γῆ + φύρω

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Last modification

Tue, 06/01/2021 - 15:39

Word-form

γέφυρα

Transliteration (Word)

gephura

English translation (word)

dyke

Transliteration (Etymon)

gē + phurō

English translation (etymon)

earth + to mix

Author

Etym. Gudianum

Century

11 AD

Source

Idem

Ref.

Etym. Gudianum, gamma, p. 308

Ed.

E.L. de Stefani, Etymologicum Gudianum, fasc. 1 & 2, Leipzig: Teubner, 1:1909; 2:1920

Quotation

Γέφυρα· παρὰ τὸ γῆ καὶ τὸ φύρω, τὸ ἀναμιγνύω· […] ἡ τῇ γῇ φυρα[ν]θεῖσα. ἢ παρὰ τὸ γέφυγρα, ἡ ἐφ’ ὑγρῷ κειμένη γῆ

Translation (En)

Gephura "dyke": from "earth" and phurō "to mix". […] The one mixed with earth. Or from *gephugra, the earth located on water

Comment

Compositional etymology referring probably to the mixed nature of the dyke which is both earth and water as it is on water or next to it (unless it refers to the material construction with mud?). The etymology implies no formal manipulation: γε- instead of γη- is also found in γεωργός, γεωγράφος, all compound of γἢ with a metathesis, in which the name of the earth appears under the form γε-, and Greek lexicographers did not pay attention to the fact that this allomorph is restricted to the position before a vowel.

Parallels

Etym. Magnum, Kallierges, p. 229 (Γέφυρα: Ἡ κατὰ τὸν τόπον οἰκοδομὴ, δι’ ἧς ὁδοιπόροι πορεύονται. Παρὰ τὸ γῆ καὶ τὸ φυρῶ, τὸ   ἀναμιγνύω, γήφυρά τις οὖσα, ἡ τῇ γῇ φυραθεῖσα, καὶ ἐφ’ ὑγρῷ τόπῳ κειμένη. Ἢ ἡ ἐφ’ ὑγροῦ γῆ, οἱονεὶ γέφυγρά τις οὖσα); Etym. Symeonis, gamma 80 (Γέφυρα· ἡ κατὰ τὸν τόπον οἰκοδομὴ δι’ ἧς οἱ ὁδοιπόροι πορεύονται εἴρηται· ἢ ἡ ἐφ’ ὑγροῦ γῆ οἱονεὶ γέφυρά τις οὖσα ἢ φυρὰ τῆς γῆς οὖσα ἡ φυραθεῖσα καὶ ἐφ’ ὑγρᾶς κειμένη. Ἢ παρὰ τὸ ἀπὸ γῆς εἰς γῆν μεταφέρειν); Ps.-Zonaras, Lexicon, gamma, p. 430 (Γέφυρα. ἡ κατὰ τόπον οἰκοδομὴ, δι’ ἧς οἱ ὁδοιπόροι πορεύονται. εἴρηται ἡ ἐφ’ ὑγροῦ γῆ, οἱονεὶ γεφυγρὰ τὶς οὖσα. ἢ γῆ φυρά τις, ἡ φυραθεῖσα καὶ ὑφ’ ὑγροῦ κειμένη. ἢ παρὰ τὸ ἀπὸ γῆς εἰς γῆν μεταφέρειν)

Modern etymology

Boeotian βέφυρα, Cretan δέφυρα point to *gwebh-, Isolated within Greek. Cognate with Arm. kamurǰ "bridge" (Beekes, EDG)

Persistence in Modern Greek

MG still has γέφυρα "bridge"

Entry By

Le Feuvre