σήτα

Greek

Nominal formation probably cognate with, though apparently not derived from, Ancient Greek σήθω (sḗthō, “to sieve, sift”)^[1] (which would render a modern neuter noun *σήστρο; compare Hesychius' plural σῆστρα n (sêstra) of σῆστρον (sêstron)) under folk-etymological influence of the ancient σητάνιος / σητάνειος (sētánios / sētáneios, “of this year; this year's sieved wheat”), a form surviving in some modern Greek dialects, as the South Italiot Greek.^[2]^[3]

Τhe theory taking the word as borrowed from Slavic (Proto-Slavic *sìto (“sieve”)) is considered improbable.^[2]

σήτα • (síta) f (plural σήτες)

sieve (a tool with a fine mesh used to sift flour, sand, etc.)
Synonyms: κρησάρα (krisára) (demotic), κόσκινο (kóskino)
window screen (a mesh set in a frame used to keep foreign debris and insects out of a room without blocking fresh airflow)

^ σήτα, in Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής [Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek], Triantafyllidis Foundation, 1998 at the Centre for the Greek language
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 σήτα - Babiniotis, Georgios (2010) Ετυμολογικό λεξικό της νέας ελληνικής γλώσσας Etymologikó lexikó tis néas ellinikís glóssas [Etymological Dictionary of Modern Greek language] (in Greek), Athens: Lexicology Centre
^ “σῆτες”, “σητάνειος”, in ΛΟΓΕΙΟΝ [Logeion] Dictionaries for Ancient Greek and Latin (in English, French, Spanish, German, Dutch and Chinese), University of Chicago, since 2011
^ σήτα - Charalambakis, Chistoforos et al. (2014) Χρηστικό λεξικό της νεοελληνικής γλώσσας (Christiko lexiko tis Neoellhnikis Glossas) [A Practical dictionary of Modern Greek language] (in Greek) Athens: Academy of Athens. (online since 2023 - abbreviations - symbols)