νῶτον + φέρω
Word
Validation
Yes
Word-form
νεφροί
Word-lemma
Transliteration (Word)
nephros
English translation (word)
kidney
Transliteration (Etymon)
nōton + pherō
English translation (etymon)
back + to carry
Century
7/8 AD
Source
Idem
Ref.
Viae dux 2, 8
Ed.
K.-H. Uthemann, Anastasius Sinaïtae viae dux [Corpus Christianorum. Series Graeca 8. Turnhout: Brepols, 1981]
Quotation
νεφροὶ διὰ τὸ ἐν νώτῳ φέρεσθαι
Translation (En)
Nephroi "kidneys" are thus named because we bear (pheresthai) them in the back (en nōtōi)
Parallels
Etym. Gudianum, nu p. 406 (Νεφρὸς, παρὰ τὸ νείφεσθαι, ὅ ἐστι βρέχεσθαι τῷ οὐρῷ· ἢ διὰ τὸ ἐν νώτῳ φέρεσθαι); Etym. Magnum, Kallierges p. 601 (Νεφρὸς, παρὰ τὸ νείφεσθαι, ὅ ἐστι βρέχεσθαι τῷ οὐρῷ· φέρεται γὰρ εἰς αὐτοὺς τὸ οὖρον· ἢ διὰ τὸ ἐν νώτῳ φέρεσθαι)
Modern etymology
Inherited from PIE *negwhro-, found in Lat. nebrundines (Festus) (Beekes, EDG)
Persistence in Modern Greek
Modern Greek has neutral νεφρό from medieval νεφρά, according to ήπατα. Νεφρο- is also used in many compounds. There is as well the vulgar form νεφρί, from older νεφρίον.
Entry By
Le Feuvre
Comment
Descriptive etymology which, from the formal point of view, is awkward. It implies what would be in the modern view a zero grade of φέρω (found for instance in δίφρος "chariot") and nōton "back" is reduced to a [ne]. It relies on an anatomical characteristic of kidneys, the only internal organs which are at the level of the spine and not in front of it, therefore they are "in the back"