λαγαρός

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No

Last modification

Mon, 10/16/2023 - 11:20

Word-form

λαγών

Transliteration (Word)

lagōn

English translation (word)

flank

Transliteration (Etymon)

lagaros

English translation (etymon)

hollow, slack

Author

Athenaeus

Century

2-3 AD

Source

idem

Ref.

Deipnosophistae 8.64

Ed.

G. Kaibel, Athenaei Naucratitae deipnosophistarum libri xv, 3 vols., Leipzig: Teubner, 1-2:1887; 3:1890 (repr. 1-2:1965; 3:1966)

Quotation

ὅθεν ἀπὸ μὲν τοῦ λαγαροῦλαγών, ὥσπερ καὶ λάγανον, ἀπὸ δὲ τοῦ λαπάττειν λαπάρα.

Translation (En)

This is why lagōn "flank" comes from lagaros "slack, hollow", as does laganon "fried honey cake", and lapara "flank" from lapattein "to empty"

Comment

Derivational descriptive etymology. The etymological relationship is correct from the modern point of view. The flanks are the slack part of the body, as opposed to the chest

Parallels

Athenaeus, Deipnosophists (epitome), vol. 2, 1, p. 173 (ὅθεν ἀπὸ μὲν τοῦ λαγαροῦ ἡ λαγών, ἀπὸ δὲ τοῦ λάπ<άτ>τειν λαπάρα); Eustathius, Comm. Od., vol. 1, p. 52 (ὡς καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ λαγαροῦ ἡ λαγών [NB: there is no contradiction between this etymology and the one Eustathius provides for the same word, by λήγω (see λαγών / λήγω), for λἠγω was assumed to be the etymon of λαγαρός (see λαγαρός / λήγω), therefore the etymon of the etymon of λαγών])

Modern etymology

Belongs with λαγαρός "slack" and with λήγω il the proper meaning of the latter is "to be slack". Cognate with Engl. slack (Beekes, EDG)

Persistence in Modern Greek

MG has λαγόνα to designate the lower flanks of a cooking pot

Entry By

Le Feuvre