- κῦμα
- κῦμα, -ατοςGrammatical information: n.Meaning: 1. `wave, breakers', also metaph. (Il.); 2. = κύημα `foetus, embryo' (A., E., AP), `young sprout' (Thphr., Gal.; Strömberg Theophrastea 79).Compounds: Compp., e.g. κυματωγή \< *κυματο-Ϝαγή `breaking of the waves, beach' (Hdt.); ἀ-κύμων `without waves' (Pi., Trag.), also `without foetus' (E.; oppos. ἐγ-κύμων att.); also ἄ-κυμος (E., Arist.), ἀκύματος (Trag. Adesp.) `without waves'.Derivatives: Diminut. κυμάτιον `the volute on the Ionic capital' (inscr.); κυματ-ίης, -ίας m. `causing waves, stormy' (Ion. poet.), -ώδης (Arist.), -όεις (Arist., Opp.), -ηρός (Gloss.) `full of waves'. Denomin. 1. κυμαίνω, also with ἐκ- etc., `rise in waves, swell' (Il.) with κύμανσις (Arist.); also `become pregnant' (γαστέρα; late Epic); 2. κυματόομαι, -όω `rise in waves, cover with waves' (Th., Luc., Plu.) with -ωσις (Str.); 3. κυματίζομαι `roll with the waves' (Arist.).Origin: IE [Indo-European] [593] *ḱuh₂- `swell'Etymology: Here also Κυμώ f. name of a Nereide (Hes.); also Κύμη? (Kretschmer Glotta 24, 277ff.). As `foetus' κῦμα is the verbal noun of κυέω. The usual and old meaning `wave' must derive from a graphical interpretation. [Lat. cŭm-ulus `heap' cannot be cognate, as it would have long ῡ]. - A stem-variation (m : p) with OCS kupъ 'σωρός' (Specht KZ 68, 123) is impossible. However, one might doubt the explanation from `swelling'.Page in Frisk: 2,47-48
Greek-English etymological dictionary (Ελληνικά-Αγγλικά ετυμολογική λεξικό). Robert S.P.. 2010.