μέλω

Validation

Yes

Word-form

μελιταῖα

Transliteration (Word)

melitaios

English translation (word)

Melitean dog, lapdog

Transliteration (Etymon)

melō

English translation (etymon)

to care for, to take an interest in

Author

Lexicon αἱμωδεῖν

Century

9 AD

Source

Idem

Ref.

Lexicon αἱμωδεῖν, Mu 6, p. 954 (Dyck)

Ed.

A.R. Dyck,Epimerismi Homerici: Pars altera. Lexicon αἱμωδεῖν [Sammlung griechischer und lateinischer Grammatiker (SGLG) 5.2] Berlin - New York: De Gruyter, 1995

Quotation

Μελιταῖα κυνίδια: μικρά, παρὰ τὸ μέλ[λ]ω, τὸ φροντίζω· τὰ ἐπιμελείας χρείαν ἔχοντα

Translation (En)

"Melitean" (melitaia) dogs: they are small (dogs), the term comes from  "to take care" (melō), that is "to take an interest in"; the dogs that need care

Other translation(s)

Cagnolini melitei: sono cani piccoli, il termine deriva da "prendersi cura", cioè "interessarsi a"; cani che hanno bisogno di attenzioni 

Comment

This etymology is attested only for the neutral form melitaion and connects the name of a special type of pet dog to the verb "to take care" (melō). The name of the dog would therefore derive from the passive sense of the verb referring to the solicitude that the owner of the animal should exercise in raising this particular type of dog. The same relationship of verbal derivation can also be found in Clemens of Alexandria's scholia (see the Parallels section). In this latter case, however, the Melitean dog is considered a watchdog and the derivation seems to depend on the active form of the same verb with the meaning of "being vigilant". The etymology deriving the zoonym melitaion from the island of Melite, variously identified with Malta or the Croatian Mljet, is a commonplace (e.g. Callimachus, fr. 579 Pfeiffer; Suda κ 227 Adler)

 

Parallels

Etym. Magnum, Kallierges p. 577 (<Μελιταῖα κυνίδια>: Λέγεται ὅτι πλησίον Ἰταλίας νῆσος ἐστὶ Μελίτη, ἐξ ἧς γίνεται· ἢ τὰ μικρὰ, τὰ ἐπιμελείας χρείαν ἔχοντα· παρὰ τὸ μέλω, τὸ φροντίζω) ; Scholia recentiora in Clem. Alexandr., p. 337 ed. O. Stählin and U. Treu, (Μελιταῖον κυνίδιον (...) ἢ ἀπὸ τοῦ μέλω εἴρηται, τοῦ φροντίζω, τὸ φροντιστικὸν καὶ φρουρητικόν· τοιοῦτον γὰρ τὸ γένος).

This etymological link seems to be suggested already in a cynegetical anonymous text : Ps.-Tim. in Arist. Byz., Epit. 2.197 (αἱ δὲ Μελιταῖαι κύνες πρὸς τάχος καλαί, ἐπιμελείας δὲ δεόμεναι)

Bibliography

J. Busuttil, "The Maltese Dog", Greece & Rome 16 (1969), 205-208.

N. Cinaglia, "Immaginario di un compagno di giochi e di vita: il cane di razza maltese", Ostraka 21.1-2 (2012), 109-136.

 

Modern etymology

The name is considered to be an ethnonym derived from the ancient geographical name of Melite

Persistence in Modern Greek

The term is used in Μodern Greek to indicate a particular disease, μελιταίος πυρετός, transmitted through animal milk to mankind. It is a calque from the English "Malta fever" and μελιταίος is used instead of "μαλτέζικος".

Entry By

Marco Vespa