ⲉⲑⲱϣ

Coptic

Alternative forms

• ⲉϭⲱϣ (ecōš) — Sahidic, Akhmimic

Etymology

From Demotic ⁠⁠ (jkš, “Nubia, Ethiopia, Nubian, Ethiopian”), from Egyptian (kꜣš, “Kush”).

Noun

ⲉⲑⲱϣ • (ethōš) m (feminine ⲉⲑⲟϣⲓ (ethoši), plural ⲉⲑⲁⲩϣ (ethauš))

1. (Bohairic) Ethiopian, Nubian

Adjective

ⲉⲑⲱϣ • (ethōš) m

1. (Bohairic) Ethiopian, Nubian

Usage notes

ⲉⲑⲱϣ denominates "black person", living in the parts of Africa south of the Aswan, i.e. the Horn of Africa and Sudan. In the Septuagint, ⲡⲕⲁϩⲓ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲛⲓⲉ̀ⲑⲁⲩϣ (pkahi ǹte nièthauš, “land of the Ethiopians”) and ⲛⲓⲉⲑⲁⲩϣ (niethauš) translates Biblical Hebrew כּוּשׁ (kûš) and Ancient Greek Αἰθιοπία (Aithiopía), the Biblical term for "black Africa". In the latter Coptic literature and toponymy ⲉⲑⲱϣ is used as an equivalent of Arabic حبش (habaš, “Abyssinian”).

References

• Vycichl, Werner (1983) Dictionnaire Étymologique de la Langue Copte, Leuven: Peeters, →ISBN
• Kircher, Athanasius (1643) Lingua Aegyptiaca Restituta, Romae: Hermann Scheus apud Ludouicum Grignanum