σκίπων

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

  • σκήπων (skḗpōn), σκίμπων (skímpōn)

Etymology

This word is built like δόλων (dólōn), κύφων (kúphōn) and other tool names, and almost identical with Latin scīpiō (staff). The further similarity with σκηπάνη (skēpánē, staff) and σκῆπτρον (skêptron, staff) has been observed for a long time; however the forms cannot be combined under one pre-form. It is unlikely that σκίμπτομαι (skímptomai, to press forward) is a denominative nasal present (like σκήπτομαι (skḗptomai) from σκᾶπος (skâpos)). Further connection is considered with the semantically unclear σκοῖπος (skoîpos, supporting beam on which the tiles rest).

Pronunciation

 

Noun

σκῑ́πων • (skī́pōnm (genitive σκῑ́πωνος); third declension

  1. staff, stick, crutch
    Synonym: σκῆπτρον (skêptron)

Inflection

Derived terms

  • ἀσκῑ́πων (askī́pōn)

Further reading