- ὅρπηξ
- ὅρπηξGrammatical information: m.Meaning: `sprig, twig, (shaft of a) spear' (Φ 38, Hes. Op. 468);Other forms: (ὄ-), Dor. Aeol. -ᾱξ, -κος.Compounds: εὑ-όρπηξ `with fair twigs' (Nonn.).Derivatives: No derivv.Origin: PG [a word of Pre-Greek origin]Etymology: Formation like σκώληξ, κάχληξ, νάρθηξ a.o. (Chantraine Form. 381, Schwyzer 497), without certain etymology. Acc. to Walde (-P.) 1, 277 a. 2, 502 as a supposition to Lith. várpa `ear' (unconvinving on várpa Fraenkel s.v.), not very illuminating. Not with Brugmann Grundr.2 I 477 to Lat. sarpō `trim the vines', sarmentum `osiers' (cf. on ἅρπη `sickle'). Rather with Curtius 265, Bechtel Glotta 1, 73, Lex. s.v. to ἕρπω (first from *ὅρπος, -η?), but prob. not in the gen. a. secondary meaning `go, move', but rather as "the crawler, the sneaker" referring to a slow and regular, movement over the ground. -- Diff. Gonda Mnem. 3:6, 160 ff.: to IE *ser- `(pointed) twig' (?) w. farreaching combinations; Haas Ling. Posn. 7,75: "Pelasgian" to Lith. vir̃bas `twig'. - Rather a Pre-Greek word; note the suffix -ᾱκ-.Page in Frisk: 2,427
Greek-English etymological dictionary (Ελληνικά-Αγγλικά ετυμολογική λεξικό). Robert S.P.. 2010.