- παιπάλη
- παιπάληGrammatical information: f.Meaning: 1. `fine flour, flour dust' (Ar. Nu. 262, Apollon. Med.), 2. `shrewd person, crafty person' (Ar. Nu. 260).Compounds: Compp. : 1. δυσ-παίπαλος adjunct of βῆσσα (Archil.), κύματα (B.), Ὄθρυς (Nic.) a.o.; 2. δυσοδο-παίπαλα n. pl. (A. Eu. 387, reading uncertain; after sch. δυσπαράβατα καὶ τραχέα; 3. πολυ-παίπαλος, of Φοίνικες (ο 419), of αἰθήρ (Call. Fr. anon. 225).Derivatives: Beside it several formally close, but semantically doubtful fomations. Adj. 1. παιπαλ-όεις of islands, mountains, roads (ep. Il.); 2. -ιμος `artful, shrewd' (Theognost., sch.); 3. -ώδης `id.' (EM, Suid.); 4. -εος of πιπώ `woodpecker' (Antim.), meaning unknown. Verbs. 1. παιπαλᾶν περισκοπεῖν, ἐρευνᾶν H., with formally παιπάλημα n. (Ar., Aeschin.) = 2. παιπάλη; prob just enlargement of it; 2. παιπάλλειν σείειν H.; 3. παιπαλώσσω τὸ παίζω καὶ τὸ παροινῶ (Theognost.). παίπαλά τε κρημνούς τε (Call. Dian. 194), prob. backformation.Origin: XX [etym. unknown]Etymology: The adj. παιπαλόεις, of which the orig. meaning was apparently early forgotten and which was used by the ep. poets as epith. ornans without specific meaning, is mostly explained as 'τραχύς, σκολιώδης', i.e. `raw, steep' or `twisted'; so δυσ-παίπαλος `with dangerous παίπαλα'. Starting from `winding' Fick KZ 44, 148 f. (agreeing Bechtel Lex. s.v.) wanted to connect a supposed root pele- `wind' [impossible root form], also `fold'; παιπαλόεις thus `rich in turns or folds' (cf. πολύ-πτυχος), πολυ-παίπαλος = πολύ-τροπος (in antiquity). Positing a root pele- meaning `turn' however, is based on a wrong analysis of πόλος, πάλιν (s. rather πέλομαι); so only the meaning `fold' remains (s. ἁπλόος). Similarly Worms Herm. 81, 31 n. 2: prop. `geschwungen, gewunden', to πάλλω, from where `zackig, sich schlangelnd, zerklüftet'(?). With this interpretation of παιπαλόεις one separates παιπάλη from it and connects it as a separate word to πάλη `flour' (s.v.) and πόλτος etc. -- Others connect παιπαλόεις as `floury, dusty' (first of roads) with παιπάλη; s. Leumann Hom. Wörter 236 ff. with extensive argumentation and rich lit. He considers παιπάλη `subtle talker' not as metapher of παιπάλη `fine flour' but explains it from πολυ-παίπαλος. -- Still diff. Palmer Glotta 27, 134 ff. (by Leumann rightly rejected). The origin of παιπάλη L. sees in παιπάλλειν = σείειν ('shake' = `sieve flour'); also πάλη `flour' from πάλλω. Cf. πασπάλη. -- On the reduplication cf. Skoda, Redoublement 33 etc.Page in Frisk: 2,461-462
Greek-English etymological dictionary (Ελληνικά-Αγγλικά ετυμολογική λεξικό). Robert S.P.. 2010.