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σφήν

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

Ancient Greek

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Etymology

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Unknown. Has been linked to Sanskrit स्फ्य (sphya, oar; spar) and Proto-Germanic *spēnuz (chip, shaving), but this is phonologically impossible due to the aspirated labial (/pʰ/) in Greek.[1] Pre-Greek origin is likely.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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σφήν (sphḗnm (genitive σφηνός); third declension

  1. wedge (part of a simple machine); also used as an instrument of torture
    • 525 BCE – 455 BCE, Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound 64:
      ἀδαμαντίνου νῦν σφηνὸς αὐθάδη γνάθον στέρνων διαμπὰξ πασσάλευ' ἐῤῥωμένως
      adamantínou nûn sphēnòs authádē gnáthon stérnōn diampàx passáleu' errhōménōs

Inflection

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Derived terms

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Descendants

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References

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  1. ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “σφήν, σφηνός”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 1430