- σφενδόνη
- σφενδόνηGrammatical information: f.Meaning: `sling', from wool, hair, animal sinews etc., often metaph. of sling-like objects, e.g. `bandage, headband, case on a ring, white of the eye' (Il.); also `throw, missile' (Ar., X.; referring to σφενδονάω).Compounds: Rarely as 2. member, e.g. βελο-σφενδόνη `arrow-sling, fire-missile' (Plu.).Derivatives: 1. σφενδον-ήτης, Boeot. -άτας m. `slinger' (Hdt., Th. a.o.; Fraenkel Nom. ag. 2, 130) with -ητική (τέχνη) `the art of slinging' (Pl.). 2. -ηδόν `like a sling' (sch., EM). 3. -αίαν σφενδόνην, η την σφραγῖδα H. 4. -άω, also w. ἀπο-, δια-, ἐκ-, `to sling' (IA.) with -ησις f. (Hp., Pl. a.o.). 5. -ίζω `id.' (Ps.-Callisth.) with -ιστής m. (Them.).Origin: PG [a word of Pre-Greek origin]Etymology: Formation like ἀγχόνη, περόνη, βελόνη. No convincing etymology. Since Benfey and Pott (s. Curtius 247) connected with σφεδανός, σφοδρός, σφαδάζω and with Skt. spandate `pull, beat out', IE *sp(h)e(n)d-; s. WP. 2, 664 and Pok. 989 w. further forms and lit.; on sp- σφενδόνη σφ- Hiersche Ten. aspiratae 204ff. -- The obvious connection with Lat. funda is often discussed (s. W.-Hofmann s.v. with Nachtr.); with it also the possibility of a common loan from a Mediterranean or Anatolian source was considered (Ernout-Meillet s. v., Pisani Sprache 5, 147). On the Romance continuants of funda, which give much that is methodically of interest, s. Jaberg Sprachgesch. u. Wortbed. 213ff. -- Cf. σφόνδυλος. -- The word is no doubt Pre-Greek.Page in Frisk: 2,830
Greek-English etymological dictionary (Ελληνικά-Αγγλικά ετυμολογική λεξικό). Robert S.P.. 2010.