- ἅρπη
- ἅρπηGrammatical information: f.Meaning: `sickle' (Il.), also a bird of prey (metonym. after the claws; Bechtel Lex., Thompson Birds).Other forms: ἅρπης ("Sichler") εἶδος ὀρνέου. H. and ἁρπετόν· ἀκόμιστον η ἰκτῖνος. Κρῆτες. H.Derivatives: Acc. to Leumann Hom. Wörter 294, the bird comes from the interpretation of Homer; not convincing.Origin: IE [Indo-European]X [probably], XX [unknown] [911] *ser(p)- `sickle'Etymology: ἅρπη agrees with OCS srъpъ, Latv. sirpe `sickle'. Further, one compares Lat. sarpiō and sarpō, sarpere `trim, prune (vine)', but the vocalism is difficult (s. Schrijver 493: from sarriō). If we suppose IE origin, "ἄρπη a un vocalisme ambigu" says EM, with which they must mean that it is difficult to explain. I agree with EM and am inclined to assume a non-IE word (for the concept Beekes, 125 J. Indogermanistik.) - OIr. serr is also doubtful, s. Vendryes. - For oriental origin Grimme, Glotta 14, 17). - To take ἅρπη as the basis of ἅρπαξ, ἁρπάγη, ἁρπάζω is improbable; thus Szemerényi, Syncope 205, 213.Page in Frisk: 1,150
Greek-English etymological dictionary (Ελληνικά-Αγγλικά ετυμολογική λεξικό). Robert S.P.. 2010.