ἅμα + ἕλκω
Word
Validation
Yes
Word-form
ἀμέλγω
Word-lemma
Transliteration (Word)
amelgō
English translation (word)
to milk
Transliteration (Etymon)
hama + helkō
English translation (etymon)
at the same time, together + to draw
Century
9 AD
Source
Idem
Ref.
Etym. Genuinum, alpha 628
Ed.
F. Lasserre and N. Livadaras, Etymologicum magnum genuinum. Symeonis etymologicum una cum magna grammatica. Etymologicum magnum auctum, vol. 1, Rome: Ateneo, 1976
Quotation
Ἀμέλγω· παρὰ τὸ ἅμα ἕλκειν
Translation (En)
Amelgō "to milk" is from "to draw (helkein) together (hama)"
Parallels
Etym. Gudianum, alpha, p. 113 (Ἀμέλγων· παρὰ τὸ ἅμα καὶ τὸ ἕλκω γίνεται ἁμαέλκω, καὶ συγκοπῇ καὶ τροπῇ τοῦ κ εἰς γ ἀμέλγω· ἅμα γὰρ τῷ τὸν μαστὸν λαβεῖν τὸ γάλα ἐξέρχεται); Etym. Magnum, Kallierges, p. 81 (Ἀμέλγω: Παρὰ τὸ ἅμα ἕλκειν); Etym. Symeonis, 1, p. 396 (idem); Ps.-Zonaras, Lexicon, alpha, p. 159 (idem).
Modern etymology
Primary verbal form, from *h2melg-, related to the old PIE word for "milk", Engl. milk, Germ. Milch, OCS mlěko (Beekes, EDG)
Persistence in Modern Greek
Modern Greek has αρμέγω, which comes from ἀμέλγω "to milk" through metathesis and change of [l] into [r] in final-syllable position. The noun άμελξη "milking" preserves the older stem (Triandafyllidis, Dict. of Modern Greek).
Entry By
Le Feuvre
Comment
Paronymic etymology implying a formal manipulation, the change of [k] to [g], and not taking into account the fact that ἅμα has an initial aspiration whereas ἀμέλγω does not – this explanation goes back to a time when Greek had become psilotic. "To draw together" is a description of the process of milking, drawing alternatively on different teats which together produce milk.