- θηλή
- θηλήGrammatical information: f.Meaning: `motherbreast, nipple' (IA).Compounds: As 2. member e. g. in ἄ-, εὔ-, νεό-θηλος (-θηλής).Derivatives: θηλώ τροφός, τήθη (H., Plu.). - Denomin. verb θηλάζω `suckle, suck' (IA Dor.) with θήλασμα, θηλασμός `suck(l)ing' (Plu., pap.), θηλάστρια `(wet-)nurse' (S., Com.); also θηλαμών `id.' (Sophr., Thespis), prob. to θηλά-σαι after τελά-σαι : τελα-μών a. o.; here θηλαμινοῦ νεογνοῦ; θήλαντο ἐθήλασαν H. (correct?); cf. Bechtel Dial. 1, 361. Uncertain θηλονή `wet-nurse' (Plu. 2, 278d).Origin: IE [Indo-European] [241] *dʰeh₁- `suck(le)'Etymology: With θηλή agrees *fēla, seen in Lat. fēlāre `suckle' which must be `motherbreat', IE *dhēlā. From some such basis Latv. dę̂ls `sun', prop. "suckling", Lat. fīlius `id.' \< *fēlios, Umbr. sif feliuf `sues lactantes' (`sucking' or `suckling'?, s. Benveniste BSL 45, 82f.), Lith. dėlė̃ `leech'; with diff. ablaut Latv. dīle `sucking calf' (IE *dhī-l-), MIr. del `nipple', Germ., e. g. OHG tila f. `female breast' (IE *dhĭ-l-); unclear is Arm. dayl, dal `Biestmilch' ; Hübschmann Armen. Gr. 1, 437, Pedersen KZ 39, 406); on Lat. fēlīx `fertile' s. W.-Hofmann s. v. (also Nachträge). Cf.on θῆλυς and θῆσθαι.Page in Frisk: 1,670-671
Greek-English etymological dictionary (Ελληνικά-Αγγλικά ετυμολογική λεξικό). Robert S.P.. 2010.