βάβρηξ

βάβρηξ

Grammatical information: m.\/f.?

Meaning: βάβρῆκες τὰ οὖλα (gums) τῶν ὀδόντων, οἱ δε σιαγόνας οἱ δε ἐν τοῖς ὀδοῦσιν ἀπὸ τῆς τροφῆς κατεχόμενα (var. βέβρηκες τὸ ἔνδον τῶν σιαγόνων μέρος).

Other forms: βάρηκες, s.v.

Origin: PG [a word of Pre-Greek origin]X [probably]

Etymology: Kalléris, Macédoniens 114f. derives the word from a root βρ- in βίβρωσκω, but this has a root in laryngeal (hardly lost in composition). He and DELG connect βαβρήν, for which I see no reason. Is βάρηκες just a mistake? The meaning of βέβρηκες is not clear to me (hardly μέρος = `piece of food'). The word is prob. Pre-Greek, cf. the variation α\/ε. Cf. βαβρήν.