καρφί

Greek

Etymology

Inherited from Ancient Greek καρφίον (karphíon), diminutive of κάρφος (kárphos).

Cognate with Mariupol Greek карфи́ (karfí).

Noun

καρφί • (karfí) n (plural καρφιά)

1. nail (metal fastener used for joining wood, etc)
2. (in abbreviated form) rivet

   καρφί για μέταλλα ― karfí gia métalla ― rivet

3. informer, snitch, grass (UK), ratfink (US)
4. (volleyball) spike

Declension

	singular	plural
nominative	καρφί (karfí)	καρφιά (karfiá)
genitive	καρφιού (karfioú)	καρφιών (karfión)
accusative	καρφί (karfí)	καρφιά (karfiá)
vocative	καρφί (karfí)	καρφιά (karfiá)

Synonyms

• (nail): πρόκα f (próka, “nail”)
• (nail): ήλος m (ílos, “nail, pin”)
• (informer): ρουφιάνος m (roufiános)

Coordinate terms

• πριτσίνι n (pritsíni, “rivet”)
• νύχι n (nýchi, “finger nail, toe nail”)

Derived terms

• κάρφωμα n (kárfoma, “nailing”)
• καρφάκι n (karfáki, “tack”)
• καρφίτσα f (karfítsa, “pin, brooch”)
• καρφοβελόνα f (karfovelóna, “nail”)
• καρφωτής m (karfotís, “informant”)
• καρφωτός (karfotós, “nailed”)
• καρφώνομαι (karfónomai, “to nail”)
• καρφώνω (karfóno, “to stick”)
• καρφί για μέταλλα n (karfí gia métalla, “rivet”)
• ξυλόκαρφο n (xylókarfo, “wooden peg”)

• μια στο καρφί και μια στο πέταλο (mia sto karfí kai mia sto pétalo, “belt and braces”)

Adverb

καρφί • (karfí)

1. straight, directly
2. directly, straight away

Further reading

• καρφί on the Greek Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^el
• καρφί, in Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής [Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek], Triantafyllidis Foundation, 1998 at the Centre for the Greek language

Pontic Greek

Etymology

Inherited from Ancient Greek καρφίον (karphíon), diminutive of κάρφος (kárphos).

Noun

καρφί (karfí) n

1. nail (metal fastener used for joining wood, etc)

Descendants

• → Laz: კარჶი (ǩarfi, “nail”)

References

• Tursun, Vahit (2021) “καρφί”, in Romeika – Türkçe Sözlük : Trabzon Rumcası, 2nd edition, Istanbul: Heyamola Yayınları, page 293b, glossed as çivi