- σκορπίος
- σκορπίοςGrammatical information: m.Meaning: `scorpion' (A. Fr. 169 = 368M.); often metaph. as adjunct of a fish (com., Arist a.o.; after the poison-stings, Strömberg 124 f., Thompson Fishes s.v.; also σκόρπ-αινα, -ίς, s. bel.); a plant (Thphr.; Strömberg Theophrastea 50f.); of a constellation (Cleostrat., hell.; Scherer Gestirnn. 170); a war machine for firing arrows (Hero a. o.; from this σκορπίζω, s. bel.); of a stone (Orph.; also σκορπῖτις, -ίτης).Compounds: As 1. member e.g. in σκορπί-ουρος (-ον) plantn. (Dsc.).Derivatives: 1. Subst.: σκορπ-ίον n. plantn. (Dsc.), -ίδιον n. `small slinging-machine' (Plb., LXX), -ίς f. (Arist.), -αινα f. (Ath.) fishn. (s. ab.); -ῖτις f., -ίτης m. name of a stone (Plin., late pap.; after the colour and shape, Redard 61); -ιών, -ιῶνος m. monthname in Alexandria (Ptol.). 2. adj.: σκορπ-ιώδης `resembling the s.' (Arist., Ph. a. o.), -ήϊος.. -ειος `belonging to the s.' (Orph., Man.), -ιόεις `id.' (Nic.), -ιακός `id.' (medic.), -ιανός `born under s.' (Astr.). 3. verbs: σκορπ-ίζω, also w. δια- a.o., `to scatter' (Hecat.[?], hell. a. late), -ιαίνομαι `to be enraged' (Procop.), -ιοῦται ἀγριαίνεται, ἐρεθίζεται H.Origin: PG [a word of Pre-Greek origin]Etymology: As the scorpion belongs to the warmer lands and is not at home above the 40. degree north. breadth, everything suggests a loan from a mediterranean language. -- Usually with Persson Stud. 57 a. 168, Beitr. 2, 861 as IE connected to a word for `plane, scratch etc.' with several representatives especially in Germ., e.g. OE sceorfan `scratch', scearfian, OHG scarbōn `plane, tear up' (IE *ser-p-), OE sceorpan `scratch, prickle' (IE *sker-b-); to this Latv. šḱērpêt `cut a lawn' etc.; s. WP. 2, 581 ff., Pok. 943 f. -- Lat. LW [loanword] scorpius, -iō, Russ. LW [loanword] skórpij. -- As stated prob. a Pre-Greek word. Furnée (index!) thinks that all words with (s)kr(m)P- contain the same Pre-Greek word; cf. κάραβος, καράμβιος, *σκαραβαῖος, κεράμβυξ, κεράμβηλον, κηραφίς, γραψαῖος. This is perh. possible, but it cannot be considered certain. One notes that all forms clearly have καρα(μ)P-, but that γραψαῖος and σκορπιος do not have a vowel between ρ and the (nasal +) labial (the presence of a vowel agrees with the (pre)nasalization).Page in Frisk: 2,738-739
Greek-English etymological dictionary (Ελληνικά-Αγγλικά ετυμολογική λεξικό). Robert S.P.. 2010.