καλύπτω
Word
Validation
No
Word-form
κελύφη
Word-lemma
Etymon-lemma
Transliteration (Word)
keluphos
English translation (word)
shell, sheath
Transliteration (Etymon)
kaluptō
English translation (etymon)
to cover
Century
5 AD
Source
Idem
Ref.
Etymologicum p. 81
Ed.
F. Sturz, Orionis Thebani etymologicon, Leipzig, Weigel, 1820
Quotation
Κελύφη ἐστὶ παρὰ τὸ σκέπειν καὶ καλύπτειν τὸν ἐγκέφαλον. […] ἄλλοι δὲ ἀπὸ τῆς κυφότητος. τὸ γὰρ περιφερὲς, κυφὸν λέγεται
Translation (En)
Keluphē "shells", from the fact that they protect and cover (kaluptein) the brain. […] but others say it comes from their rounded aspect, because what is rounded is called kuphos.
Parallels
Etym. Gudianum, kappa, p. 314 (Κελύφη, τὰ καλύμματα, ἀπὸ τοῦ καλύπτειν); Etym. Magnum, Kallierges, p. 502 (Κελύφη: Τὰ καλύμματα· ἀπὸ τοῦ καλύπτειν); Ps.-Zonaras, Lexicon, kappa, p. 1192 (Κελύφη. τὰ καλύμματα. ἀπὸ τοῦ καλύπτω )
Modern etymology
Probably belongs with κολεόν "sheath", despite Beekes' skepticism (EDG)
Persistence in Modern Greek
MG still has κέλυφος "shell" (egg, mollusk) as a learned word, and κελύφι "pillowcase" (usual)
Entry By
Le Feuvre
Comment
Derivational etymology implying the change of [a] into [e]. It is semantically straightforward, as the shell covers the animal and the sheath the fruit. Orion's abbreviator mixed two different explanations, and the mention of the brain has nothing to do with κέλυφος but belongs to the etymology of κεφαλή, of which κελύφη was assumed to be a pre-form (see κεφαλή / καλύπτω)