Δᾱρεικός

Δᾱρεικός

Grammatical information: m.

Meaning: (στατήρ) Persian gold coin (Hdt.), also Δαρῐκός (Herod.) and -ιχός (Sparta), cf. Schwyzer 196 A. 2 m. Lit.

Origin: LW [a loanword which is (probably) not of Pre-Greek origin] Pers.

Etymology: By the Greeks interpreted as "Dareios-coin" (cf. louisd'or), after the picture of the king. One would expect however *Δαρειακος; -ικος is surprising (Chantr. Etudes 122). But Horn Neupers. Etymologie Nr. 654 considers Δαρεικός as a folketymological reshaping of *δᾰρῐκός = babyl. da-ri-ku (meaning uncertain) from OP *dari- = Av. zairi- `yellow' (cf. s. χλωρός); against Schwyzer IF 49, 10ff.