δέρω

Validation

Yes

Last modification

Sun, 11/07/2021 - 14:00

Word-form

δέρμα

Transliteration (Word)

derma

English translation (word)

skin, hide

Transliteration (Etymon)

derō

English translation (etymon)

to skin

Author

Ps-Herodian

Century

2 AD

Source

Idem

Ref.

Partitiones p. 18

Ed.

J.F. Boissonade, Herodiani partitiones, London, 1819

Quotation

δέρω, τὸ ἐκδέρω, ὅθεν καὶ δέρμα

Translation (En)

Derō means "to skin", whence also derma "skin"

Comment

This is the correct etymology

Parallels

Meletius, De natura hominis p. 132 (Τὸ δὲ δέρμα ὥσπερ τέρμα τοῦ σώματος, ἔξωθεν ἐπιβέβλη
ται παντὶ τῷ σώματι· ἢ οἷον δέρμα, τὸ συνισχηκὸς τὸ σῶμα καὶ συνδεσμοῦν· ἢ οἷον δέρμα, παρὰ τὸ ἀποδέρεσθαι ὡς ἐπὶ τῶν ζώων); Etym. Gudianum Additamenta, delta, p. 347 (Δέρμα· παρὰ τὸ διαιρεῖσθαι αὐτὸ ἀπὸ τῆς σαρκός, ἤτοι ἐκφέρεσθαι [elliptic etymology, if we take διαιρεῖσθαι ἀπὸ τῆς σαρκός as an equivalent for δέρω]); Etym. Magnum, Kallierges, p. 257 (Δέρμα: Κυρίως ἐπὶ ἀλόγων· παρὰ τὸ δέρω, τὸ ἐκδέρω· ἐπὶ δὲ τῶν λοιπῶν ζῴων, παρὰ τὸ τέρμα εἶναι τοῦ σώματος, ὅ ἐστι πλήρωμα· τροπῇ τοῦ τ εἰς δ, δέρμα· ἔξωθεν γὰρ ἐπιβέβληται παντὶ τῷ σώματι); Etym. Symeonis, delta 137 (idem); Ps.-Zonaras, Lexicon, delta, p. 562 (Δορά. δέρμα. κυρίως τὸ ἀποσεσυρμένον δέρμα τῶν ἀλόγων. παρὰ τὸ δέρω τὸ ἐκδείρω. ἐπὶ δὲ
 τῶν λοιπῶν ζώων παρὰ τὸ τέρμα εἶναι τοῦ σώματος)

Modern etymology

Δέρμα is derived from δέρω and originally refers to the skinned hide, as in Homer. By extension it became the general word for "skin", not only of a dead animal but also of a living one, and of human beings

Persistence in Modern Greek

Yes

Entry By

Le Feuvre