- κότταβος
- κότταβοςGrammatical information: m.Meaning: `name of a game coming from Sicily, whereby the player from a cup throws the rest of the wine against a target, to wit either against a slice which is in balance on a bar like a lighter, which falls (soc. κότταβος κατακτός) or against an empty saucer, which swims in a basin with water and sinks when hit (κ. ἐν λεκάνῃ or δι' ὀξυβάφων). However κότταβος indicated not only the game itself, but also several objects and movements used. (Anakr., Pi., trag., com., hell.)Other forms: (ion. -σσ-)Compounds: As 2. member in μεθυσο-κότταβος adj. `drunken while playing k.' (Ar. Ach. 525).Derivatives: κοτταβίς f. `cup with two handles, for throwing' (hell.); κοτταβεῖον (-βιον) `kottabos-basin, -stander' (Dikaiarch., hell.), also `winner's prize at k.' (Com. ); κοτταβικη ῥάβδος `k.-bar' (hell.). Denomin. verb κοτταβίζω `play k.' (Ar., Antiph.), euphem. for `vomit' (Poll., EM), also with ἀπο-, κατα-, συν- (X., com.); from there κοττάβισις, (ἀπο-)κοτταβισμός (late).Origin: PG [a word of Pre-Greek origin]Etymology: As the original meaning of κότταβος is unknown, all etymologies are in the air. In form one compares: κοτ(τ)ίς `head, back of the head', κόττειν τύπτειν H., κόττος `κύβος etc.' (s. vv.). - Studniczka BphW 14, 1299 and K. Schneider P.-W. 11 : 2, 1529 understand `provide with a head' referring to the slice (πλάστιγξ) above on the kottabos-stander. But Mastrelli Boll. di Studi fil. e ling. sic. 5 (1957), Estr. 25ff. starts from κόττος `κύβος, cube', older app. `ἀστράγαλος, swivel'; with κότταβος would be meant the curve of the hand when throwing the cup. The origin would lie in the western Mediterranean (cf. on κοττίς). - Lat. LW [loanword] cottabus `slapping blow' (Plaut.; cf. Friedmann Die jon. u. att. Wörter im Altlatein 46ff.). See κότταβος Mastrelli l. c., a. K. Schneider in P.-W. 11 : 2, 1528ff. Cf. also on κοτύλη. The ττ\/σσ points to a Pre-Greek word.Page in Frisk: 1,932
Greek-English etymological dictionary (Ελληνικά-Αγγλικά ετυμολογική λεξικό). Robert S.P.. 2010.