κρίτανος

Ancient Greek

Etymology

Unknown. Only attested as a gloss in Hesychius. Cognate with Mycenaean Greek 𐀑𐀲𐀜 (ki-ta-no).

This word is glossed with τέρμινθος (términthos), which is usually interpreted as meaning 'terebinth', a kind of tree, but this identification may be questioned. Hescyhius himself states of τέρμινθος that it is a 'plant resembling flax, from which the Athenians weave their nets'. This equation with 'flax' would yield potentional Semitic cognates for κρίτανος, like Classical Syriac ܟܬܢܐ (kettānā) and Akkadian 𒃰 (kitûm, “flax”).

Pronunciation

 

Noun

κρίτανος • (krítanos) ? (indeclinable)

  1. (hapax legomenon) terebinth
    Synonym: τέρμινθος (términthos)
    • [5th c. C.E., Hesychius of Alexandria, Γλώσσαι, Κ:
      κρίτανος· τέρμινθος
      krítanos; términthos
      krítanos: terebinth]

Further reading

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