ἀστραβής + γύαλον
Word
Validation
No
Word-form
ἀστραγάλους
Word-lemma
Transliteration (Word)
astragalos
English translation (word)
knucklebone, vertebra
Transliteration (Etymon)
astrabēs + gualon
English translation (etymon)
not twisted + hollow
Century
11 AD
Source
Idem
Ref.
Etymologica nominum 277
Ed.
R. Reitzenstein, M. Terentius Varro und Johannes Mauropus von Euchaita: eine Studie zur Geschichte der Sprachwissenschaft, Leipzig: Teubner, 1901
Quotation
ἕδρας γυάλων δ’ ἀστραβεῖς ἀστραγάλους
Translation (En)
The vertebrae (astragalous) are the firm (astrabeis) seat of the limbs
Parallels
There is no parallel
Modern etymology
Unknown. The connection with ὀστέον must be rejected (Beekes, EDG)
Persistence in Modern Greek
Modern Greek still has αστράγαλος designating 1. "knucklebone", 2. (in plural) particular kind of reliefs in Ionic and Corinthian styles.
Entry By
Le Feuvre
Comment
Compositional etymology "improving" on the traditional derivational etymology ἀστράγαλος / ἀστραβής by identifying the syllable -γαλ- as a form of γύαλον, apparently understood here as an equivalent for γυῖον "limb"