal of ἐφηλοῦν `pin down, fix': `what has been pinned down'; cf. ἔφηλος ὁ ἡλωμένος Suid. S. also on ἔφηλος.Page in Frisk: 1,598
Greek-English etymological dictionary (Ελληνικά-Αγγλικά ετυμολογική λεξικό). Robert S.P.. 2010.