- θρῖναξ
- θρῖναξ, -ακοςGrammatical information: f.Meaning: `three-pronged fork, trident' (Ar., Tab. Heracl. 1, 5, Nic.).Derivatives: From there Θρινακίη f. "fork-island", name of a mythical island (Od.), later identified with Sicily, through folketymology changed to Τρινακρία (τρία ἄκρα); also Θρινακίς f. (Str.); adj. Θρινάκιος `Sicilian' (Nic.).Origin: PG [a word of Pre-Greek origin]Etymology: Technical word in -ᾰξ (Chantraine Formation 377ff.). Mostly interpreted as a compound with τρι- `three': acc. to Sommer Lautstud. 55ff. from IE *tri-snak- (to Eng. snag `tooth' etc.); after Kretschmer BphW 1906, 55 from *trisn-aḱ `with three points' (IE *tris-no- = Lat. ternī); acc. to Geffcken-Herbig Glotta 9, 103f. from *tri-snak- to νάκη, νάκος (?). - Or to θρῖον `fig-leaf' (because of the form)?; cf. also θρινία ἄμπελος ἐν Κρήτῃ H. - The IE etymologies have failed. Fur. 189 compares τρίναξ `an instrument in agriculture'; note also the frequent suffix -ακ-Page in Frisk: 1,683-684
Greek-English etymological dictionary (Ελληνικά-Αγγλικά ετυμολογική λεξικό). Robert S.P.. 2010.