- κέρκος
- κέρκοςGrammatical information: f.Meaning: `tail of an animal' (Com., Pl. Phdr. 254d, Arist.), `membrum virile' (Ar., Herod.).Compounds: Compp. e. g. κερκο-φόρος `with a tail', ἄ-κερκος `tailless' (Arist.); on κέρκουρος and κέρκωψ s. v.Derivatives: The diminutives κερκίς (s. v.) and κερκίον (Aq., Sm., Thd.); also the animal's names κέρκα ἀκρίς H.(s.v.), κερκώπη name of a cicada (Ar.; Strömberg Wortstudien 16; cf. on Κέρκωπες), prob. also κέρκαξ ἱέραξ H. and (with unclear, perhaps corrupt ending) κέρκνος ἱέραξ, η ἀλεκτρυών H. (after the long or characteristic tail; κέρκος itself is glossed by H. a. o. with ἀλεκτρυών; cf. however also on κρέξ); - κέρκωσις `tail-like growth' (medic.); κερκέτης τὸ μικρὸν πηδάλιον H. (Paus. Gr. Fr. 118).Origin: XX [etym. unknown]Etymology: As opposed to οὑρά κέρκος, perh. prop. `stave, rod' (s. on κερκίς), seems to come from the lowly language. Origin unknown. Doubtful hypotheses (to κρέκω?, κρίκος, κίρκος?, MIr. corc `covering with hair', from *κερ-κρ-ος dissimil.?) are given by Bq (with Add. et Corr.). Rather Pre-Greek.Page in Frisk: 1,830-831
Greek-English etymological dictionary (Ελληνικά-Αγγλικά ετυμολογική λεξικό). Robert S.P.. 2010.